r/ModernJazz

Here is Mohini Dey's live performance from Perfect Note in Atlanta, GA on 8/10/2026. It was Mohini's first time playing in Atlanta.

This week, he released three albums in his solo piano series. One was focused on Mozart, but volumes 3 and 4 were focused on Monk (v.3 Monk Meditations and v.4 Monk Movements).

The Movement album seems closer to the spirit and sound of Monk. To my ears, Meditations seeks to round off some of the sharp edges to make the music more palatable. To be clear, neither of these albums consists primarily of Monk compositions. At least half of the songs on each volume list Batiste and his "recording arranger" as songwriters. But even those songs (like the one linked above) sometimes lean heavily on a Monk motif (from Brilliant Corners in this case).

If you've listened to either album, let me know what you think.

And more importantly, which pianist, do you think was the best interpreter of Monk's music? Who took it to new and interesting places?

Before released… Basically because I'm the one who recorded it! I recorded this in Boston in 1992. Every time I hear this, even with the roughness of the recording, it is beyond smoking!

Here is a live performance by Esperanza Spalding from 2026 Atlanta Jazz Festival in Atlanta, GA on 5/24/2026. Check out the eclectic performance by the Grammy award winning artist.