Thelonious with Steve Cardenas

Event information

Celebrating Monk at 100
Thelonious started a monthly residency at London’s Vortex Downstairs in January 2015, dedicated to playing Monk songs exclusively, and has since learned and performed from memory Monk’s entire song book.
For this special ‘upstairs’ centenary gig, Thelonious joins forces with New York guitarist and Monk expert Steve Cardenas.

In addition to the amazing compositions and his beautiful playing, the band take great inspiration from Monk’s legendary advice to Steve Lacy, from 1960

LET’S LIFT THE BAND STAND!!
A NOTE CAN BE SMALL AS A PIN OR AS BIG AS THE WORLD, IT DEPENDS ON YOUR IMAGINATION.
DON’T PLAY EVERYTHING (OR EVERY TIME). LET SOME THINGS GO BY, SOME MUSIC JUST IMAGINED. WHAT YOU DON’T PLAY CAN BE MORE IMPORTANT THAT WHAT YOU DO.
STOP PLAYING ALL THOSE WEIRD NOTES, PLAY THE MELODY!
WHEN YOU’RE SWINGING, SWING SOME MORE!
(WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR TONIGHT? SHARP AS POSSIBLE!)