The admonition above may seem contradictory, since Labor Day was designed to honor those who labor by giving them the day off. We presume that workers in the US and in Canada (where this is Labour Day), are observing the intent with picnics, ball games, jugs of lemonade and family festivities of all kinds. It is unlikely that Thelonious Monk (pictured) had Labor Day in mind when he composed “Work” for his first Prestige recording session. But for our purposes, let’s say that Monk intended this ingenious melody as a tribute to working men and women everywhere. Monk, bassist Gary Mapp and drummer Art Blakey recorded the piece on October 15, 1952. Let’s listen to it together on Labor Day, 2018. (Despite the cover information, Sonny Rollins does not appear on this track.)
The complete collection of Monk’s Prestige recordings has been released in this 3-CD box.
Happy Labor Day to all Rifftides Readers.
Happy Labor Day! Thanks for the Thelonious Monk tune.
Studs (Louis) Terkel was a radio/TV broadcaster/author who lived in Chicago. He passed away a few years ago. Every year he did a special Labor Day program on the Chicago public radio station. He was a big advocate for working people and a jazz afficianado, as well. He had his radio program for many years and interviewed ordinary people and celebrities. Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holliday and Leonard Bernstein were some of the people from the music world he spoke with, and also with many others, I’m sure. His intelligent and insightful conversation is greatly missed on the radio.