Avery, Teodross
WJ3, 2020, CD
Instrument: Saxophone
Issue: 26.4
Jazz Ruler Type: Bebop
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score: 82
O’s Notes: The genius of Thelonious monk is like fine wine; it gets better by the year. Saxophonist Teodross Avery celebrates Harlem Stories: The Music of Thelonious Monk on his latest release. He splits the session into two quartets, the first with Anthony Wonsey (p), Corcoran Holt (b), and Willie Jones III (d), and the second with D.D. Jackson (p), Marvin Smith (d) and Holt (b). Band 1 opens swinging hard on “Teo” followed by “Monk’s Dream”. Guest artist Allakoi Peete (cajón) sets the mood for “Ruby My Dear, and Wonsey keeps the memories of Monk alive on tracks like “Rhythm A Ning”. Jackson pushes the second band’s character into a more rolling groove on “In Walked Bud” and “Trinkle, Tinkle”. The uniqueness of this program is Avery’s fine lead lines on Monk’s compositions.
Publicist: Lydia Liebman Promotions
