The Adventurous Monk

Pianist Eric Reed has recorded several albums since his 1990 debut, *Soldier’s Hymn*. Three of those—2011\'s *The Dancing Monk*, 2012\'s *The Baddest Monk*, and 2014\'s *The Adventurous Monk*—focus on the singular oeuvre of Thelonious Monk. This release, the third, features bassist Ben Williams and drummer Gregory Hutchinson, plus sometimes tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake, who also appeared on *The Baddest Monk*. (In 2002, Blake won the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition.) “Thelonious,” a piece from Monk’s early period, starts things off, and it swings fiercely. Hutchinson is particularly inventive on “Work,” a difficult composition that the group plays with great fluidity. “Reflections,” a sort of knotty ballad, finds Reed bringing bluesy feeling to his impressive solo, and “Evidence” is given fresh life with a version that finds the musicians operating independently but together in intriguing ways. Blake spins out a solo with great old-school feeling on the easygoing “Gallop’s Gallop,” and vocalist Charenee Wade shines on “(Dear Ruby) Ruby, My Dear,” bringing precision and power to the Sally Swisher–penned lyrics.