Charlie Christian-a-ning (Monk tunes?)

[joe2758]

Look at this interesting claim on wikipedia:

Kenny Clarke claimed that "Epistrophy" and "Rhythm-a-Ning", both credited to Monk, were actually written by Christian.^[16] The "Rhythm-a-Ning" line is heard on "Down on Teddy's Hill" and behind the introduction on "Guy's Got to Go" from the Newman recordings. It is also a line from Mary Lou Williams's "Walkin' and Swingin'".^[17] Clarke further commented that Christian first showed him the chords to "Epistrophy" on a ukulele.^[

[Strat-itis]

I believe it. He harvested melody ideas, I surmise as nods. Evonce starts with Bird's Cool Blues (which might also be a traditional jazz melody).

[David B]

Miles Okazaki, who is a true expert on Monk's music (having recorded ALL his compositions for solo guitar) and who occasionally posts in this very forum, addressed this in a great Instagram post last year. Check it out!

"Initially called "Fly Rite" and then "Iambic Pentameter", Monk finally named it "Epistrophy". Clarke claims credit for the melodic line. He said he came up with the melody after Charlie Christian showed him a fingering while fooling around with a friend's ukulele."
- Robin D.G. Kelley "Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original"

According to Kelley's notes, this comes from a Leonard Feather interview with Kenny Clarke. I messed around with a ukulele to see if it makes sense. What do you think?

Direct link to Okazaki's post: Instagram

[Dean_G]

It's not unusual for improvised lines and riffs to be appropriated into tunes. And considering Monk and CC hung at Mintons it's reasonable that there was exchange of ideas. I read somewhere that the only guitar player Monk liked was Charlie Christian, so there's that. Without hearing CCs version who knows, it's easy to imagine him playing those kind of figures but did he construct the tunes?