Ethan Iverson reflects on Thelonious Monk and Charlie Rouse

Ethan Iverson reflects on the enduring influence of Thelonious Monk in a recent column for iverson.substack.com.

The pianist began his tenure with Columbia in 1963, releasing Monk’s Dream during a period when his working band had already been performing together for approximately two years. Iverson notes that while he often favors live recordings from the “Rouse quartet” era over studio sessions, the specific track “Bright Mississippi” possesses an “undeniable swagger.”

For Iverson, the piece holds a personal significance that transcends mere musical appreciation. He writes that “Bright Mississippi” was the very first song he transcribed at the age of 13, using a mail-order Columbia House LP to learn the complex composition.

In revisiting the era, Iverson expresses a renewed admiration for the contributions of saxophonist Charlie Rouse. The 1963 ensemble featured a lineup of musicians he describes as “three other geniuses,” including Rouse, bassist John Ore, and drummer Frankie Dunlop.

Bright Mississippi (Take 1) — Thelonious Monk

The column also touches upon broader movements within the jazz community and recent musical reflections. Iverson mentions reading Marcus J. Moore’s work on Grachan Moncur III, noting that revisiting the album New Africa provided an opportunity to hear a young Andrew Cyrille working within a modal jazz context.

The jazz community has several upcoming engagements scheduled for the remainder of the month. Iverson notes that the Billy Hart Quartet is set to play at SMOKE from November 18 through November 22.

Ethan iverson playing piano during sound check with the bad plus at

The quartet’s lineup for these dates includes Mark Turner, Ben Street, and Iverson himself. The engagement marks a reunion for Turner, who has been performing on the other coast and elsewhere for some time.

Other recent musical gatherings included performances by Jacob Garchik, Sam Newsome, Skylar Tang, Peter Washington, Jason Palmer, and Kush Abadey.

The Billy Hart Quartet begins its residency at SMOKE on November 18.

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