Monk's Casino

Monk's Casino is an album by Alexander von Schlippenbach, released in 2005. A kaleidoscopic exploration of Thelonious Monk's compositions, blending free jazz improvisation with intricate melodic interpretations. 'Monk's Casino' is notable for its ambitious scope, featuring interpretations of over twenty of Monk's compositions. The album received critical acclaim for its inventive arrangements and has been influential in contemporary jazz circles, inspiring other musicians to explore Monk's work through the lens of free improvisation. Here's what makes it worth your time and what to listen to next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

• 1 Thelonious 3:18
• 2 Locomotive 1:37
• 3 Trinkle-Tinkle 4:10
• 4 Stuffy Turkey 0:44
• 5 Coming on the Hudson 3:40
• 6 Intro Bemsha Swing 3:29
• 7 Bemsha Swing / 52nd Street Theme Standout 5:10
• 8 Pannonica Standout 1:36
• 9 Evidence 4:25
• 10 Misterioso / Sixteen / Skippy 10:05
• 11 Monk’s Point 1:23
• 12 Green Chimneys / Little Rootie Tootie 5:21
• 13 San Francisco Holiday 1:20
• 14 Off Minor 2:23
• 15 Gallop’s Gallop 5:35
• 16 Crepuscule With Nellie 2:17
• 17 Hackensack 3:56
• 18 Consecutive Seconds 2:47

Disc 2

• 1 Brilliant Corners Standout 4:14
• 2 Eronel 3:35
• 3 Monk’s Dream 2:19
• 4 Shuffle Boil 2:46
• 5 Hornin’ In 5:21
• 6 Criss Cross 3:19
• 7 Introspection 4:14
• 8 Ruby, My Dear 0:58
• 9 In Walked Bud 4:22
• 10 Let’s Cool One / Let’s Call This 3:53
• 11 Jackie-ing 2:45
• 12 Humph 3:11
• 13 Functional 0:53
• 14 Work / I Mean You 3:53
• 15 Monk’s Mood 3:21
• 16 Four in One / ’Round About Midnight 6:21
• 17 Played Twice 5:37
• 18 Friday the 13th 1:24
• 19 Ugly Beauty 2:45
• 20 Bye-Ya / Oska T. 0:48

Disc 3

• 1 Bolivar Blues / Well You Needn’t 2:48
• 2 Brake’s Sake 1:22
• 3 Nutty 2:41
• 4 Who Knows 2:28
• 5 Blue Hawk / North of the Sunset / Blue Sphere / Something in Blue 1:40
• 6 Boo Boo’s Birthday 4:31
• 7 Ask Me Now 5:12
• 8 Think of One 2:29
• 9 Raise Four 0:58
• 10 Japanese Folk Song / Children’s Song / Blue Monk 5:35
• 11 We See 3:11
• 12 Bright Mississippi 2:41
• 13 Reflections 1:48
• 14 Five Spot Blues 1:29
• 15 Light Blue 0:59
• 16 Teo 3:47
• 17 Rhythm-A-Ning 5:57
• 18 A Merrier Christmas 0:41
• 19 Straight No Chaser / Epistrophy 6:43

Learn More

What to play next

Listen next

Liminal Field

2019

Go back to

Swinging the Bim

2000