A four-time finalist of James Morrison's Generations In Jazz scholarship, a 2013 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Comp Semi-Finalist and featured in Downbeat Magazine in the US, Michael Griffin is a young Australian jazz star on the rise.
This Friday, Michael will lead an octet at Sydney's Foundry 616 in a tribute to Thelonious Monk. Michael shares his favourite Monk albums ahead of the show.
[Update 28 November: Michael has added a number of Thelonious Monk tribute shows including Foundry 616 (Sydney) 8 December, Doo-Bop Jazz Bar (Brisbane) 15-16 December and Jazz Lab (Melbourne) 3-4 January.]
1. Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane
This is my favourite Monk album of all time. It was the first time I'd ever heard Monk or Coltrane. Even though they've both done great music on their own, nothing beats them playing together.2. Monk's Music
A sensational album with a Septet line-up that features 2 tenor sax legends from different eras. John Coltrane and swing Legend Coleman Hawkins, plus Art Blakey on drums. This album truly swings. As a teenager I used to busk on the weekends to buy CDs. Once I was a few dollars short, but wanted this album so badly I offered to vacuum the store.3. Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington is the greatest American composer of all time. This album is a great chance to hear Monk's fabulous interpretation of these classic songs. It was originally made to help broaden Monk's audience. It's an album that any jazz fan can enjoy.4. Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane Live at Carnegie Hall
This album was only discovered ten years ago and what a discovery it is. It's one thing to hear Monk and Trane in the studio, but live is such a different story. They both sound so inspired and man does this album cook. Without a doubt if I could travel back in time and see any act live, Monk and Trane would be top of the list along with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.5. Thelonious Monk Nonet live in Paris 1967
This is the album that my tribute is based on. A great band was put together for this tour that included Phil Woods, Johnny Griffin, Clark Terry among others orchestrating Monk's compositions for a six-piece horn section. Great solos all around and great to hear Monk's arrangements written out for horns.Michael Griffin Octet: Tribute to Thelonious Monk plays Foundry 616 (Sydney) 30 June.
