Sketchbook Series #19 ReMonkability: patrick brennan / TAYLOR HO BYNUM / HILLIARD GREENE / MICHAEL T.A. THOMPSON
Downtown Music Gallery13 Monroe Street, New York 10002
ReMonkability brings patrick brennan’s Monk-recomposition project to Downtown Music Gallery in a quartet with Brennan on alto saxophone and recomposition, Taylor Ho Bynum on trumpet, Hilliard Greene on contrabass, and Michael T.A. Thompson on drums. The project revisits Thelonious Monk through arrangements that look for new possibilities inside his "brilliantly cornered sonic constructs," remaining "saturated in" and extended from Monk’s sound logic.
New York City-based Brennan describes his work as creating "specific sonic and conceptual environments for collective improvisation." Point of Departure has called him "a highly expressive player possessed of a brilliant economy of line," while Time Out heard "an abstract conception balanced with plenty of wit and soul."
Downtown Music Gallery offers a unique experience for those drawn to adventurous live music in a basement setting beneath an art gallery and beauty salon. The room is modest in size, fostering a close connection between performers and audience, who gather mostly to listen attentively. Shows are free with donations encouraged, and concerts typically begin early evening on Tuesdays, featuring multiple sets of creative, often experimental music. The venue lacks a full kitchen but has a bar, encouraging a focused yet relaxed environment where conversation takes a backseat to the music. Located on the east side of Chinatown, near East Broadway and the Bowery's end, it’s accessible by subway and bus. The space’s raw, unadorned walls and intimate layout make it a distinctive spot for discovering innovative sounds in Manhattan.