Organ Monk Trio
Arthur's Tavern57 Grove Street, New York 10014
Organ Monk Trio brings Gregory Lewis’ all-star organ project to Arthur’s Tavern for a late-night set. The billed trio centers on Lewis’ Hammond organ work and his longstanding exploration of Thelonious Monk’s compositions. No other musicians are named for this performance, but the group format points to a focused reading of Monk’s idiosyncratic music through the sound that became Lewis’ calling.
Lewis is a New York City jazz and blues presence who grew up in Long Island City during the soul and funk era. His father’s records first drew him to Monk, and he was already playing professionally around his native city as a teenager. While studying in The New School’s jazz program, mentor Gil Coggins sent him to a substitute job where a Hammond B3 stood in place of a piano, a decisive turn in his career. Hearing Larry Young play “Monk’s Dream” clarified the path: Lewis wanted to interpret Monk on organ. He has since led Organ Monk ensembles in trio, quartet, and quintet forms, building a body of work around that distinctive meeting of Hammond B3 and Monk’s writing.
Arthur's Tavern is a basement club in the West Village where jazz, Latin, and blues are played with deep roots and modern energy. The stage is small, the room intimate, and the audience sits close to the musicians, often with a few people standing near the back. Shows start around 5 PM and go late, with some sets extending into the early hours. The club has a history of hosting top-tier performers since 2001, including regular appearances by Yuichi Hirakawa Jazz Group. It's a place where music is the center, and conversation flows naturally between the audience and the performers.