John Beasley will be Artist in Resident from April 2-6 giving workshops at the University of Miami and conducting the Frost Concert Jazz Band at UM Gusman Concert Hall April 04.
YouTube Videos
MONK’estra Vol 2: http://bit.ly/MONKestraV2 Vol 1: http://bit.ly/monkestraV1
Evidence http://bit.ly/monkestraevidence
Round Midnight http://bit.ly/monkestraroundmidnight
Brake’s Sake @ Ronnie Scotts http://bit.ly/BrakesSake_RonnieScotts
PLAYLIST Spotify 15 Monk tunes side-by-side with MONKestra arrangements http://bit.ly/spotify_playlist_monk_monkestra
REVIEWS
“Beasley hits us dead center with studio-smart takes on Monk’s deep book… features rapid-fire surprises, spiky asides and a quirky sense of truthful swing. Beasley’s band will leave you rapt. He brings Monk to life once again for modern-minded listeners. –Downbeat – 4.5/5 stars
‘’John Beasley’s bold refashionings of Thelonious Monk once again hit the jackpot. Beasley’s not just breathing new life into Monk’s repertoire – he’s firing up the big band scene.” –BBC Music Magazine
“Beasley is a very clever arranger who works his charts hard, and this album is continuously surprising… an ingenious interpreter of Monk conducts like Thad Jones. ” –JazzTimes
“MONK’estra brought the project thrillingly to life with their razor-sharp ensemble work and rhythmic authenticity… hip-hop merges with swing and sensuous Ellingtonia sits on a sparse contemporary pulse. –Financial Times – 4
Beasley’s Monk’estra set was a dazzling display of fresh interpretations scaled to take full advantage of his sixteen-piece ensemble. The enlightening set closed with vigorous applause from the house.” –AllAboutJazz
“Beasley takes Monk’s sturdy tunes on a joyride for MONK’estra.” –New Yorker
“John Beasley, the one-time keyboardist for Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis, whose playing reflects a variety of generational influences, incorporating the emphatic chordal clusters of Herbie Hancock, the rhythmic quirkiness of Monk and the lush intelligence of Art Tatum into a highly refined personal voice.” –Los Angeles Times
