Previously Unheard Thelonious Monk 1968 Live Recording Set For Release

Jazz great Thelonious Monk brought his quartet to Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, California on October 27, 1968. A previously unheard recording from the band’s set will be released as Palo Alto on July 31 via Impulse! Records.

The concert was arranged by 16-year-old Palo Alto High student Danny Scher and recorded by the school’s janitor. Monk was backed by his steady touring band of bassist Larry Gales, drummer Ben Riley and tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse. Palo Alto spans 47 minutes of music that includes a mix of Monk’s compositions as well as songs by Jimmy McHugh and Rudy Vallee.

“I always looked at music as a way to put issues on hold or up to a mirror, whether they be political or social,” Scher said in a statement about the release of music from the show he put together during a tenuous time in his area and around the country. “On October 27, 1968, there was a truce between Palo Alto and East Palo Alto. And that is what music does.”

“That performance is the one of the best live recordings I’ve ever heard by Thelonious,” added Thelonious’ son, T.S. Monk. “I wasn’t even aware of my dad playing a high school gig, but he and the band were on it. When I first heard the tape, from the first measure, I knew my father was feeling really good.”

Preview Palo Alto by streaming “Epistrophy” below:

https://youtu.be/_1Ac-C5I1bM

https://music.apple.com/us/album/epistrophy-live/1517643098?i=1517643109

Palo Alto Tracklist

1. Ruby, My Dear
2. Well, You Needn’t
3. Don’t Blame Me
4. Blue Monk
5. Epistrophy
6. I Love You Sweetheart Of My Dreams