Thelonius Monk
(Rocky Mount, North Carolina 10.10.1917 - Weehawken 17.2.1982)



More Genius
Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1
Thelonious Monk/Milt Jackson
The Vibes Are On
Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 2
Monks' Moods
The High Priest
Thelonious Monk / Herbie Nichols
Blue Monk, Vol. 2
Thelonious Monk Trio
Thelonious Monk and Joe Turner in Paris (Live)
Work
We See
The Golden Monk
The Genius of Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk Quintets
Thelonious Monk with Sonny Rollins
Monk
Thelonious Monk & Sonny Rollins
Blue Monk, Vol. 1
Thelonious Monk Quintet with Sonny Rollins
Thelonious Monk (Swing)
Riverside Trios
The Thelonious Monk Story
Pure Monk
Plays Duke Ellington
Broken Hearted Blues
Brilliance
Billiant Corners
The Unique Thelonious Monk
Art Blakey's Jazz Messeengers with Thelonious Monk
New York with Johnny Griffin
Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane
Monk's Music (Riverside)
Mulligan Meets Monk
Thelonious Himself
Thelonious with John Coltrane
At the Five Spot
Blues Five Spot
Mysterioso
Misterioso
Thelonious in Action: Recorded at the Five Spot Cafe (Live)
Discovery! Live at the Five Spot
Five by Monk by Five
Alone in San Francisco
The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall (Live)
Evidence
In Person
Thelonious Monk Quartet Plus Two at the Blackhawk (Live)
At the Blackhawk
Live in Stockholm (1961)
Two Hours with Thelonious Monk, Vol. 1 (Live)
Two Hours with Thelonious Monk, Vol. 2
The First European Concert (Live)
Monk in Bern
Monk in Italy (Live)
Two Hours with Thelonious
Thelonious Monk in Italy
Monk in France
April in Paris
Standard Monk
Thelonious Monk Quartet in Copenhagen (Live)
Always Know
Criss-Cross
Monk's Dream
Spastic & Personal
Tokyo Concerts (Live)
Big Band and Quartet in Concert (Live)
Thelonious Monk 1963 in Japan (Live)
Live at the Village Gate
Monterey Jazz Festival '63 (Live)
Live in Paris at the Alhambra (1964)
It's Monk's Time
Live at the It Club
Live at the Jazz Workshop
Solo Monk Live in Paris (1964)
Olympia (23 May 1965) [Live]
Live in Switzerland (1966)
Straight, No Chaser
On Tour iun Europe (Live)
Underground
Nonet: Live!
Monk's Blues
Something in Blue
The Man I Love
Monktrane

He grew up in New York City, the center of jazz in the world, and this probably influenced his later decisions in his career. He began having piano lessons when he was five and soon became very skilled. When he was 13 he was banned from a weekly amateur contest at the Apollo Theater because he simply won too many times. By 1937 he was playing at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem and he spent the early 1940's playing at other clubs in Harlem such Monroe's Uptown House. He played with Lucky Millinder in 1942 and the Cootie Williams Orchestra in 1944. Williams recorded two of Monk's pieces, including '''Round Midnight'' but Monk was not well known until he became the regular pianist with Coleman Hawkins. In 1945 he formed a style of bebop that was so ahead of the times that many bebop players thoughts that he was a nut. His name, personality, and funny hats did not help his defense. By 1947 he had basically formed a style of music that would not be obsolete for 25 years. However, he was not accepted for many years and fought just to stay alive. He managed to play occasionally with Bird and Diz (Parker and Gillespie) but it was not enough. Monk made his big break when he wigned with Riverside and producer Orrin Keepnews who persuaded him to record an album of Duke Ellington hits that could connect him with the average jazz fan. In 1956 Brilliant Corners made him a household name. In 1957 he started playing at the Five Spot with a quartet that included John Coltrane on the tenor. Coltrane soon left but was quickly replaced by Johnny Griffin. In 1964 Monk became one of only four jazz musicians to ever appear on the cover of Time magazine with his new group that was arguably even better than the first. The orchestra featured Charlie Rouse on tenor. Monk's greatest compositions include ''Round Midnight,'' ''Straight No Chaser,'' ''52nd Street Theme,'' ''Blue Monk,'' ''Misterioso,'' ''Epistrophy,'' and ''Brilliant Corners.'' In 1971 and 1972 he played with the Giants of Jazz, which featured Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, and Art Blakey. Monk also performed with great jazz musicians as Miles Davis. In 1973 he stunned the jazz world by retiring because of a mental illness. He made a few guest appearances (Including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Newport Jazz Festival) for the next few years but mostly lived in seclusion with his wife Nellie Smith, whom he had married back in 1947. They had two children, Barbara and Thelonious, Jr. The second Thelonious would also become a musician. Monk has over 70 songs to his credit. Since his death the Smithsonian Institute has dedicated an archive to his music and the US Postal Service has issued a stamp honoring his life and music. Thelonious Jr. has since founded The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz to honor and preserve Monk's music and style. Thelonious Jr. also continues to play his father's music in his own quintet.