Thelonius Sphere Monk

(1917 - 1982)

Personal Information

Born: October 10th, 1917
BirthPlace: Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA
Died: February 17th, 1982, New York City, NY
Instrument: Piano, Composer
Nickname: Melodious Thunk
Recording Career: 1944-1975

Biography



Thelonius Monk came from a comfortable home and showed little interest in music as child. It was not until he was almost twenty years old that Monk began to study music. He soon became enraptured by Jazz Music, starting an illustrious career that would help give birth to the bebop style of Jazz. Early in his career Thelonious Monk performed at New York's Minton's Play House and the Uptown House. Monk was well known by the New York music world during the mid forties and early fifties, but was not discovered by the media until the early fifties. During the fifties he made several albums on the Riverside label. In 1959, Monk was joined by Charlie Rouse whom he associated closely with for the next eleven years. Thelonious Monk's quartet with Charlie Rouse reached its high point in the mid-sixties with such titles as Well You Needn't , and Bernsha Swing, before Rouse left the quartet in 1970. In 1971 and 1972 Thelonious Monk toured with Dizzie Gillespie and Sonny Stitt in the Giants of Jazz. In 1974 Thelonious Monk showed up at a New York concert devoted to his music, and surprised the crowd by unexpectedly playing all night. Thelonious Monk ended his distinguished career, giving his last public performance at the 1976 New York Festival. Thelonious Monk's love for Jazz, drove him to become part of a small concave of great Jazz artists, which includes Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Bud Powell, that gave birth to bebop.


Music:

Thelonious Monk's style of playing varied from the traditional sounds of the jazz pianist. His compositions were performed with slightly off key melodies, that when heard by the first time listener, could be mistaken as musical error, rather than due to his highly individualistic ear. Monk was also known as an intuitive soloist. His solo style from the late forties lasted with him throughout his brilliant career. While Thelonious Monk was a totally original player whose playing was hardly touched by his bebop colleagues, his most obvious disciple is Stan Tracey. Some of Monk's work also brushed off on Duke Ellington in the late part of his career.


Some of Thelonius Monk's works include:

Little Rootie Tootie
Sweet And Lovely
These Foolish Things
Blue Monk
Round Midnight
Off Minor

Listen here for a clip of one of Thelonius Monk's compositions:


Bernsha Swing
Recording Career:

Early Recordings - Blue Note and Prestige ( up to 1954)

Riverside Recordings - (1954 - 1962) Thelonious Monk was noticed by the media and the public. He began being appreciated for his unique style of piano playing.
Columbia / CBS Records - (from 1962) Most of these albums, whether live or in the studio, were with the quartet featuring Charlie Rouse.

Thelonious Monk in Concert (interesting story)

"The group walked onto the stage to tremendous applause. Thelonious was wearing his 'Russian' hat. He was quite energetic his first performance, dancing around the stage while Rouse was soloing and only returning to the piano for his own solo. During one of these expeditions - I think it was during Rhthmn-A-Ning, but I can't be sure - he went to the back of the stage and started talking to some of the audience - he asked one person for a cigarette and asked someone else for a light. He appeared to be very comfortable and relaxed, chatted with a few people and gave some autographs. While all this was going on Charlie Rouse seemed to be getting worried, he was playing and trying to look over his shoulder at the same time - not an easy thing to do. He had to extend his solo . . .but after a few more minutes of listening to the tenor player, Thelonious borrowed someone's handkerchief to wipe his forehead, returned it, stomped out the cigarette on the stage, and walked back to the piano- his backside hit the stool at the same time as his hands hit the keys. Charlie looked very relieved, and the drummer laughed."





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