Carlos Henriquez Reimagines Thelonious Monk on “Monk Con Clave”
Bassist and bandleader Carlos Henriquez has reimagined the music of Thelonious Monk in a new big band album called Monk Con Clave. He melds Monk’s unmistakable rhythmic language with his own Nuyorican (New York City-born Puerto Rican) identity over ten creative tracks.
“The project is just to let people know the ability of cross-pollinating jazz, Latin jazz, and Afro-Cuban music together,” he explains. “This music is beautiful, and you can dance to it.”
Hear more about the project from Henriquez:
Henriquez joined the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in 1998, where he has been honing his arranging chops ever since. He drew on members of the band to make Monk Con Clave as well as some guest artists including Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Pedro Martinez, Osmany Paredes, Robert Rodriguez, Anthony Almonte, Jeremy Bosch, and Mike Rodriguez.
The arrangements are incredible, and so are the bass lines. Henriquez’s rhythmic prowess drives the music as he explores tumbao grooves and digs into soli lines with the horns.
Check out “I Mean You,” which features a bass solo just after the head.
Monk Con Clave is out now as a digital download via Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more.
Monk Con Clave Track List:
- Round Midnight
- I Mean You
- El Son De Teo
- San Juan Hill
- Ugly Beauty
- Evidence of Four and One
- Raise Four
- Green Chimney
- Who Knows
- Plena Azul/Blue Monk
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
