Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk, Minton's Playhouse, New York, N.Y., ca. Sept. 1947 (William P. Gottlieb 06221)

Nachtconcert van Thelonious Monk in het Concertgebouw, Bestanddeelnr 912-3529

Thelonious Monk (jazzpianist) (Kop) gaf nachtconcert in Concertgebouw te Amsterd, Bestanddeelnr 916-0544

Thelonius Monk at the Village Gate (cropped)

Thelonious Monk Grave Marker

Thelonious Sphere Monk (October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer, considered one of the giants of American music. Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser", "Ruby, My Dear", "In Walked Bud", and "Well, You Needn't". His music is known for its dissonant harmonies, angular melodic twists, and a highly percussive attack that emphasized the silence as much as the sound. Monk is the second-most-recorded jazz composer after Duke Ellington, which is particularly remarkable given that Ellington composed more than a thousand pieces, whereas Monk wrote about 70.

Early Life

Thelonious Monk was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and moved with his family to New York City at the age of four. His musical talent was evident from an early age, and he began playing the piano at six. Monk was largely self-taught and had a brief formal education in music at the Juilliard School. In his teens, he started performing at the Apollo Theater's amateur shows and soon began to play at local jazz clubs.

Career

Monk's professional career began in the early 1940s, playing with the Cootie Williams Orchestra, where he made his first recordings. His first recordings as a leader came in 1947 for the Blue Note label. Throughout the 1950s, Monk worked with some of the most talented jazz musicians of the time, including Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and Art Blakey. Despite his immense talent, Monk's music was not fully appreciated by the mainstream until the late 1950s.

In 1957, Monk became a household name after his engagement at the Five Spot Café in New York City, where he led a quartet that included John Coltrane. This period was crucial for Monk, as it marked the beginning of his recognition as one of the leading figures in jazz. His subsequent recordings for Riverside and later Columbia Records solidified his reputation and influence in jazz music.

Style and Influence

Monk's approach to piano playing was unconventional. He combined elements of stride and blues with a highly percussive attack. His use of dissonance and silence as an integral part of his music set him apart from his contemporaries. Monk's compositions and improvisations feature the use of angular melodies, unusual intervals, and a distinctive use of rhythm that has influenced generations of jazz musicians.

Legacy

Monk's contributions to jazz were recognized late in his career. He was one of only five jazz musicians to be featured on the cover of Time Magazine. In 1964, he was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame. Posthumously, Monk has received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993 and a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 2006.

Monk's influence extends beyond jazz into other musical genres and the arts. His work has been celebrated in books, films, and music festivals around the world, ensuring his place as a pivotal figure in the history of music.

Death

Thelonious Monk died of a stroke on February 17, 1982, leaving behind a legacy that has continued to inspire and influence musicians and listeners alike.