Terry Adams and NRBQ is set to perform at Johnny D’s next Tuesday, December 29, presenting both Adams’ solo works and band favorites. — Photo by Dave Yandell

By Mark Casale

Pianist/founder of NRBQ Terry Adams chose to take a long and winding path to the recording of Talk Thelonious: NRBQ+ plays Terry Adams arrangements of Thelonious Monk Songs, his new album of compositions by jazz legend Thelonious Monk.

“I have so much respect for him,” says Adams. “I spent a lot of time thinking about those songs, wanting to do them with the right spirit, but also make them sound different from what people have heard before.” In Adams’ case, “a lot of time” means nearly 50 years.

Adams, along with NRBQ, will be highlighting the new release with a show at Johnny D’s on Tuesday, December 29 at 10:00 p.m.

“The first Monk song I heard was when I was about 14. It was Off Minor by his septet,” says Adams. “I had begun to figure out some things about music I was hearing, such as the I, IV or V chord and then beyond. But after hearing Monk, suddenly I knew nothing. It was a great mystery that sounded wonderful.” Adams recalls with a smile that “I wrote him a letter immediately asking for the chords to the bridge of Off Minor, but he didn’t answer me.”

Adams says, “There’s an air about Monk’s music that I feel should go beyond the written parts. You can hear it on his performances even when he’s not playing. Some people don’t approach it that way.  This music is in a special place and the performer of it should be too.”

Terry Adams formed NRBQ in 1966 with the express desire of having a band that “can play any song it wants, regardless of what that style is.” Their self-titled first album on Columbia Records from 1969 contains songs that range from Eddie Cochran’s C’mon Everybody all the way to Sun Ra’s Rocket #9. Over the years, throughout countless live performance and many well-regarded recordings, NRBQ has succeeded admirably in espousing Adams’ mission statement.

Enjoy Adams and NRBQ next week as they present their tribute to Monk as well as entertain with familiar favorites.