Charlie Rouse
Encyclopedia
Charlie Rouse was an American
hard bop
tenor saxophonist and flautist
. His career is marked by the collaboration for more than ten years with Thelonious Monk
.
, before turning to the saxophone. He is best remembered for having worked with Thelonious Monk
for eleven years, from 1959 to 1970, as the saxophonist of the Thelonious Monk Quartet. He adapted his playing style, moving away from the usual bop to match Monk's music. Prior to working with Monk he was a member of big band
s, those of Billy Eckstine
, Dizzy Gillespie
, and Duke Ellington
and also worked with Clifford Brown
, Count Basie
and others.
Later, in the 1980s, he was a founding member of the group Sphere
, which began as a tribute to Monk. He also worked with Mal Waldron
's quintet.
Charlie Rouse died from lung cancer
at University Hospital in Seattle at the age of 64.
was officially named to honor Charlie Rouse by American astronomer Joe Montani of Spacewatch
, who discovered it in 1999. Earlier, in 1994, asteroid 11091 Thelonious
was also discovered and named by Montani.
With Benny Carter
With Sonny Clark
With Bennie Green
With Thelonious Monk
With Louis Smith
With Mal Waldron
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard bop
Hard bop
Hard bop is a style of jazz that is an extension of bebop music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz which incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in the saxophone and piano...
tenor saxophonist and flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
. His career is marked by the collaboration for more than ten years with 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"...
.
Biography
Rouse was born in Washington, DC in 1924. At first he worked with the clarinetClarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, before turning to the saxophone. He is best remembered for having worked with 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"...
for eleven years, from 1959 to 1970, as the saxophonist of the Thelonious Monk Quartet. He adapted his playing style, moving away from the usual bop to match Monk's music. Prior to working with Monk he was a member of big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
s, those of Billy Eckstine
Billy Eckstine
William Clarence Eckstine was an American singer of ballads and a bandleader of the swing era. Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big-band, then as the first romantic black male in popular...
, Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, and Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and also worked with Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown , aka "Brownie," was an influential and highly rated American jazz trumpeter. He died aged 25, leaving behind only four years' worth of recordings...
, Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
and others.
Later, in the 1980s, he was a founding member of the group Sphere
Sphere (band)
Sphere were an American jazz ensemble which began as a tribute to Thelonious Monk. Consisting of Monk's longtime tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Buster Williams, and Monk's former drummer Ben Riley, saxophonist Gary Bartz assumed Rouse's place after his death in...
, which began as a tribute to Monk. He also worked with Mal Waldron
Mal Waldron
Malcolm Earl Waldron was an American jazz and world music pianist and composer, born in New York City.Like his contemporaries, Waldron's roots lie chiefly in the hard bop and post-bop genres of the New York club scene of the 1950s; but with time, he gravitated more towards free jazz and composition...
's quintet.
Charlie Rouse died from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
at University Hospital in Seattle at the age of 64.
Career
- Billy EckstineBilly EckstineWilliam Clarence Eckstine was an American singer of ballads and a bandleader of the swing era. Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big-band, then as the first romantic black male in popular...
Orchestra: 1944; - Dizzy GillespieDizzy GillespieJohn Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
Big Band: 1945; - Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
Orchestra: 1949-1950; - Count BasieCount BasieWilliam "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
Octet: 1950; - Bull Moose JacksonBull Moose JacksonBenjamin Clarence "Bull Moose" Jackson was an American blues and rhythm and blues singer and saxophonist, who was most successful in the late 1940s.-Career:...
And His Buffalo Bearcats: 1953; - Oscar PettifordOscar PettifordOscar Pettiford was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer known particularly for his pioneering work in bebop.-Biography:...
Sextet: 1955; - The Thelonious Monk Quartet: 1959 - 1970
Tribute to Rouse
The asteroid 10426 Charlierouse10426 Charlierouse
10426 Charlierouse is a main-belt asteroid discovered on January 16, 1999 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.It was officially named to honor Charlie Rouse in 2007 by its discoverer, the American planetary scientist and astronomer Joe Montani, a Thelonious Monk and Rouse fan.- External links :*...
was officially named to honor Charlie Rouse by American astronomer Joe Montani of Spacewatch
Spacewatch
Spacewatch is a project at the University of Arizona led by Robert S. McMillan that specializes in the study of minor planets, including various types of asteroids and comets...
, who discovered it in 1999. Earlier, in 1994, asteroid 11091 Thelonious
11091 Thelonious
11091 Thelonious is a main-belt asteroid discovered on February 16, 1994 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak.It is named after the jazz hard bop pianist Thelonious Monk.- External links :*...
was also discovered and named by Montani.
As leader
- The Chase Is On, 1957, Bethlehem.
- Takin' Care Of Business, 1960, Prestige.
- Unsung Hero, 1960-61, Epic.
- Yeah!, 1960, Epic
- Bossa Nova BacchanalBossa Nova BacchanalBossa Nova Bacchanal is an album by American saxophonist Charlie Rouse recorded in 1962 and released on the Blue Note label. The CD reissue includes on bonus track recorded in 1965.-Reception:...
, 1962, Blue Note. - Two is One, 1973, Strata-East RecordsStrata-East RecordsStrata-East Records is an American record label specialising in jazz which was founded in 1971 by Stanley Cowell and Charles Tolliver.Gil Scott-Heron recorded his 1974 album Winter in America with Brian Jackson for Strata-East. "The Bottle" featured on the album, was a popular single...
. - Moment's Notice, 1977, Storyville.
- Cinammon Flower, 1977, RykodiscRykodiscRykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
. - Upper Manhattan Jazz Society, 1981, Enja.
- Social Call, 1984, Uptown.
- Epistrophy, 1988, Landmark
- Soul Mates (featuring Sahib ShihabSahib ShihabSahib Shihab was an American jazz saxophonist and flautist.-Biography:...
) - Brazil, 2005, Douglas Records
As sideman
With Clifford BrownClifford Brown
Clifford Brown , aka "Brownie," was an influential and highly rated American jazz trumpeter. He died aged 25, leaving behind only four years' worth of recordings...
- Memorial AlbumMemorial AlbumMemorial Album is an album by American jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown composed of tracks recorded at two sessions in 1953 and originally released on the Blue Note label in 1956...
(Blue Note, 1953)
With Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
- Further DefinitionsFurther DefinitionsFurther Definitions is a jazz album by Benny Carter and his orchestra, rereleased on CD in 1997 coupled with his follow-up album, the 1966 Additions to Further Definitions...
(1961)
With Sonny Clark
Sonny Clark
Conrad Yeatis "Sonny" Clark was an American jazz pianist who mainly worked in the hard bop idiom.-Biography:...
- Leapin' and Lopin'Leapin' and Lopin'Leapin' and Lopin is a 1961 album by jazz pianist Sonny Clark, released on Blue Note Records. Michael Nastos of Allmusic writes that "Top to bottom Leapin' and Lopin' is a definitive recording for Clark, and really for all time in the mainstream jazz idiom." All About Jazz stated "Although...
(1961)
With Bennie Green
Bennie Green
Bennie Green was an American jazz trombonist.Born in Chicago, Illinois, Green worked in the orchestras of Earl Hines and Charlie Ventura, and recorded as bandleader through the 1950s and 1960s.-As leader:...
- Bennie Green Blows His HornBennie Green Blows His HornBennie Green Blows His Horn is an album by American trombonist Bennie Green recorded in 1955 and released on the Prestige label.-Reception:...
(1955) - Back on the SceneBack on the SceneBack on the Scene is an album by American trombonist Bennie Green recorded in 1958 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 3 stars and stated "It's evident from the opening pair of Latin-flavored performances that Back on the...
(1958)
With 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"...
- Monk in FranceMonk in FranceMonk in France is an album by jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, originally released on April 18, 1961. The remastered album includes two bonus tracks, "Body and Soul" and "Crepuscule with Nellie."- Track listing :...
(1961) - Criss CrossCriss Cross (album)Criss Cross is Thelonious Monk's 26th album and his second with Columbia Records. The album consists of previously released Monk compositions that were re-recorded and re-released under Columbia Records by the Thelonious Monk Quintet.- History :...
(1962) - Monk's Dream (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) - Straight, No Chaser (1966)
- UndergroundUnderground (Thelonious Monk album)Underground is a 1968 album by Thelonious Monk. It features Monk on piano, Larry Gales on bass, Charlie Rouse on tenor sax, and Ben Riley on drums....
(1968)
With Louis Smith
Louis Smith (musician)
Louis Smith is an American jazz trumpeter.While studying at the University of Michigan, he played with visiting musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Thad Jones and Billy Mitchell, before going on to play with Sonny Stitt, Count Basie and Al McKibbon, Cannonball Adderley, Percy Heath,...
- SmithvilleSmithville (album)Smithville is the second album by American trumpeter Louis Smith recorded in 1958. It was Smith's second and last album released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
(1958)
With Mal Waldron
Mal Waldron
Malcolm Earl Waldron was an American jazz and world music pianist and composer, born in New York City.Like his contemporaries, Waldron's roots lie chiefly in the hard bop and post-bop genres of the New York club scene of the 1950s; but with time, he gravitated more towards free jazz and composition...
- The Git Go - Live at the Village VanguardThe Git Go - Live at the Village VanguardThe Git Go - Live at the Village Vanguard is a live album by jazz pianist Mal Waldron recorded at the Village Vanguard and released on the Italian Soul Note label in 1987.-Reception:...
(Soul Note, 1986) - The Seagulls of KristiansundThe Seagulls of KristiansundThe Seagulls of Kristiansund is a live album by jazz pianist Mal Waldron recorded at the Village Vanguard and released on the Italian Soul Note label in 1987.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 4½ stars....
(Soul Note, 1986)