he's not playing the piano...he's inventing playing the piano.

When I was in college at San Francisco State, I was John Handy's teaching assistant in Jazz History. One day, John brought Thelonius Monk to play for our class. I sat about 6 feet away from him. Monk faced the classroom with his back to his band. He would tilt his head when he made changes. Danny Richmond, his drummer, picked that up, and every band member followed. It was the most magical moment in my musical life!

This guy has easily the coolest name I’ve ever heard, it fits a jazz pianist like a glove.

Almost hitting the note. Playing around the expected note. Implying the note through discord. Creating a new version of the note with atonal harmonics. Textural splashes. The melody never repeats exactly the same way. Monk is the definition of avant-garde. Half pianist, half painter.

“The piano ain't got no wrong notes.”
― Thelonious Monk

It’s like he’s having a conversation with his higher self.

''if you play a wrong note,     ..........   play it again ''  -    James Marshall    Hendrix

Nobody ever had any more fun playing the piano than Thelonious Monk.

His left hand moves you and his right hand scares you.

Thelonius was such a jazz-tease. Just when you think you got a handle on what he’s doin, he subverts it & gives you something you didn’t even know you needed. Genius man!

Saw him play when I was a kid at the Atlanta Jazz Festival in old Atlanta Stadium. He was late coming on and the last act that night.
My Dad had to go to work early the next day but he let us stay to see him. Thx Dad will always remember that.

I saw him live at shelly's manne hole jazz club in hollywood in 63' or 64'. He was an hour late for his set so it was the charlie rouse trio for an hour, then while they were playing monk walks on stage and as rouse was soloing monk starts in. During one of his solos he even got up and danced around the stage! It was a beautiful evening by a master!!!

the real trick to this song is having a ring large enough to weight your pinky down. song relies on pinky power.

Melodious Thunk

Monk could play people. Don't be fooled by his unorthodox approach. This man had great precision and an ungodly sense of time.

He hits the keys like they're drums. It's makes for a crystal clear sound on every note.

I'm always so impressed by Monk's ability to find beauty in discordance. Listening to his stuff, you can really tell why people thought he was crazy.

It took to me a lot of time until I realized that TM is the greatest jazz pianist ever.

its crazy how much his music speaks...some notes he played actually made me laugh....

Anyone who claims to hate jazz should take a GOOD listen to this!!