Straight, No Chaser (composition)
Encyclopedia
"Straight, No Chaser" is a jazz standard
composed by Thelonious Monk
. It was first recorded on Monk's Blue Note Sessions
in 1951. It has been recorded numerous times by Monk and others and is one of Monk's most covered songs.
Music educator Mark C. Gridley wrote about Monk's composition style: "Monk employed simple compositional devices with very original results. His ‘Straight, No Chaser’ involves basically only one idea played again and again, each time in a different part of the measure and with a different ending."
Carmen McRae
recorded a vocal version of the tune in 1988, with words by Sally Swisher. The McRae version was titled "Get It Straight".
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
composed by Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
. It was first recorded on Monk's Blue Note Sessions
Thelonious Monk Blue Note Sessions
Jazz pianist Thelonious Monk's first sessions as a bandleader were recorded between 1947 and 1952, and released on Blue Note records as a series of 78 RPM singles. These singles were then compiled in later years--with additional performances from the sessions--into long-playing album formats...
in 1951. It has been recorded numerous times by Monk and others and is one of Monk's most covered songs.
Music educator Mark C. Gridley wrote about Monk's composition style: "Monk employed simple compositional devices with very original results. His ‘Straight, No Chaser’ involves basically only one idea played again and again, each time in a different part of the measure and with a different ending."
Carmen McRae
Carmen McRae
Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable...
recorded a vocal version of the tune in 1988, with words by Sally Swisher. The McRae version was titled "Get It Straight".
Personnel
The lineup of the original 1951 recording was:- Thelonious MonkThelonious MonkThelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Sahib ShihabSahib ShihabSahib Shihab was an American jazz saxophonist and flautist.-Biography:...
– alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions... - Milt JacksonMilt JacksonMilton "Bags" Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms...
– vibraphoneVibraphoneThe vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family.... - Al McKibbonAl McKibbonAl McKibbon was an American jazz double bassist, known for his work in bop, hard bop, and Latin jazz.In 1947, after working with Lucky Millinder, Tab Smith, J. C. Heard, and Coleman Hawkins, he replaced Ray Brown in Dizzy Gillespie's band, in which he played until 1950...
– upright bass - Art BlakeyArt BlakeyArthur "Art" Blakey , known later as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, was an American Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer and bandleader. He was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community....
– drums
By Monk
- Genius of Modern Music: Volume 2Genius of Modern Music: Volume 2Genius of Modern Music: Volume 2 is the name given to at least four different compilation albums by jazz pianist, Thelonious Monk. Each version comprises some of Monk's recordings as a band leader for Blue Note, recorded between 1947 and 1952...
(1952) - 5 by Monk by 5 (1959)
- Monk in TokyoMonk in TokyoMonk in Tokyo is the third album Thelonious Monk released in 1963 for Columbia Records, featuring several original Monk compositions as well as jazz standards.- Track listing :# "Straight, No Chaser"# "Panonica"# "Just a Gigolo"# "Jackie-Ing"...
(1963) - Miles & Monk at NewportMiles & Monk at NewportMiles & Monk at Newport was a combined album of a Miles Davis appearance at Newport with an appearance of Thelonious Monk, from the LP era. Despite the title, the two artists do not perform together on the LP, and they are represented on each side by separate live appearances at the Newport Jazz...
(1963) - Live at the It ClubLive at the It ClubLive at the It Club is the ninth album Thelonious Monk released for Columbia Records. Recorded October 31, and November 1, 1964, the album features Monk compositions as well jazz standards....
(1964) - Live at the Jazz WorkshopLive at the Jazz WorkshopLive at the Jazz Workshop is a live album by jazz musician Thelonious Monk, recorded during two shows in San Francisco in 1964 and first released in 1982, by Columbia Records.-Release history:...
(1964) - Straight, No Chaser (1966)
By others
- Milestones (1958) by Miles DavisMiles DavisMiles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
- 1958 Miles (1958) by Miles DavisMiles DavisMiles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
- The Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San FranciscoThe Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San FranciscoThe Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Francisco is a 1959 album by The Cannonball Adderley Quintet.The groundbreaking album launched "soul jazz", according to NPR, bridging "the gap between bebop and funk"....
(1959) by Cannonball Adderley - Great Jazz StandardsGreat Jazz Standards-Track listing:# "Davenport Blues" - 4:26# "Straight, No Chaser" - 6:19# "Ballad of the Sad Young Men" - 4:00# "Joy Spring" - 2:48# "Django" - 8:06...
(1959) by Gil EvansGil EvansGil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States... - Bouncing with Bud (1962) by Bud PowellBud PowellEarl Rudolph "Bud" Powell was an American Jazz pianist. Powell has been described as one of "the two most significant pianists of the style of modern jazz that came to be known as bop", the other being his friend and contemporary Thelonious Monk...
- What's NewWhat's New (Bill Evans album)What's New is an album by jazz pianist Bill Evans, released in 1969.-Track listing:# "Straight, No Chaser" – 5:40# "Lover Man" – 6:19# "What's New?" – 4:50...
(1969) by Bill EvansBill EvansWilliam John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie... - The QuintessenceThe QuintessenceThe Quintessence is an album released by Quincy Jones and his orchestra. It was released in 1961, his only effort for the Impulse! Records label...
(1961) by Quincy JonesQuincy JonesQuincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend... - Sound PiecesSound PiecesSound Pieces is an album by American jazz composer, conductor and arranger Oliver Nelson featuring performances recorded in 1966 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:...
(1966) by Oliver NelsonOliver NelsonOliver Edward Nelson was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger and composer.-Early life and career:... - Stolen Moments (1975) by Oliver NelsonOliver NelsonOliver Edward Nelson was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger and composer.-Early life and career:...
- Carmen Sings MonkCarmen Sings MonkCarmen Sings Monk is a 1988 studio album by the American jazz singer Carmen McRae, focusing on the songs composed by Thelonious Monk.-Track listing:# "Get It Straight" – 3:58...
(1988) by Carmen McRaeCarmen McRaeCarmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable... - My Foolish HeartMy Foolish Heart (Keith Jarrett album)My Foolish Heart is a double live album by American pianist Keith Jarrett's "Standards Trio" featuring Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette recorded in concert in July 2001 at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and released on the ECM label in 2007.....
(2001) by Keith JarrettKeith JarrettKeith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as... - Standards (2006) by David Benoit
- Camp MeetingCamp Meeting (album)Bruce Hornsby's tenth studio album, his first release with The Bruce Hornsby Trio, is titled Camp Meeting. Hornsby is joined in the trio by Christian McBride and Jack DeJohnette . Pat Metheny was credited as "de facto" executive producer.-Track listing:# "Questions and Answers" # "Charlie, Woody...
(2007) by Bruce HornsbyBruce HornsbyBruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...