Jason Moran and The Big Bandwagon In My Mind: Monk at Town Hall 1959

“. . . the most provocative thinker in current jazz.” -Rolling Stone

In 2005, the Walker commissioned pianist/composer Jason Moran to create his acclaimed music-theater work MILESTONE. He returns with a multimedia performance built around the extraordinary “tentet” recording of Thelonius Monk’s legendary 1959 Town Hall Concert. Integrating samples of Monk’s original music, conversations, and photos with his own interpretations of Monk tunes, Moran leads us deep into the historic jazz event, while simultaneously bringing us headlong into the 21st century. “It’s much larger than a tribute project,” Moran says. “Monk is the reason I started playing piano. I owe him all the investigation I can do.” Jason Moran (piano), Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Logan Richardson III (alto saxophone), Walter Smith III (tenor saxophone), Isaac Smith (trombone), Bob Stewart (tuba), Tarus Mateen (bass), and Nasheet Waits (drums).

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The Northrop Jazz season at the University of Minnesota is supported by KBEM Jazz88 FM and the Twin Cities Jazz Society.

The presentation of Jason Moran has been made possible with support from the Chamber Music America’s Presenting Jazz Program, funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.