Rhythm-a-ning – “Rhythm Changes” tune* by Thelonius Monk
LEAD SHEETS
Download C Inst. (piano, flute, voice, violin, guitar, drums)
Download Bb Inst. (trumpet, tenor sax, clarinet)
Download Eb Inst. (also sax, bari sax)
Download Bass Clef (bass, cello, trombone)
LISTENING
Original Recording (Monk Quartet)
Monk’s Version from 1961: Listen for phrasing and inspiration; Notice the way the group (Thelonious Monk (p), Charlie Rouse (ts), John Ore (b), Frankie Donlop (d)) are holding the form together even though there’s intentional rhythmic displacement used by Monk in his comping on beat 3 of the first bar of the turnaround. It’s important to understand (and integrate) this phrase to fully understand this tune.)
Vocal Recording with Carmen McRae
BACKING TRACKS
Medium Tempo (130 BPM) w/ Guitar
Medium-Fest Tempo (196 BPM) w/ Piano
Fast Tempo (230 BPM), includes melody, first chorus, open solo section
*Song based off the chord changes of “I Got Rhythm” by Gershwin but with a different melody. Also called a “contrafact.”