Michael Cooke of Subud L.A. has this report:
Michael Cooke
Wild what strikes within an individual such deep-cored resonance. In my teens I was awash with the expanse of astonishing artists in acting, literature, music. One particular person gave me goose bumps when I first heard him then at the age of fourteen right up to this very writing: legendary Jazz giant, pianist, composer Thelonious Sphere Monk (his actual given name as shown on his Birth Certificate).
I was nineteen when I was opened in Subud New York. Years later I moved to Los Angeles to pursue my acting career. Along that path I met a beautiful woman and co-produced two beautiful children. In Subud LA was the longtime member, the veritable Herbert Taylor. Chatting one time I spoke of my love of Thelonious. Herbert recalled there was a mention in the San Francisco Chronicle that spoke of Thelonious having been “a devotee of SUBUD”. That tip led me to some investigative reporting and I located the factual clip from the Chronicle, dated Oct. 27, 1959. It would appear from the evidence (note: A composition of Thelonious’s is entitled “Evidence”) that in fact, miraculously, Thelonious, my beloved colossus, is also a fellow Subud brother.
Is the following music from the nafsu or just outside? (Editor)
super portrayals 🙂
super portrayals 🙂 very eclectic 🙂 hopefully not too arcane for visitors 🙂 loved your meeting with Albert Finney in the 70s – we have very good BDs of both Gumshoe & Wolfen 🙂
Wow… I’m wowed????????????????????
I had one of those “If you can remember you weren’t there” blackouts. I remember sitting
in the chicken cage for minors at the Blackhawk, but can’t remember a note. I also remember a craving to hear Monk solo, and soon after “Thelonious Alone in San Francisco” came out. Lucas Hess also saw him.
T Monk featured upfront in SICA-USA! Never expected that. Just to jump on the bandwagon, let me report that I saw the Monk quartet many times, at the Blackhawk and the Jazz Workshop in SF. Thanks to M Cooke and P Nelson for lighting this up for us.
Well sleuthed!
I have seen film of Monk going around in a circle during a Coltrane solo and put it in a poem, see: http://globalvoicesradio.org/First_Breath.html and in that poem written about 4.5 years before I was opened, I had a sense that Monk did that spinning for self-preservation, as noted in this Monk poem: http://globalvoicesradio.org/TM.htm
Spinning in a circle
the joy of being
or
the antidote to madness,
the price to pay?
Funny how the muse works.
Not outside at all. Very specific, structured, and within the changes. Also, cooler than cool!
What a time. You know the energy was just in the air. Hanging around and you could breathe it in. Some of it hard edge and you had to turn it down or explode. Some of it would just carry you away. Always wondered if Monk and Coltrane, Donald Byrd and Dave Brubeck jumped on the Bapak train. So many of them must have. So glad to find out Monk did. It’s just too good. You know that era was special and not a lot of folks knew why. Some did and some still do. Glad Monk took a deep breath and was moved. Wonder who all he shared it with in his circle. As he walked in circles. Sorry to say I miss it, the music. But the Latihan what a river what an ocean. The Latihan at least we still have it to remind us and move us on. We wonder where the energy is and what God is waiting for and why it’s not happening. Monk made it happen. It happened and the train moves. Glad God sent Bapak to get it moving and hope we can all stay on board and hope Monk is doing well.