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The Genius of Modern Music, Thelonious Monk on Blue Note (1947 - 1950)

By Russell Perry | Jazz at 100
May 12, 2019
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In 1940, Minton's Playhouse on West 118th Street hired drummer Kenny Clarke as a bandleader. For the house band, Clarke hired trumpeter Joe Guy, bassist Nick Fenton, and an eccentric pianist named Thelonious Monk. Although Monk recorded with Coleman Hawkins in 1944, he didn't record with his own group until 1947. Despite these kind of gaps that occur throughout his discography, he is competitive with Duke Ellington for the most recorded composer in jazz. The Blue Note recordings of 1947-1952 include many of the most recognized of his compositions.

Playlist

Host Intro 0:00
Thelonious Monk Sextet. "Thelonious" from Norton Jazz Recordings (Norton) 3:35
Host speaks 6:33
Thelonious Monk Trio. "Nice Work if You Can Get It (alternate)" from Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 2 (Blue Note) 8:14
Thelonious Monk Trio. "Ruby My Dear" from Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (Blue Note) 11:14
Thelonious Monk Trio. "Well, You Needn't" from Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (Blue Note) 14:20
Thelonious Monk Trio. "Off Minor" from Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (Blue Note) 17:15
Host speaks 20:13
Thelonious Monk Trio. "April in Paris" from Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (Blue Note) 21:14
Host speaks 24:31
Thelonious Monk Quintet. "In Walked Bud" from Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (Blue Note) 26:21
Thelonious Monk Quintet. "Monk's Mood" from Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 2 (Blue Note) 29:15
Thelonious Monk Quintet. "Round Midnight" from Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (Blue Note) 32:20
Host speaks 35:29
Thelonious Monk Quartet. "Evidence" from Milt Jackson and The Thelonious Monk Quintet (Blue Note) 36:11
Thelonious Monk Quartet. "Misterioso" from Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (Blue Note) 38:43
Thelonious Monk Quartet. "Epistrophy" from Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (Blue Note) 42:03
Thelonious Monk Quartet. "I Mean You" from Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (Blue Note) 45:08
Host speaks 47:52
Charlie Parker -Dizzy Gillespie Quintet. "Bloomdido" from Diz and Bird (Verve) 50:30
Charlie Parker—Dizzy Gillespie Quintet. "Relaxin' With Lee" from Diz and Bird (Verve) 53:55
Host Outro 56:12

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About Thelonious Monk

Instrument: Piano

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