Jim Marshall‘s remarkable photo of an awe-struck Allen, regarding Thelonious Monk, backstage, in 1963 at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Today (we’re always happy to celebrate) is Monk’s birthday. Born October 10, 1917, it’s even more than that – it’s his Centennial !
There have been Centennial celebrations all this year, (most recently, April’s events in New York at Lincoln Center, and, this past weekend, with Jason Moran and Kenny Baron at the Kennedy Center)
and this coming weekend, if you’re in the Michigan area, don’t miss this:
“The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (The Wright Museum) presents an event-filled weekend Oct. 13-14 to commemorate the centennial of jazz legend Thelonious Sphere Monk. Special guests include Thelonious Monk’s son, T.S. Monk, the definitive biographer of Thelonious Monk, Dr. Robin D.G. Kelley, and the Marion Hayden Ensemble featuring Grammy Award winner Kamau Kenyatta.”
Monk is celebrated at the SF Jazz Festival (and elsewhere in the Bay Area)
Monk celebrations throughout the world on this day
more Monk – Monk in France;
Monk in Japan:
Monk in Norway and Denmark:
Monk in Germany:
Here’s a classic (and, frankly, excruciating) interview with Monk (from French tv)
Here‘s the great Thelonious Monk documentary, Straight No Chaser
Here, here here and here (in four parts) is the documentary Thelonious Monk – American Composer
The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Thelonious’ legacy can be accessed – here
Recently unearthed and recently released new recordings by Monk (studio recordings from 1959), Monk’s only film soundtrack (for the 1960 Roger Vadim movie, Les Liasons Dangereuses), just out, continue to attest to his genius.
WKCR. – Tune your radio to WKCR to catch the annual Thelonious Monk Birthday Broadcast today
Happy Centennial Thelonious!