TONY MONACO is widely considered one of the most exciting, swinging, bluesy, and soulful musicians to ever play the Hammond B3 organ. His newest CD, THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY(Chicken Coup Records, January 18, 2019),demonstrates why he stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, and Shirley Scott in the B3 firmament.
THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY is Monaco's eleventh CD as a leader. The project is a bit different than his other releases, which usually feature several of Monaco's own compositions. This time around, he decided to record an eclectic mix of well-known tunes by other composers that cross genres and continents. Besides playing the B3 on this album, Monaco also plays the accordion and piano as well as sings. Columbus, OH, is his home base, and he enlisted some of the area's finest musicians for the project, including guitarist DEREK DICENZO, who has toured and recorded with Monty Alexander for many years. Dicenzo has also recorded with jazz guitar legends Jim Hall and Charlie Byrd. Drummer TONY MCCLUNG is a mainstay on the Columbus music scene and often performs with Monaco there. Monaco's wife, pianist ASAKO MONACO, is also featured on one tune. Asako is an accomplished musician and instructor, and she can be heard on several of Monaco's releases.
Monaco is a jack-of-all-trades. Besides playing, arranging, and producing the album, he also recorded, mixed, and mastered it. He's particularly proud of the album's production values. He recorded it at a very high resolution to create its crystal-clear sound.
Monaco opens the recording with "Cars Trucks Buses," a tune written by keyboardist Page McConnell of the rock band Phish. It was written for the B3 and has become a popular number in the touring band's repertoire. Although it's of unlikely provenance for a jazz treatment, Monaco infuses the tune with his own bluesy sensibility, giving it a cool, new jazz groove.
Monaco changes pace with "Ceora," a lovely bossa by Lee Morgan, one of Monaco's favorite trumpet players.
On "Root Down" by Jimmy Smith, Monaco pays tribute to one of his idols. The number was made popular - oddly enough - by the hip-hop group The Beastie Boys, though Monaco's version cleaves a lot closer to Smith's original approach. However, unlike Smith's version with Wilton Felder on bass, Monaco plays the bass line with his left hand.
"Non Ti Scordare Di Me" is a traditional Neopolitan song written in 1935. Although it's been sung by the likes of Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli, Monaco gives it his own jazz interpretation while keeping its traditional flavor by singing in Italian and playing the accordion.
Always on the lookout for new and interesting modes of expression, Monaco changes the mood again with "Awar Athar," an original composition tinged with Middle Eastern colors. Awar athar is actually a Turkish scale that Monaco learned from his Turkish student.
"Last Date" is by country pianist Floyd Cramer. Monaco is a master of using the different voices of the B3 and cranks up the reverb on this tune to give it a pedal steel guitar sound.
When Monaco isn't on tour, he has a regular gig, called "Monaco Monday," in a club in Columbus. He attracts a younger crowd who frequently calls out tunes for him to play. He's gotten so many requests for Grateful Dead songs that he decided to add a funky version of "Truckin'" to his repertoire. It first appeared on a Dead album in 1970 and was recognized by the
United States Library of Congress in 1997 as a national treasure.Monaco loves Jobim's harmonies and included the song "Triste." Jobim first wrote the Portuguese lyrics to it and then wrote the English lyrics for Frank Sinatra to sing.
Monaco closes out the CD with another tune from the rock/pop world with Leon Russell's "A Song for You." Monaco sings on this number and, for the first time, records himself playing piano.
From rock to funk to bossa and a traditional Italian song and a song using a Turkish pop scale, THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY is a departure from Monaco's other projects. Although the songs are eclectic, and some have never been tackled by a jazz musician, what remains the same is Monaco's masterful bluesy, soulful playing that comes from straight from his heart.
THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY will be available at summitrecords.com and in stores and online everywhere on January 18, 2019.
Online:
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