Steve Lacy's many recordings of
Thelonious Monk tunes through the years are never less than intriguing and always quite respectful to
Monk's themes. This set, with bassist
Jean-François Jenny-Clark, drummer
Aldo Romano, and (on four of the six numbers) pianist
Michel Graillier, was
Lacy's first Paris recording; the French city would be his home base for the next few decades.
Lacy explores five of
Monk's complex compositions, including "Light Blue," "Mysterioso," and "Friday the Thirteenth," plus two versions of
Monk's theme "Epistrophy."
Lacy thoughtfully digs into the tunes and comes up with fresh and fairly free variations. The music on this Affinity LP (an English label) has not yet reappeared on CD.