PAPATAMUS REDUX

RANDOM CHANCE RECORDS 50  (NO RECORDING DATE)

I host a weekly radio show called Straight, No Chaser on KFMG-FM in Des Moines, Iowa. I open each show with a different version of that Thelonius Monk classic (and there are hundreds of them). Although Randy Weinstein’s version from his recent Harmonimonk
release made it on my show, I am not certain it will make it to my collection. Unlike others who have mined the harmonic, melodic and rhythmic treasures of the Monk library, Weinstein tends to over-simplify and over-produce the selection of seven Monk tunes. On “Straight No Chaser,” for example, he blends a tuba and the chromatic and diatonic harmonica for a funky New Orleans shuffle. The rhythmic pulse of “Bye-Ya” is overpowered by drum samples courtesy of Clyde Stubblefield.  Blues-laden guitar solos obscure the intricate bebop lines Monk crafted on other tunes. Although this release might introduce Monk’s music to Weinstein’s fans of the blues, fiddle bands and World music, it does little for someone like me who has been savoring Monk and his compositions for more than 50 years. As my professors used to write on my papers, interesting (never understood if that meant it was good or bad)!

BOTTOM LINE:  Weinstein used his free time during COVID to explore recording techniques and Thelonius Monk compositions. That is an admirable undertaking, but the results on Harmonimonk are less than satisfying for this long-time Monk fan.