1) start with a recording, not of a Monk tune, but rather a tune shamelessly inspired (in a good way…) by Monk, say “Monk’s Rec Room” by Jane Ira Bloom
2) What makes it Monk? Do we know what those things are? What are those things it shares with the high priest of bop? (Do we know who he is?)
3) Make a map…
PJE_Monk_Map_MAML&Mspring2014
4) Is this Monk? That’s obviously the wrong question… Are these the multiple things that constitute (some of what) we call Monkisms?
5) PLAY SOME ACTUAL MONK.
6) Findings confirmed?
7) How far Monk?
8) Extrapolations Confirmed?
© 2014 Peter J. Evans, theorist