Send In The Clines

Rebecca Cline Quartet doesn’t need a definite article at Mad Monkfish on Saturday, 29 March 2025.

Ace the Quiz, Win the Tix

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Hump Nights

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Ace the Quiz, Win the Tix 〰️ Hump Nights 〰️

Hump Nights

〰️

Ace the Quiz, Win the Tix

〰️

Hump Nights 〰️ Ace the Quiz, Win the Tix 〰️

Rebecca Cline Quartet

Rebecca Cline was introduced as a regular performer at The Mad Monkfish. I don’t doubt it. But I’ve also never seen her on the schedule before, and a quick search doesn’t reveal any announced upcoming gigs either. What of it? I’m not the royal historian of the jazz-and-sushi spot in Central Square.

The pianist led a quartet through a quirky setlist of standards, left-of-center covers, and originals. Most or all of the group had some sort of connection to Berklee College of Music, either as teacher or student. Which lends a certain didactic air to the evening, as if each song selection is supposed to teach at least one lesson.

I defer to my extremely brief writeup in Cambridge Day.

Rebecca Cline Quartet

Rebecca Cline led a jazz quartet from behind the piano on Saturday night at the Mad Monkfish.

The group was heavily-invested in Berklee College of Music professorial talent. Professor Cline is in the Piano Department. The guitarist Kim Perlak is the Chair of the Guitar Department. The drummer Gen Yoshimura must be in the Drum Department. And presumably, the bassist, whose name I didn’t catch, is in the Bass Department.

One thing you can usually count on hybrid musician/academic types for is a careful delineation of their source material. Trained in the art of footnotes and citations, Cline did not fail to spell out her setlist at regular intervals during the performance. Not required, but always appreciated – especially when you’re in the crowd, taking notes.

Favorites from the night included Hank Jones’ “Thad’s Pad,” Billy Strayhorn’s “A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing,” and an original titled “Noctilucence,” which, Cline assured us, was a real word.

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