OF THE many Thelonious Monk quotes that get tossed around (and there are a plenty many), my favorite is his answer to the much-asked question “Where is Jazz going?”
Monk’s retort was quick and sharp: “Where’s jazz going? I don’t know. Maybe it’s going to hell. You can’t make anything go anywhere. It just happens.”
I was reminded of this the other night at Walt Disney Concert Hall as a friend and I settled in into a nice aerie of seats above the stage for a concert featuring pianist Brad Mehldau and his trio and tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman fronting his quartet. Tables turned, I for once was the very happy “plus-one” this evening. 
I had spent so much of my early jazz-listening days running around hoping I could hear the last of the masters play in person. I got to see many — Elvin Jones, Stan Getz, Max Roach. But there were so many I had missed, some by just a hair. It always hit hard when a name would float up in an obituary, another one down, another one gone. It was like chasing ghosts.
What I heard in Wednesday night’s show was sure evidence of the past and a promise for the future. 
Two master musicians in the prime of their playing years showing not telling and, in the process, eloquently answering that question. Mehldau’s set was a study in flowing introspection — standards, originals and a props-nod to lesser-known players of the bebop/post-bop era (Case-in-point: You bet I went home and pulled out some Elmo Hope). Redman’s quartet came out swinging — literally: A solid, mood- shifting groove. The quartet went on to lay out a collage of tunes that were pulled both from the American Songbook (a crack-your-heart-wide-open interpretation of “Stardust” for one) and originals — late in the set Redman stared down one his own compositions “GJ”, which he introduced with this admission. “Well, I wrote it, now I’ve got to stick with it.”
And sewn within that tossed off remark, yet another promise.
Here’s that nod to Elmo Hope that sent me digging:
Jazz Appreciation month is off to a very good start …
native to the place 
Your post inspired me to look up the Monk Concert I had the good fortune to attend:
July 3, 1975 — Avery Fisher Hall. Oregon opened, and Keith Jarrett followed with a quartet (Dewey Redman, Paul Motian and Charlie Haden. Monk also brought a quartet: Larry Ridley, Paul Jeffrey and his son TS Monk Jr on drums.
Unforgettable.
I’m sure you can relate: Months are fine, but it’s been a jazz appreciation life here.
Wow! What a lineup. Incredible. Yes, I agree. Months are fine, but I feel so lucky to have been able to stretch out into the long-haul. I hope you’re well, John.