The 100th birth year of American pianist Thelonious Monk is a great occasion for the Metropole Orchestra Big Band to breathe new life into his ever relevant compositions. The idea came from Japanese conductor/composer Miho Hazama. She emphasizes that Monk was not only a wonderful piano player, but that he really should be remembered for his unique, inventive compositions: ‘He wrote simple melodies to which he added very inventive harmonies. His solo recordings are perfect for converting his compositions into interesting big band arrangements.

Miho Hazama conductor, Marc Scholten, Paul van der Feen, Leo Janssen, Sjoerd Dijkhuizen and Max Boeree saxophone, Ray Bruinsma, Martijn de Laat, Nico Schepers and Rik Mol trumpet, Jan Oosting, Louk Boudesteijn and Jan Bastiani trombone, Martin van den Berg bass trombone, Martijn Vink drums, Peter Tiehuis guitar, Aram Kersbergen bass, Hans Vroomans piano/synthesizer