T.S. Monk treats audience to joy of sextet

Spencer Patterson

Monday, June 13, 2005 | 8:16 a.m.

Near the end of his "Jazz in the Park" set at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, T.S. Monk led his crack sextet through a rendition of " 'Round Midnight," one of his father's enduring tunes.

"I would be remiss if we didn't play some Thelonious Monk tonight," the younger Monk told the crowd of about 1,300. "This is the quintessential Monk composition."

The song was just one of many highlights in a performance that ended with the audience calling out for a rare "Jazz in the Park" encore, and Monk and his band obliging the request despite having played longer than their allotted 90-minute time slot.

Though Monk's famous name is clearly the group's calling card, the 55-year-old drummer and bandleader stayed committed throughout the night to the group concept he has always espoused.

Aside from his eye-catching attire -- bright red pants, a straw hat and a tight black T-shirt that showed off his muscular biceps -- Monk wasn't the least bit flashy.

While carving out space for frequent solos for his five mates, and even exiting the stage during a showcase piece by tenor saxophonist Willie Williams, Monk took only two solos himself, a short one during " 'Round Midnight" and a full-fledged routine to cap the encore and the show.

Most of the time, the acclaimed drummer locked in with bassist David Jackson to anchor the band, drive the tempo and -- as Monk put it during one of his trips to a microphone near the front of the stage -- "swing you to death."

The concert started rather unceremoniously, as the six musicians labored through "Haristocracy" off Monk's 2002 album, "Higher Ground," as the sun set and the sky began to darken.

After the song ended, the bandleader revealed the culprit behind the slow start, speaking to the show's sound man.

"There was a low end, ugly kind of thing that was doing an ugly thing to us," Monk said. "It was crushing us down. But I know you're gonna fix it."

Sure enough, the mix, and the band's disposition, improved dramatically for the next number, a grooving version of "The Dealer Takes Four" off Monk's 1995 CD, "The Charm."

The rest of the set was a rousing success, with each player showing off his considerable musical chops again and again. The front line of Williams, trumpeter Winston Byrd and alto saxman Robert Porcelli worked well in tandem and individually, with Porcelli -- a veteran who worked with Latin jazz giants Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria before joining with Monk 12 years ago -- earning the loudest applause from the crowd.

Pianist Nick Rolfe did a fine job filling in for Monk sextet regular Helen Sung, changing up the band's sound nicely by sliding over to electric keyboard for "Ladera Heights."

The show served as yet another reminder that the County's free-to-the-public "Jazz in the Park" series remains one of Southern Nevada's most consistently enjoyable musical experiences.

Monk seemed to think so too, hinting that his first Las Vegas visit might not be his last.

"Next time I come to Vegas I hope to play for you longer," he said. "But I like it right here. This is a heck of a venue."