Thelonious Sphere Monk (October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was a jazz pianist and composer.
Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire (including his classic works "'Round Midnight" and "Blue Monk"). He is often regarded as a founder of bebop, although his playing style evolved away from the form. His compositions and improvisations are full of dissonant harmonies and angular melodic twists, and are impossible to separate from Monk's unorthodox approach to the piano, which combined a highly percussive attack with abrupt, dramatic use of silences and hesitations.
Little is known about Monk's early life. He was born on October 10, 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the son of Thelonious and Barbara Monk, two years after a sister named Marian. A younger brother, Thomas, was born a couple of years later. Monk started playing the piano at the age of nine; although he had some formal training and eavesdropped on his...
Created by dipity on Jan 23, 2008
Last updated: 11/18/09 at 09:25 AM
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Track listing: Abide With Me (take 1)Abide With MeEpistrophy (short version)EpistrophyWell, You Needn't (opening)Well, You Needn'tRuby, My Dear (With Coleman Hawkins)Nutty
Track listing: Monk's Mood (false start)Crepuscule With Nellie (take 1)Crepuscule With Nellie (take 2)Crepuscule With Nellie (breakdown)Blues for TomorrowCrepuscule With Nellie (edited re-takes 4 & 5)Crepuscule With NellieOff Minor (take 4)Off Minor (take 5)
Track listing: EpistrophyBlue MonkRuby My DearRhythm a NingBemsha SwingHackensackEpistrophy (Closing Theme)
Track listing: Trinkle Tinkle (take 2)The Man I LoveIntrospection (take 1)Trinkle Tinkle (take 1)Crepuscule With Nellie (take 3)Nutty (take 1)Introspection (take 3)Hackensack (take 1)Evidence (take 1)Chordially (Improvisation)Something in Blue
Track listing: Thelonious (take 1)Ugly Beauty (take 5)Raise FourBoo Boo's Birthday (take 11)Easy StreetGreen ChimneysIn Walked BudUgly Beauty (take 4)Boo Boo's Birthday (take 2)Thelonious (take 3)
Track listing: Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away)April in Paris (take 6)Children's Song (That Old Man)I Love You (Sweetheart Of All My Dreams)Just You, Just MePannonica (Re-take 2)TeoApril in Paris (take 1)Pannonica (take 2)Medley: Just You, Just Me / Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)
Track listing: Blue MonkWell You Needn'tBright MississippiBemsha Swing'Round MidnightNuttyStraight, No ChaserTheloniousHackensackMisteriosoBa-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-areEpistrophy (Theme)
Track listing: Don't Blame MeBa-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-AreWell You Needn'tEvidence / Rhythm-A-NingEpistrophy (Theme)Bright MississippiEvidenceEpistrophy'Round MidnightI'm Getting Sentimental Over YouMemories of YouJust You, Just MeEpistrophyHackensack
Track listing: Bags' Groove (take 1)Bemsha SwingThe Man I Love (take 1)Swing SpringBags' Groove (take 2)The Man I Love (take 2)
Track listing: We SeeLocomotiveSmoke Gets in Your EyesHackensackNuttyJust a GigoloWorkBlue MonkI Want to Be HappyThe Way You Look TonightMore Than You Know
Track listing: Flyin' HawkRecollectionsDrifting on a ReedOn the BeanBye-YaMonk's DreamSweet and LovelyLittle Rootie TootieBemsha SwingReflectionsThese Foolish ThingsTrinkle, TinkleThink of One (take 1)Let's Call ThisThink of One (take 2)Friday the 13th
Track listing: Trinkle Tinkle (take 3)Crepuscule With Nellie (take 2)Darn That DreamLittle Rootie TootieMeet Me Tonight in DreamlandNice Work If You Can Get ItMy Melancholy BabyJackieingLovermanBlue Sphere
Track listing: LocomotiveI Didn't Know About You (take 4)Straight, No ChaserJapanese Folk Song (Kojo No Tsuki)Between the Devil and the Deep Blue SeaWe SeeThis Is My Story, This Is My SongI Didn't Know About You (take 1)Green Chimneys
Track listing: 'Round MidnightWell You Needn'tBemsha SwingRuby, My DearStraight, No ChaserBlue MonkRhythm-A-NingMonk's DreamMisteriosoEpistrophy
Track listing: DinahSweet and LovelyNorth of the SunsetRuby, My DearI'm Confessin' (That I Love You)I Hadn't Anyone Till YouEverything Happens to MeMonk's PointI Should CareAsk Me NowThese Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)IntrospectionI Surrender, Dear (take 1)Ask Me Now (take 1)Everything Happens to Me (Retake 1)I Hadn't Anyone Till You (take 1)I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) (take 1)Ruby, My Dear (take 1)Sweet and Lovely (take 1)Dinah (take 1)Darn That DreamIntrospectionThese Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)Ask Me Now (take 2)I Should CareMonk's PointEverything Happens to Me (take 3)I Hadn't Anyone Till YouI'm Confessin' (That I Love You)Ruby, My Dear (take 3)North of the SunsetSweet and Lovely (take 2)I SurrenderDinah (take 2)
Track listing: Ruby, My DearTrinkle, TinkleOff Minor (take 4)Epistrophy (alternate take)Functional (take 1 - Alternate)Nutty
Track listing: Straight No Chaser (and Opening Narration)PannonicaTrinkle, TinkleUgly Beauty / RehearsalUgly BeautyEpistrophyEvidenceI Mean You (Stickball) / Rehearsal and PerformanceLulu's Back in TownDon't Blame MeSweetheart of All My Dreams'Round Midnight
Track listing: Blue MonkLet's Cool OneReflectionsRootie TootieJust a Glance at LoveBrilliant CornersConsecutive SecondsMonk's PointTrinkle TinkleStraight, No Chaser'Round Midnight
Thelonious Monk died
Track listing: Lulu's Back in TownMemories of YouStuff TurkeyBrake's SakeNice Work if You Can Get ItShuffle Boil
Track listing: Well You Needn'tMisteriosoBemsha Swing'Round MidnightEpistrophyRuby, My DearCrepuscule With NellieBlue MonkStraight, No Chaser
Track listing: HackensackTea for TwoCriss-CrossEronelRhythm-A-NingDon't Blame MeThink of OneCrepuscule With Nellie
Track listing: NuttyBlues Five SpotLet's Cool OneIn Walked BudJust a GigoloMisteriosoEvidence'Round Midnight
Track listing: April in Paris(I Don't Stand) A Ghost of a Chance (With You)FunctionalI'm Getting Sentimental Over YouI Should Care'Round MidnightAll Alone'Round Midnight (In Progress)
Nellie Smith & Thelonious Monk married
Thelonious Monk has a son, T. S. Monk
Left Stuyvesant High School
Thelonious Monk was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Nash County
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