HurdAudio Rotation: Jenkins and Monk in Heaven

Ron Miles: Heaven. 2002. Sterling Circle Records: SC5151.

Ron Miles: trumpet
Bill Frisell: guitar

This improvising duo is balanced and tinged by a deep chemistry forged through long friendship and a history of multiple collaborations. It's a quiet, melodious project that is every bit as transcendent as its title would suggest. There's a seamlessness between the originals and covers - even when rendering an unmistakeably "true" take on Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart." The balance of creativity and musicianship runs deep and comes off so effortless as to feel unassuming.

Elliott Sharp: Sharp? Monk? Sharp! Monk! - Elliott Sharp Plays the Music of Thelonius Monk. 2006. Clean Feed: CFG001CD.

Elliott Sharp: acoustic guitar

There are moments when the angular melodies of these Monk tunes take surprising turns as Sharp coats them with unusual timbral variations from his Dell Arte Grande Bouche acoustic guitar. When "Well You Needn't" emerges with a tone similar to plucked, high pitched piano wire it's hard to suppress a smile. There's a wealth of smiles on this disc as Sharp brings a thoughtful and not overly solemn angle to Monk that highlights the joy of Monk's harmonic language and melodic sensibilities.

Leroy Jenkins: Themes and Improvisations on the Blues. 1994. CRI: CD 663.

Themes & Improvisations on the Blues (1986)
The Soldier String Quartet:
Laura Seaton: violin
David Soldier: violin
Ron Lawrence: viola
Mary Wooton: cello

Panorama 1 (1983)
Leroy Jenkins: violin
Henry Threadgill: flute
Don Byron: clarinet
Marty Ehrlich: bass clarinet
Vincent Chancey: french horn

Off Duty Dryad (1990)
Soldier String Quartet plus
Lindsey Horner: bass

Monkey on the Dragon (1989)
Leroy Jenkins: solo violin
Henry Threadgill: flute
Don Byron: clarinet
Marty Ehrlich: bass clarinet
Janet Grice: bassoon
Vincent Chancey: french horn
Frank Gordon: trumpet
Jeff Hoyer: trombone
Thurman Barker: traps
Myra Melford: piano
David Soldier: violin
Jane Henry: violin
Ron Lawrence: viola
Mary Wooton: cello
Lindsey Horner: bass
Tania Leon: conductor

The focus on this recording is Leroy Jenkins as composer for these four, vivid chamber works recorded in 1992. The fact that so many of the performers involved with this presentation have since recorded so many staggering works of their own can be at least partially attributed to their involvement with Leroy Jekins' music. The same qualities that make Jekins the improviser so compelling to listen to carry over into his written scores.