Stephen Riley's 2019 interpretation of Thelonious Monk's "Ugly Beauty" on I Remember You brings his Lester Young-influenced aesthetic to one of Monk's most delicate compositions. Written by Monk and first recorded on the 1968 album Underground, "Ugly Beauty" is notable as the only waltz Monk ever composed, and its 32-bar AABA form in D-flat unfolds at a gentle tempo of approximately 93 BPM. Guitarist Vic Juris opens the solo section with two choruses that navigate Monk's distinctive harmony with sensitivity and creativity. Riley follows with two choruses of tenor saxophone, bringing his characteristically breathy tone and relaxed phrasing to the waltz meter, and the tempo increases slightly as his improvisation unfolds. Bassist Jay Anderson closes with a single chorus, maintaining the intimate mood. Playing Monk's music requires a willingness to embrace angular melodic movement and unexpected harmonic turns, and Riley's approach balances respect for Monk's compositional idiosyncrasies with his own deeply personal improvisational voice. The waltz feel adds a graceful quality to the performance, and the pianoless instrumentation gives each musician maximum freedom to interpret Monk's harmony in their own way. This recording stands as a thoughtful tribute to two jazz individualists: Monk the composer and Young the spiritual ancestor of Riley's playing.
