Thelonious Monk
Piano Solo on
In Walked Bud

About

Thelonious Monk's piano solo is the second of four improvisations on this recording, following Griffin's eight-chorus tenor saxophone statement. Taking three choruses of the 32-bar AABA form in A-flat at 205 BPM, Monk navigates his own tribute to pianist Bud Powell with his characteristic blend of angular melodies, dissonant harmonies, and unpredictable rhythmic placement. His solo provides a dramatic contrast to Griffin's more conventionally virtuosic approach, the pianist's economy of means speaking volumes.

Thelonious Monk was 40 to 41 years old at the time.