A tribute to a genius of modern music - Thelonious Sphere Monk - 12 Monk compositions swingin' hard with a great trio of solidly connected high level musicians recorded in a small performance hall on a beautiful sounding Steinway grand piano, acoustic bass, and drums in 1994. Rick Roe was a two time semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition in 1993 and 1999 at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.. He was the first place winner of the 1994 Great American jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville Florida. He has two other CD's in the same trio format with different musicians - The Changeover (1996) - The Late Late Show (2001) Also, one of the creators of the Quartet "Bop Culture" with his 4th CD entitled - Bop Culture (2002), and his newest CD Rick Roe - Sphere (2005) on Unknown Records Label.
"****" "Roe has taken to legend Thelonious Monk's music like the proverbial duck to water."
"It's what he's playing aside and on top of Monk's melodies and harmonies that set him apart."
-Michael G. Nastos Host of Evening Jazz on WEMU 89.1 FM
Ypsilanti MI and noted Jazz Reviewer for many publications
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