Guardians of the Thelonious Monk Legacy

There is a beautifully written review of two new recordings dedicated to the music of Thelonious Monk posted on All About Jazz this past weekend.  In the opening paragraph, the reviewer, Mark Corroto, discusses his membership in an elite jazz fraternity:

Forget the comic book heroes Batman, Spiderman and the Fantastic Four. I’ve been a member of an international force for good called “The Guardians of the Thelonious Monk Legacy.” Our mission is to protect the music Monk wrote nearly fifty years ago from those up to hijinks. I’ve terminated would-be hackers from botching the sacred “Round Midnight” and focused my super powers on the bar band playing one more blues drenched “Straight No Chaser.” This thankless job, performed with chest out and fisted hands resting on hips, comes with the satisfaction that our children and our children’s children will live in a world full of Monk.

Be sure to take some time to read the reviews of saxophonist Sam Newsome and the collaboration of Scott Amendola/Ben Goldberg/Devin Hoff under the name Plays Monk at All About Jazz.