Short Life of Barbara Monk


Short Life of Barbara Monk is an album by the American jazz pianist Ran Blake featuring saxophonist Ricky Ford recorded in 1986 and released on the Italian Soul Note label. The album's dedicatee died from cancer and was the daughter of the jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.

Reception

The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected this album as part of its suggested Core Collection.
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars stating "Tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford works surprisingly well with Blake, whose phrasing and use of space are unusual, while his interpretations are sometimes based on the feeling he gets from song titles rather than the chord changes... Another intriguing Ran Blake set".

Track listing

All compositions by Ran Blake except where noted.
  1. "I've Got You Under My Skin" - 3:37
  2. "Una Matica de Ruda" - 0:54
  3. "Artistry in Rhythm" - 5:54
  4. "Una Matica de Ruda" - 0:58
  5. "In Between" - 4:06
  6. "Short Life of Barbara Monk" - 7:24
  7. "Impresario of Death" - 3:45
  8. "23 Degrees North, 82 Degrees West" - 2:44
  9. "Dark" - 4:49
  10. "Vradiazi" - 2:51
  11. "Pourquoi, Laurent?" - 4:31

    Personnel