In the Key of Monk (1999)

About this title: Jessica Williams' career took off during the 1990s with a series of memorable recordings for the Canadian label Jazz Focus, and this solo piano tribute to Thelonious Monk is one of her best live performances. She establishes her own voice right away with a playful approach to "Bemsha Swing," playing part of the introduction while muting the piano's strings with one hand, making use of the full range of the keyboard in the body of the piece. She throws Monk-like twists into her interpretation of one of his favorite standards, "Just a Gigolo." Not satisfied with just covering Monk's best-known ... read more

Tracks:

1. Bemsha Swing [Best/Monk]
2. Just a Gigolo [Brammer/Caesar/Casu]
3. Reflections [Monk]
4. I Love You Sweetheart of All My Dreams [Fitch/Fitch/Lowe]
5. Monk's Mood/Crepuscule With Nellie [Monk]
6. Monk's Hat [Williams]
7. San Francisco Holiday [Monk]
8. I Remember Monk [Williams]
9. The House That Rouse Built [Williams]
10. Pannonica [Monk]
11. Ask Me Now [Monk]
12. Blues Five Spot [Monk]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.