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In the fall of 1968, a sixteen-year-old boy named Danny Scher had a dream. He wanted to bring Thelonious Monk and his quartet to a benefit concert at his high school in Palo Alto, California, to raise money for his school and contribute to racial unity in his community. Armed with not much more than a telephone, a persuasive pitch, impressive jazz skills and an iron determination, Scher made the concert happen on Sunday, October 27, 1968. The concert was also recorded and lay, forgotten, in the vaults – until now. On July 31, Impulse! Records will release the previously unheard and unreleased High School recording in its entirety on vinyl and on CD. The lively 47-minute set spotlights Monk’s enduring touring band (tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, bassist Larry Gales and drummer Ben Riley) and showcases his basic touring repertoire.Included in the mix are Monk’s lyrical love song “Ruby My Dear,” a spirited “Well You Needn’t” with solos by all band members, the pianist’s riveting solo reading of “Don’t Blame Me” by Jimmy McHugh, an epic dance through “Blue Monk” and a playful charge through “Epistrophy.” The show ends with an abbreviated encore of the hit tune “I Love You (Sweetheart of All My Dreams)” by Rudy Vallée from 1925’s Tin Pan Alley, and after a standing ovation, Monk said goodbye because they had to leave for their date in San Francisco that night. |
