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1. Brake’s Sake feat. Dontae Winslow
piano, synthesizer: John Beasley
acoustic and electric bass: Ben Shepherd
drums: Terreon Gully
solo: Dontae Winslow – trumpet and rap
trumpets: Bijon Watson, Jamie Hovorka, James Ford, Brian Swartz
woodwinds: Bob Sheppard, Danny Janklow, Tom Luer
2. Played Twice
piano, synthesizer: John Beasley
acoustic and electric bass: Ben Shepherd
drums: Terreon Gully
solos: Ben Shepherd – bass; Bob Sheppard – soprano saxophone
trumpets: Bijon Watson, Jamie Hovorka, James Ford, Brian Swartz
woodwinds: Bob Sheppard, Danny Janklow, Tom Luer
3. Crepuscule With Nellie
piano, synthesizer: John Beasley
acoustic and electric bass: Ben Shepherd
drums: Terreon Gully
guest appearance by Regina Carter – violin
trumpets: Bijon Watson, Jamie Hovorka, James Ford, Brian Swartz
woodwinds: Bob Sheppard, Danny Janklow, Tom Luer
4. Evidence
piano, synthesizer: John Beasley
acoustic and electric bass: Ben Shepherd
drums: Terreon Gully
guest appearances by Kamasi Washington – tenor saxophone; Conrad Herwig – trombone
solo: Ben Shepherd – bass, trumpet: Brandyn Philips
woodwinds: Thomas Peterson, Adam Schroeder, Alex Budman
5. Ugly Beauty/Pannonica
piano, synthesizer: John Beasley
acoustic and electric bass: Ben Shepherd
drums: Terreon Gully
solo: Francisco Torres – trombone
trumpets: Bijon Watson, Jamie Hovorka, James Ford, Brian Swartz
woodwinds: Bob Sheppard, Danny Janklow, Tom Luer
6. I Mean You
piano, synthesizer: John Beasley
acoustic and electric bass: Ben Shepherd
drums: Terreon Gully
solos: Danny Janklow – alto saxophone; Brian Swartz – trumpet; Adam Schroeder – baritone saxophone
trumpets: Bijon Watson, Jamie Hovorka, James Ford, Brian Swartz
woodwinds: Bob Sheppard, Danny Janklow, Tom Luer
7. Light Blue
piano, synthesizer: John Beasley
acoustic and electric bass: Ben Shepherd
drums: Terreon Gully
solos: Brian Swartz – trumpet; John Beasley – organ
trumpets: Bijon Watson, Jamie Hovorka, James Ford, Brian Swartz
woodwinds: Bob Sheppard, Danny Janklow, Tom Luer
drums: Gene Coye
8. Dear Ruby
piano, synthesizer: John Beasley
acoustic and electric bass: Ben Shepherd
drums: Terreon Gully
guest appearance by Dianne Reeves – vocals,t rumpet: Brandyn Philips
woodwinds: Thomas Peterson, Adam Schroeder, Alex Budman
9. Criss Cross
piano, synthesizer: John Beasley
acoustic and electric bass: Ben Shepherd
drums: Terreon Gully
guest appearance by Pedrito Martinez – conga and bata
solos: Tom Luer – tenor saxophone; John Beasley – piano
trumpets: Bijon Watson, Jamie Hovorka, James Ford, Brian Swartz
woodwinds: Bob Sheppard, Danny Janklow, Tom Luer
10. Work
piano, synthesizer: John Beasley
acoustic and electric bass: Ben Shepherd
drums: Terreon Gully
solo: Ryan Dragon – trombone
trumpets: Bijon Watson, Jamie Hovorka, James Ford, Brian Swartz
woodwinds: Bob Sheppard, Danny Janklow, Tom Luer
If one were to have access to a time machine and could go back to see legendary bandleader Thelonious Monk in concert during the 1950s and ‘60s, you’d likely see him so compelled by the music that he would retreat from his piano mid-performance and conduct his band, no matter how small or large, through an impassioned dance. But behind the joyous dance that overtook the stage lay the societal struggles a jazz musician endured to present that 90 minutes of musical freedom – a tale of police harassment, systemic oppression and constant battles for equality. Fast forward to 2017 and composer-arranger-pianist John Beasley is using Monk’s spontaneous movements and experiences as the basis for conducting radically reconceived versions of the late composer’s music for his critically acclaimed big band project: MONK’estra.
John Beasley has shared stages with some of the most important names in jazz during his three-decade career. From his days as a member of Freddie Hubbard’s quintet and one of Miles Davis’ last touring bands to his role as Music Director for Jazz Day galas for the Thelonious Monk Institute, Beasley has had a first-hand involvement with the genre's never-ending evolution.