Ran Blake - Short Life of Barbara Monk (Soul Note, 1986)

This post is by Dan

Ran Blake (p); Ricky Ford (ts); Ed Felson (b); John Hazilla (d)

Recorded August 26, 1986

It may sound strange, but I never fully understood Ran Blake. I've enjoyed hearing his numerous recordings, read about him, and respected his achievements. But understand? Not so easy. 

I recently discovered that I am not alone. None other than Francis Davis, who wrote the liner notes to Short Life of Barbara Monk, confesses that he "finally learned how to listen to him" (In the Moment, p. 238). Since Blake is an intellectual musician, it's useful to have someone like Davis explain some of the more elusive aspects of his music.

On the surface, this is a great album that doesn't depend on cerebral diagnosis to be enjoyed. It's beautifully conceived and executed, the band is exactly what's called for, it's approachable, and it evokes an emotional response from the listener. I highly recommend it as a favorite of the decade. 

Nonetheless, it's helpful to know some of the back story. First of all, Barbara Monk was Thelonious' daughter, who died of cancer in 1984 at the age of 30. Her father died just two years earlier. Blake knew the Monk family well, and he wrote the title piece after dreaming of Barbara, also known as Boo-Boo, ice-skating in New York. According to Davis, the piece makes a "programmatic juxtaposition of timeless folk gaiety and modern atonal brittleness." I agree, but it's more than juxtaposition. Blake is not a dazzling pianist by any means, but every note he plays makes a lasting impression. Blake's limited facility is no barrier to appreciating the "ambivalencies and anxieties that can't be expressed in dialogue," to quote Davis' liner notes again. 

As for the quartet, Ricky Ford is clearly the central figure, and Blake's most accomplished former student. He's more subdued here that on his own albums. As with his work in Abdullah Ibrahim's Ekaya, he subordinates himself to the composer's vision of an album.  

One poignant minor detail: the beautiful cover photo of Ms. Monk was taken by Nica de Koenigswarter, who was a special friend and patron of Thelonious Monk.