Thelonious Monk
Wikimp3 information about the music of Thelonious Monk. On our website we have 70 albums and 70 collections of artist Thelonious Monk. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that Thelonious Monk represents Jazz genres.
Biography
[Edit]The most important jazz musicians are the ones who are successful in creating their own original world of music with its own rules, logic, and surprises. Thelonious Monk, who was criticized by observers who failed to listen to his music on its own terms, suffered through a decade of neglect before he was suddenly acclaimed as a genius; his music had not changed one bit in the interim. In fact, one of the more remarkable aspects of Monk's music was that it was fully formed by 1947 and he saw no need to alter his playing or compositional style in the slightest during the next 25 years.
Thelonious Monk grew up in New York, started playing piano when he was around five, and had his first job touring as an accompanist to an evangelist. He was inspired by the Harlem stride pianists (James P. Johnson was a neighbor) and vestiges of that idiom can be heard in his later unaccompanied solos. However, when he was playing in the house band of Minton's Playhouse during 1940-1943, Monk was searching for his own individual style. Private recordings from the period find him sometimes resembling Teddy Wilson but starting to use more advanced rhythms and harmonies. He worked with Lucky Millinder a bit in 1942 and was with the Cootie Williams Orchestra briefly in 1944 (Williams recorded Monk's "Epistrophy" in 1942 and in 1944 was the first to record "'Round Midnight"), but it was when he became Coleman Hawkins' regular pianist that Monk was initially noticed. He cut a few titles with Hawkins (his recording debut) and, although some of Hawkins' fans complained about the eccentric pianist, the veteran tenor could sense the pianist's greatness.
The 1945-1954 period was very difficult for Thelonious Monk. Because he left a lot of space in his rhythmic solos and had an unusual technique, many people thought that he was an inferior pianist. His compositions were so advanced that the lazier bebop players (although not Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker) assumed that he was crazy. And Thelonious Monk's name, appearance (he liked funny hats), and personality (an occasionally uncommunicative introvert) helped to brand him as some kind of nut. Fortunately, Alfred Lion of Blue Note believed in him and recorded Monk extensively during 1947-1948 and 1951-1952. He also recorded for Prestige during 1952-1954, had a solo set for Vogue in 1954 during a visit to Paris, and appeared on a Verve date with Bird and Diz. But work was very sporadic during this era and Monk had to struggle to make ends meet.
His fortunes slowly began to improve. In 1955, he signed with Riverside and producer Orrin Keepnews persuaded him to record an album of Duke Ellington tunes and one of standards so his music would appear to be more accessible to the average jazz fan. In 1956 came the classic Brilliant Corners album, but it was the following year when the situation permanently changed. Monk was booked into the Five Spot for a long engagement and he used a quartet that featured tenor saxophonist John Coltrane. Finally, the critics and then the jazz public recognized Thelonious Monk's greatness during this important gig. The fact that he was unique was a disadvantage a few years earlier when all modern jazz pianists were expected to sound like Bud Powell (who was ironically a close friend), but by 1957 the jazz public was looking for a new approach. Suddenly, Monk was a celebrity and his status would not change for the remainder of his career. In 1958, his quartet featured the tenor of Johnny Griffin (who was even more compatible than Coltrane), in 1959 he appeared with an orchestra at Town Hall (with arrangements by Hall Overton), in 1962 he signed with Columbia and two years later was on the cover of Time. A second orchestra concert in 1963 was even better than the first and Monk toured constantly throughout the 1960s with his quartet which featured the reliable tenor of Charlie Rouse. He played with the Giants of Jazz during 1971-1972, but then in 1973 suddenly retired. Monk was suffering from mental illness and, other than a few special appearances during the mid-'70s, he lived the rest of his life in seclusion. After his death it seemed as if everyone was doing Thelonious Monk tributes. There were so many versions of "'Round Midnight" that it was practically a pop hit! But despite the posthumous acclaim and attempts by pianists ranging from Marcus Roberts to Tommy Flanagan to recreate his style, there was no replacement for the original.
Some of Thelonious Monk's songs became standards early on, most notably "'Round Midnight," "Straight No Chaser," "52nd Street Theme," and "Blue Monk." Many of his other compositions have by now been figured out by other jazz musicians and are occasionally performed including "Ruby My Dear," "Well You Needn't," "Off Minor," "In Walked Bud," "Misterioso," "Epistrophy," "I Mean You," "Four in One," "Criss Cross," "Ask Me Now," "Little Rootie Tootie," "Monk's Dream," "Bemsha Swing," "Think of One," "Friday the 13th," "Hackensack," "Nutty," "Brilliant Corners," "Crepuscule With Nellie" (written for his strong and supportive wife), "Evidence," and "Rhythm-a-Ning," Virtually all of Monk's recordings (for Blue Note, Prestige, Vogue, Riverside, Columbia, and Black Lion) have been reissued and among his sidemen through the years were Idrees Sulieman, Art Blakey, Milt Jackson, Lou Donaldson, Lucky Thompson, Max Roach, Julius Watkins, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Gerry Mulligan, John Coltrane, Wilbur Ware, Shadow Wilson, Johnny Griffin, Donald Byrd, Phil Woods, Thad Jones, and Charlie Rouse. His son Thelonious Monk, Jr. (T.S. Monk) has helped keep the hard bop tradition alive with his quintet and has headed the Thelonious Monk Institute, whose yearly competitions succeed in publicizing talented young players.
Title: Monk's Music (feat. John Coltrane & Coleman Hawkins) [Bonus Track Version]
Artist: Thelonious Monk
Genre: Jazz
Title: At The Five Spot, New York, Vol. 2 (Hd Remastered Edition)
Artist: Thelonious Monk
Genre: Jazz
Title: 'Round Midnight: The Complete Blue Note Singles 1947-1952
Artist: Thelonious Monk
Genre: Jazz
Title: Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane & Thelonious In Action
Artist: Thelonious Monk
Genre: Jazz
Collections
Title: Summer Kisses - 100 Tracks for Lovers
Genre: Jazz
Title: American Dinner
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Jazz Masters: 1940's
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jukebox Favourites - Jazz Piano
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Roots - The Music of the Americas
Genre: Jazz
Title: Ken Burns Jazz: The Story of America's Music
Genre: Jazz
Title: Gerry Mulligan & Friends
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Explosion - The Greats Volume Ten
Genre: Jazz
Title: Blue Note 75
Genre: Jazz
Title: Winter Kisses - Jazz for Young Lovers (Extended Version)
Genre: Jazz
Title: Paris Jazz Sessions
Genre: Jazz
Title: Top Piano Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: 100% BeBop
Genre: Jazz
Title: Hot Pianos
Genre: Jazz
Title: Cool Jazz 2
Genre: Jazz
Title: That Devilin' Tune: A Jazz History (1895-1950)
Genre: Jazz
Title: Best of Jazz Piano
Genre: Jazz
Title: American Jazz Piano
Genre: Jazz
Title: Tequila and More No.1 Hits
Genre: Pop
Title: Jazz After Dark
Genre: New Age, Jazz, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Romantic Dinner Jazz, Vol.1
Genre: Jazz
Title: 20 Jazz Hits
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Gershwin
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Story 5
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Story 7
Genre: Jazz
Title: History of Modern Music: Jazz 1902-1959
Genre: Jazz
Title: Ken Burns Jazz - The Story of America's Music
Genre: Jazz
Title: Swing Call (Remastered)
Genre: Jazz
Title: Atlantic Top 60: Jazz, Jive and Strut
Genre: Jazz
Title: BeBop Jazz Essentials
Genre: Jazz
Title: Atlantic Jazz: Piano
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Most Influential Jazz Pianists
Genre: Jazz
Title: Blue Note 101: Jazz Icons
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Best of Blue Note
Genre: Jazz
Title: All Time Greatest Jazz Hits
Genre: Jazz
Title: Atlantic Jazz: Best of the 50's
Genre: Jazz
Title: In the Mood for Piano Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Finest Jazz Ballads
Genre: Jazz
Title: Super Relaxing Jazz to Bring Your Blood Pressure Down
Genre: Jazz
Title: Relax Max!
Title: Jazz History - Razamajazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: Selections From LA Noire
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: The Most Amazing Jazz Performances
Genre: Jazz
Title: Your Birthday Present: Song Mix - 8
Genre: Pop
Title: Iced Coffee 3 - Chilled Jazz for Relaxation
Genre: Jazz
Title: Amour toujours
Title: Jazz Masters Vol. 2
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz: Piano Vibes
Genre: Jazz
Title: Original Sound Deluxe - Cherchez La Femme
Genre: Jazz
Title: Atlantic Jazz: Great Moments In Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Giants of Jazz Collection (1902 - 1960)
Genre: Jazz
Title: Hip Jazz-Bop!: Be Your Own Boss
Genre: Jazz
Title: Best of Be Bop
Genre: Jazz
Title: Hip Jazz-Bop!: Evolution Works
Genre: Jazz
Title: Atlantic 60: Jazz Cool, Jazz Hot
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Lovers Only Vol.1
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Lovers Only, Vol. 2
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz After Work
Genre: Jazz
Title: 1960 - 2010: Candid 50th Anniversary
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz On a Summer's Day
Genre: Jazz, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: The Most Influential Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: Original Sound Deluxe - Piano Solo Legends
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Ultimate Most Relaxing Jazz In the Universe
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Music Legends
Genre: Jazz
Featuring albums
Title: DJ Yoda's How to Cut and Paste: The Thirties Edition
Artist: DJ Yoda
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Jazz, Rock, New Wave, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop, Alternative
Title: The Best of Sonny Rollins (Remastered)
Artist: The Sonny Rollins
Genre: Jazz, World Music, Bop
Title: Chip Shelton Live: Cape May Jazz Festival Stop 2
Artist: Chip Shelton
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz
Title: Dizzy's Diamonds: The Best of the Verve Years
Artist: Dizzy Gillespie
Title: Jazz: The Definitive Performances
Artist: Art Blakey, The Jazz Messengers, Louis Armstrong, Louis Armstrong Orchestra
Genre: Jazz
Title: Woody Allen - Music from His Movies, Vol. 9
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Wizard Of The Vibes (The Rudy Van Gelder Edition)
Artist: Milt Jackson
Title: Prestige Profiles: Sonny Rollins (With Collector's Edition Bonus Disc)
Artist: The Sonny Rollins
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Love Songs After Dark [Playboy Jazz Series]
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Pop, Pop Rock, Theatre/Soundtrack, Vocal & Symphonic
Title: How To Cut and Paste- The Thirties Edition
Artist: DJ Yoda
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Dancefloor
Title: The Jazz Masters - 27 Classic Performances From The Columbia Masterpieces Series
Artist: Various
Genre: Jazz