[Harp-L] Monk Alters Chi

[Jonathan Metts <jonathan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've had this CD for a couple of years but have never written about it 
before, and I haven't seen it discussed either.  It's by 
Michalek/Strohne, i.e. Harp-L's own Buddha/Gypsy with his former bass 
partner.  I've had the disc in my car for the past week and have fallen 
in love with it yet again, so I wanted to share some thoughts.

Monk Alters Chi is both a harmonica album and a jazz album, and it 
exists as both simultaneously and in perfect harmony.  I say it's a 
harmonica album because Chris's playing is right up front in every song. 
 Most of the tracks have no other lead instrument, or even any chordal 
instrument at all.  Others feature lovely mandolin playing for a little 
Celtic flavor, but the harmonica is always the star.  Aside from the 
unusual musical context, what sets the playing on this album apart for 
me is how technical the playing is at such slow tempos.  Chris can 
definitely play fast (and he does on "Freedom Fries"), but much of the 
harmonica on this album is quite slow and even sparse.  The way it holds 
your attention is largely due to the mind-blowing vibrato; the way Chris 
uses it here makes me realize what an important technique this is on the 
instrument, and how it can open up melodies that just wouldn't sound 
good otherwise.

Secondly, this is a jazz album.  Like most jazz, it didn't grab me on 
the first or even second listen.  I must have heard Kind of Blue half a 
dozen times before I started to really pay attention to it.  The nice 
thing about Monk Alters Chi is that it's very diverse within the loose 
definition of jazz music.  There are many variations and styles, and it 
gets particularly crazy towards the end.  There aren't many players who 
could record an entire album of jazz on the diatonic, much less one this 
good, and I cherish it among my collection of blues-heavy harmonica 
music.  The great thing about Chris's playing is that while it will 
often trick your mind into thinking "that sounds like a chromatic!" or 
"that could only be played on a chromatic!", he will suddenly throw in a 
hearty bend or other flourish that is distinctly diatonic in nature. 
The only other time I've had this kind of mental confusion from hearing 
a harmonica was seeing Howard Levy play his diatonic concerto with the 
Nashville Chamber Orchestra.  (I get easily confused by Jason Ricci's 
playing too, but that's a completely different though equally wonderful 
phenomenon.)

I'm eagerly awaiting the Buddha's next album and have to ask about it 
every time I talk to him.  I know it has been held up for numerous 
reasons, but it will be worth the wait.  Until then, there are plenty of 
you who need to catch up with Monk Alters Chi.  Any fan of Toots, Levy, 
Stevie Wonder, Django Reinhardt, jazz, or astounding harmonica playing 
will probably love it.  I've played it for many friends who loved it 
despite having a dislike or disinterest in other harmonica music.  I'm 
not doing PR for Chris, nor did I tell him that I was going to post 
this.  I just got so enthusiastic about the album that I had to finally 
say something to my fellow Harp-Lers.  Seek out this fantastic piece of 
music.

Jonathan Metts
Boulder, CO