The guitarist Bill Frisell has earned great acclaim, especially during the last decade, for highly conceptual projects, many of which he has presented at Duke Performances. Frisell has been grappling with the legacy and lessons of Thelonious Monk for his entire career, pursuing Monk’s unwavering mix of devotion to melody and his obsession with bending it. From Frisell’s stunning collaborations with Monk associates Paul Motian and Ron Carter (including 1989’s devotional Monk in Motian) to his playful take on “Blue Monk” with pianist Fred Hersch, he is one of music’s very best Monk interpreters.
###
For a decade now, tenor saxophonist JD Allen has anchored his eponymous trio, supported by drummer Rudy Royston and bassist Gregg August. Allen’s ragged, searching tone is redolent of jazz’s blues heritage, and his playing reflects his pedigree as a grandson of the Delta, a son of Detroit, and a leader of modern jazz. The New York Times praised Allen’s “fearless approach to a formidable tradition.” At Duke Performances, Allen, Royston, August, and their guests will test and stretch Monk’s music in two sets each night, fearlessly facing one of the most formidable catalogues in jazz.
305 South Dillard Street
Durham, NC 27701