Thelonious Monk Centennial

Thelonious Monk and Allen Ginsberg, Monterey, CA, 1963 – Photograph (c) Jim Marshall

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

Thelonious Monk – photo: William P Gottlieb/Library of Congress

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) 

Heres 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!

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