Aloha Friday Motivation | Thelonious Edition | #29

Happy Aloha Friday! (Blog Link)

This weekend marks the passing of one of the most prolific Jazz musicians of all time, Thelonious Monk. Monk was legen…wait for it…dary! Jazz music is in itself elusive and there might not be a more elusive jazz artist than Thelonious Monk. His style of play, his look, his approach to his music, his audience, and the world were so unique…it added to the allure. During performances, Monk would often stop playing and stand up to do a little dance. Then, as if it never happened, sit down and continue performing. Famous for his style in both music and wardrobe, the American pianist and composer is the second most recorded jazz artist after Duke Ellington. If you consider that Ellington composed more than 1,000 pieces of music and Monk wrote about 70, it says a lot about the enduring power of this composer’s works. Put another way, John Coltrane considered Monk his mentor! Fun Simpsons fact: The first recording of Bleeding Gums Murphy was when he played with Thelonious Monk at the Minton's Playhouse.[2]

Check out what other musicians had to say about Monk in this New York Time article. Also, here is Link to a live performance of what is considered his most famous song, Round Midnight. Notice that its Dizzy Gillespie giving the shout out intro to Monk. I urge you tonight to grab a glass of something and take in some Thelonious Monk!

And feel free to Meditate over some choice cuts from his illustrious career. 1)Thelonious Monk | Straight No Chaser 2)Thelonious Monk | Don't Blame Me 3)Thelonious Monk | Blue Monk 4)Thelonious Monk | 'round Midnight

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