Thelonious Monk: Ruby my Dear (Alone in San Francisco, 1959)

One of Thelonious Monk's most famous ballads.

I had a hard time choosing how to write certain rhythms: should I follow the leadsheets (at least based on versions with bass and drums, which helps to have the rhythms right!) ; or should I trust my ears and what Thelonious Monk actually sounds like he's playing?

Well, I guess I did a bit of both. When Monk plays the theme (bars 3-32), I followed the leadsheet; during his solo, he plays mostly in time and he's easier to follow (although he adds a 8th bar 35, hence the 9/8); and in the rubato sections at the beginning (bars 1-2), at the end of the theme (bars 33-34) and at the end of the song (bars 65-77), I trusted my ears and chose to write what seemed most logical to read to play like him.

Transcribing is making choices, I hope mine will make sense to you!