Esbjörn Svensson Trio e.s.t. - e.s.t. Plays Monk Thelonius Monk was one of the truly great piano geniuses on the international jazz scene. Esbjörn Svensson is one of the truly great piano talents on the Scandinavian jazz scene.
In EST, who previously has released some critically acclaimed albums – „From Gagarin´s Point Of View „(ACT 9005-2), „Winter In Venice“ (ACT 9007-2) and lately „Good Morning Susie Soho“ (ACT 9009-2) – we have Magnus Öström on drums, Dan Berglund on double-bass and, of course, Esbjörn Svensson himself, who was an infant when he practically learnt to walk to the sound of „In Walked Bud“. „My father was and is a great jazz lover. So I was very young when I first came in touch with Monk´s music.
He is the kind of composer that cannot be avoided“, says Esbjörn Svensson. „Plays Monk“ is the telling title of the CD from 1996 by Esbjörn Svensson Trio (EST), now released on ACT. Ten of the most beloved songs by Monk, from nocturnal, lovingly caressing „`Round Midnight“ to the gay and sprightly „Rhythm-A-Ning“, gets here a becomingly shining new colour.
The music of Thelonius Monk is a peculiar mixture of simplicity and and complexity; of larguorous ballads and rhythms turned inside out. The music is a challenge. „You can always give it your personal touch“, explains Esbjörn. On „Plays Monk“you notice this over and over again.
