By Carlo Wolff | Published June 2025
A less militant if no less absorbing musical expression comes from Charles Rouse’s 1974 release Two Is One, an album long on funk and groove that confirmed Rouse as a leader after spending most of the 1960s as Thelonious Monk’s key sideman. Rouse takes charge immediately on guitarist George Davis’ “Bitchin’,” a sinuous foray that spotlights Rouse’s smooth, inviting style. Joe Chambers’ “Hopscotch” extends the tension as Rouse captains this taut, jittery tune. The catholicity of style and the warmth of the players distinguish Two Is One. The title is based on a concept Rouse borrowed from Monk. The idea is that people can get to know each other so well they’re of one mind. It’s said that Rouse and Monk used to finish each other’s sentences. It takes that kind of meld to play Rouse’s title track, with three different tempos going at once.
