INTAKT 207: SCHLIPPENBACH plays MONK

SCHLIPPENBACH PLAYS MONK
ALEXANDER VON SCHLIPPENBACH PIANO SOLO

Recorded November 22, 23, 2011 by Kulturradio vom Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg. Mixed and mastered March 2012. Soundsupervisor: Wolfgang Hoff, Soundengineer: Peter Schladenbach, Digital cut and mastering: Monika Steffens.
Radio producer Ulf Drechsel. Photo: Manfred Rinderspacher. Liner Notes: Ulf Drechsel. Cover art and design: Jonas Schoder. Produced by Intakt Records, Patrik Landolt

Intakt CD 207   EAN_7640120192075 

Nnobody plays Monk like Schlippenbach. In the same way Monk worked on a composition for weeks, Schlippenbach has involved himself with Monk’s work for many years. Listening, analysing, play- ing and with the greatest conceivable respect. Already the 3 CD-recor- dings of Thelonious Monk‘s complete works from Alexander von Schlippenbach together with the band Die Enttäuschung (INTAKT CD 100) are a most impressive documentation of this involvement.
With this present production for which Alexander von Schlippenbach chose some of his “Monk-favourites” – including some of the more rarely performed pieces – to him it was not about working on, re-har- monising or consciously changing the original forms of Monk’s com- positions. Their themes are so multifaceted and complex that it was Alexander von Schlippenbach‘s first and foremost concern to keep very close to these themes and to concentrate his focus on dealing “freely” with the melodies and the rhythmic torque. Monk and Schlippenbach: A stimulated conversation going on and they get along brilliantly, these brothers in spirit! 

Daniel Spicer, THE WIRE, Dec 2012

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