Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People’s Rights general secretary GAWAIN LITTLE discusses the impact of the US-Israeli war on the Iranian people and economy
Latest editorial
Monk: a spirited goodbye
In December 1969 at the end of a tour Theolonious Monk plays in Paris – a place of his earlier exile – for the last time and summons all his creativity to make the evening an unforgettable experience for those present, writes Chris Searle
Capitalism has extracted itself from crisis before, argues PRABHAT PATNAIK – but through methods no longer available. So it is turning to authoritarianism, militarism and neocolonialism
The five young men killed in the A66 crash were responsible for a devastating tragedy — but the crash should force us to ask difficult questions about wider society, argues RENATA MEDEIROS MIRRA
Britain funds the policing of black culture 16 times better than the culture itself. The Diamond Jubilee is the moment to end that, argues CLAUDIA WEBBE
Despite Andy Burnham’s declaration defending the continued partition of the island, all major international and internal trends are converging to make Irish reunification inevitable
Humans are part of the ‘animal kingdom’ – and of nature in general – but also distinct from it and labour (work) is part of what makes us unique, declared Engels. His insights 150 years ago into how our species came to be and how we differ from the rest of nature, are as important today as they were then, says the MARX MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Paris 1969 by Theolonious Monk (Blue Note)
This recording of a Paris concert at the Salle Pleyel in December 1969 catches Monk not only in his declining years, but with a new bassist and drummer and with the sudden guest appearance on the final two tracks of the legendary drums virtuoso Philly Joe Jones, playing alongside the great pianist and his longtime tenor saxophone confrere Charlie Rouse.
Monk had been touring Europe with Rouse, an unknown bassist from the Berklee School of Music called Nate Hygelund and a 17-year-old drummer Austin “Paris” Wright, the son of bassist Herman Wright, all of whom had performed at Ronnie Scott’s in London, at Duke Ellington’s 70th birthday party tribute in Berlin, at Cologne and Italy before they arrived in Paris.
Similar stories
Chris Searle speaks to US pianist RAN BLAKE
CHRIS SEARLE waxes lyrical over Alan Skidmore’s tenor-tonic, Jeremy Pelt, and the Yusef Lateef Quartet
CHRIS SEARLE recommends a new album featuring Pat Thomas and Ahmed, and marvels at the tempestuous power of a live performance
As part of the 2025 London Jazz Festival Rich Mix offered intriguing sessions titled 'Persian Jazz,' CHRIS SEARLE was there