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Various Artists - That's The Way I Feel Now: A Tribute To Thelonious Monk (1984) {A&M Records CD 6600}
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© 1984, 1991 A&M Records | CD 6600 | Audio Master Plus Series
Jazz / Post Bop / Progressive Jazz / Modern Jazz / Jazz Funk / Prog Rock / Soul / Soft Rock

Two years after the death of pianist-composer Thelonious Monk, this very unusual and quite memorable double-LP tribute was put together. Producer Hal Willner's most successful project, the 23 interpretations of Monk originals all feature a different group of all-star players and stretch beyond jazz. Some of the performances are fairly straightforward while others are quite eccentric; certainly the crazy duet on "Four in One" by altoist Gary Windo and Todd Rundgren (on synthesizers and drum machines) and the version of "Shuffle Boil" featuring John Zorn on game calls (imitating the sound of ducks) are quite unique. There are many colorful moments throughout the project and the roster of musicians is remarkable: Bobby McFerrin with Bob Dorough, Peter Frampton, Joe Jackson, Steve Lacy, Dr. John, Gil Evans, Randy Weston, Roswell Rudd, Eugene Chadbourne and Shockabilly, the Fowler Brothers, NRBQ, Steve Khan, Carla Bley, Barry Harris, Was (Not Was) and many others. There is not a slow moment or uninteresting selection on this highly recommended set.

Take a Look at Me Now… pairs the two inaugural installments of Phil Collins' deluxe reissue series of 2016 – 1981's Face Value and 1993's Both Sides, each containing an extra disc of bonus material – in a convenient little box. Apart from empty slots dedicated for forthcoming reissues, there is no bonus here but it's a good way to not only get both of these volumes at once but to have a nice, tidy home for all of the eventual deluxe reissues at once.