Locomotive (WORK, Vol. 1, Track 1)

The Complete Works of Thelonious Monk, Solo Guitar
Available here: okazakiwork.bandcamp.com/releases
Liner Notes: www.milesokazaki.com/albums/work-2018/
“Thelonious Monk’s 100th birthday in 2017 brought a flood of tributes, but the most monumental statement of devotion came a year late. Across six discs, the guitarist Miles Okazaki covers every known Monk composition, honoring the composer’s crooked style and getting his guitar to sound just as resonant and embodied as Monk’s piano did.” - The New York Times “Best Jazz of 2018”
“an act of immersive scholarship and exhaustive scope…a singular achievement…There’s a spare and haunting quality to the sound, as a result of the restrictions imposed - but at no point does it feel as if Okazaki could have used more on his palette, or reinforcements. His effort has an integrity borne of solitary focus” - Nate Chinen, WBGO
“The first of its kind, Mr. Okazaki’s release sent a stir of excitement through the jazz world. . . . Mr. Okazaki used no overdubs or effects and never changed a piece’s key, time signature or central melody. But he arrived at an engrossing, nearly five-hour collection that sounds entirely new.” - The New York Times
“All I can say is ‘wow.’ This is also a reminder of how much of the best music now comes from self-produced projects and small indie labels…Miles Okazaki pursued his own vision on this, and kudos to him” - Ted Gioia
“With one guitar, no edits, and no overdubs, Okazaki plays each one of Monk’s seventy tunes. He does them justice and also turns them inside out.” - Sasha Frere-Jones, Best of 2018, Boomkat
“an intimate, warm, enigmatic, playful, gentle experience” - The New York Times
“strikes a difficult balance between the personal and the reverential” - Free Jazz Collective
“a Brobdingnagian accomplishment” - All About Jazz
“delivers an emotional charge” - Bandcamp “The Best Jazz, August 2018”
“dazzling invention” - JazzTimes

[@TSALCOLLECTIVE]

glad I found this record. really dope.

[@jean-baptistebriere759]

Miles, thank you for uploading this. This is just an amazing work. Congratulations.

[@milesokazaki]

Jean-Baptiste Brière thank you!

[@joehiles1420]

this is so great!!

[@marcospinmusic]

So beautiful guitar sound. Gorgeous!

[@ezramillstein4462]

I’m not aware that Monk ever had a guitarist in his band. Had he there opportunity to hear you I believe you would have been invited to the bandstand.

[@atomwaterz]

🔥 🔥

[@jameskelley5918]

This is amazing man. Do you have transcriptions for sale?

[@milesokazaki]

Thanks! No transcriptions though, these are improvised arrangements.