IN MONK'S MOOD

Description

John Martin Tchicai was a Danish jazz composer and saxophonist born on April 28, 1936 in Copenhagen and died on October 8, 2012 in Perpignan. Settled in New York in 1963, John Tchicai took part in the birth of the free jazz movement with Archie Shepp and Don Cherry within the New York Contemporary Five, and would become one of the pioneers of avant-garde jazz in Northern Europe. The Congolese-Danish saxophonist/composer John Tchicai (1936-2012) recorded this straight-ahead jazz album in 2009, surprising his usual followers who considered Tchicai the legendary leader of the 60s free jazz scene. During the free jazz period, he lived in New York, associated with free jazz artists such as Archie Shepp, Don Cherry and New York Contemporary Five, and left behind a number of famous recordings, including John Coltrane's album Ascension. As the “Godfather” or “Guru” of free jazz, Tchicai was active on the scene, but this first leader album in 22 years for the SteepleChase label also marked a return to his original instrument, the alto saxophone. Tchicai performed works by Thelonious Monk with his striking sound. Mark Gardner, contributor to Jazz Journal International, concludes his liner notes for the CD release of this recording by noting: “And now he is back on SteepleChase with a warm and welcome tribute to one of his early influences - an inspired concept, beautifully realized.”