Yasushi Nakamura
Acoustic Bass Solo on
Straight, No Chaser

About

Yasushi Nakamura closes the solo section on "Straight, No Chaser" with seven choruses of acoustic bass, bringing the extended Monk blues performance to its conclusion. At approximately 184 BPM, Nakamura's solo over the 12-bar form in F demonstrates impressive stamina and melodic invention, his warm tone and rhythmic precision sustaining interest across the extended format. Following trumpet, saxophone, and piano solos that together span thirty-eight choruses, Nakamura's seven-chorus bass feature adds a final dimension to this comprehensive exploration of Monk's blues. His ability to hold the listener's attention after such extended preceding solos speaks to his command of the instrument.

Yasushi Nakamura was 38 to 39 years old at the time.