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Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk

Born: 10th October 1917, Rocky Mount, North Carolina, U.S.

Died: 17th February 1982, Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.

Nationality: American

Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer. He 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". Monk is the second-most-recorded jazz composer after Duke Ellington.

Monk's compositions and improvisations feature dissonances and angular melodic twists and are consistent with his unorthodox approach to the piano, which combined a highly percussive attack with abrupt, dramatic use of switched key releases, silences, and hesitations.

Monk's distinct look included suits, hats, and sunglasses.

Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelonious_Monk

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Further Reading: Thelonious Monk

  • Solo Piano Jazz

    8th Dec 2025by Dan Spirrett

    Solo jazz pianists, free from the constraints of a band, use their virtuosity and imagination to explore the boundless possibilities of improvised rhythm, harmony, and melody.

    Jazz Jazz Genre Guides

  • Thelonious Monk Quartet at Palo Alto

    25th Sep 2020by Matt Groom

    A unique window into a moment in time; the Thelonious Monk Quartet live a school hall in 1968, at a gig arranged by a 15-year-old, and recorded by the janitor! The results more than live up to the backstory.

    Jazz Recording of the Week
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