Aaron Greenwald began the festivities by noting a few perhaps unexpected connections between Duke University and Thelonious Monk. Mary Lou Williams, a crucial friend and mentor to Monk, was Duke’s first artist in residence from 1977 to 1981. Paul Jeffery, Monk’s last tenor saxophonist, was the inaugural director of the Duke jazz program from 1983 to 2003.

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JD Allen trio with Gregg August and Rudy Royston, special guest Kris Davis

Set 1

Bemsha Swing
Bright Mississippi
Stuffy Turkey
52nd St. Theme
Ask Me Now
Nutty

Set 2

Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues Are
I Mean You
Teo
Pannonica
Evidence
Bright Mississippi

Highlights included: Davis’s prepared piano on “Teo” (in general Davis gave this night the most overall “avant” cast to the proceedings yet), August and Royston’s duo on “Bright Mississippi,” and the exceptionally burning JD solo with fearsome Royston on “Evidence.” For the final head on “Evidence” the whole group jumped off the cliff and it was great!

Kris and Rudy.

BBQ for dinner yum yum.

Fruit and Produce from the outside.

Eric Oberstein is invaluable to Duke Performances.

The dexterous hands of Kris Davis.

Showtime.

David A. Graham (who wrote that great Monk piece) has been at all the shows so far. Orrin Evans is already here as well. Getting to be quite a hang!