That’s how critic Ben Ratliff describes Jason Moran’s interpretation of a legendary 1959 concert by Thelonius Monk. In “Echoes of Monk, 50 Years Later,” the the New York Times writer puts Moran’s “In My Mind: Monk at Town Hall” in the context of other tributes set to mark the golden anniversary of Monk’s jazz milestone. True to form, rather than merely reprise the songs Monk performed with a 10-piece band, Moran is creating a personal, transformative take on the event itself – one that he’s bringing here next May, in his first full-scale Walker performance since he helped celebrate the 2005 re-opening with a specially commissioned piece. So even though we only just noticed the first tinges of color on the oak tree out back, for jazz fans it’s not too early to anticipate spring.
