I don't know of a style that can capture Monk's Intro on this tune, since he was playing off of the ONE, gradually shifting it to the backbeat by around the middle. But there is typically no accompaniment for that Intro, it was just Monk at the piano. In his later renditions he changed that intro much, as well as pushing the tempo, I like the later version but it seems most folks remember something more like the original.

A Youtube of an original live performance of Blue Monk by the master himself

Another, where the rhythm section participates in the Intro, likely a good Sax choice as the style would stay the same.

However, Blue Monk is actually a rather simple walking blues accompaniment, there should be plenty of good choices in your Styles folder, if you have them all.

I recommend loading the song, then opening the Stylepicker, and use the Play when Doubleclicked option to Audition likely candidates to find the one that you would want to play along with.

Pay attention to bars 11 and 12 on the head of this tune, reiterating the theme phrase but on the two and not the one, if done properly it should make the listener think a beat got dropped or added when such is not the case.

BTW -- the new Jazz RealTracks, announced today, have some GREAT candidates for this number, I should think, haven't tried that yet, so I'm off to see.

In any case, the accompaniment is a rather simple walking blues thang and finding a style should not be a problem here. The trick is to play it "four to the floor" while the bass and drums are simply walking behind that.

Thelonius Monk is a Melodius Thunk,


--Mac

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