gohusk
Well-Known Member
Monk is my favorite jazz artist. I used to have him in my avi. He had such a unique style and was a brilliant composer. He's the 2nd most covered jazz composer next to Ellington who wrote > 1000 compositions. Monk wrote about 75. He was actually who got me into jazz.. to the extent that I am. I'm not an aficionado. But you're not unique as someone who likes jazz but not Monk because of his seemingly simplistic and odd style. Personally, I think his critics just aren't listening right, but if you tried you probably just don't dig him. Mingus Ah Um and Blues & Roots are my go to's for Mingus. Ornette Coleman's Shape of Jazz to Come is as 'out there' as I get with jazz. I made it through his Free Jazz, but I have no desire to listen to it again.
I'll give him another try. I honestly haven't listened to much jazz in a while (went back to the more mainstream stuff because I have like 5 minute bites of time to actually listen to something). But I usually go with the hardcore free jazz when I'm listening to something. I can see how guys like Coleman or Ayler can be grating to the ears with their plastic sax.