Thelonious Monk Download Free
. Occupation(s) Musician, composer Instruments Piano Years active 1940s–1973 Labels, Associated acts, Website Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American pianist and composer. He had a unique style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including ',' ',' ',' ',' ',' and '.' Monk is the second-most-recorded jazz composer after, which is particularly remarkable as Ellington composed more than a thousand pieces, whereas Monk wrote about 70. Monk's compositions and improvisations feature and angular twists and are consistent with his unorthodox approach to the piano, which combined a highly percussive attack with abrupt, dramatic use of switched key releases, silences, and hesitations. His style was not universally appreciated; the poet and jazz critic dismissed Monk as 'the elephant on the keyboard'. Monk was renowned for a distinct look which included suits, hats, and sunglasses.
He was also noted for an idiosyncratic habit during performances: while other musicians continued playing, Monk stopped, stood up and danced for a few moments before returning to the piano. Monk is one of five jazz musicians featured on the cover of magazine. The others, so far, are, and. Contents. Early life Thelonious Sphere Monk was born two years after his sister Marion on October 10, 1917, in, and was the son of Thelonious and Barbara Monk. His badly written birth certificate misspelled his first name as 'Thelious' or 'Thelius.' It also did not list his middle name, taken from his maternal grandfather, Sphere Batts.
A brother, Thomas, was born in January 1920. In 1922, the family moved to 243 West 63rd Street, in,; the neighborhood was known as because of the many African-American veterans of the who lived there (urban renewal displaced the long-time residents of the community, who saw their beloved neighborhood replaced by the Amsterdam Housing Projects and ). Monk started playing the piano at the age of six and was largely self-taught. He attended, a public school for gifted students, but did not graduate.
Thelonious Monk Download Free Pc
Early playing career In his early teens, Monk toured with an evangelist, playing the church organ, and in his late teens he began to find work playing jazz. In the early to mid-1940s, he was the house pianist at, a Manhattan nightclub. Much of Monk's style was developed during his time at Minton's, when he participated in after-hours, which featured many leading jazz soloists of the time. Monk's musical work at Minton's was crucial in the formulation of, which would be furthered along by other artists, including, and, later,. Monk is believed to be the pianist featured on recordings made around 1941 at the club.
Monk's style at this time was later described as 'hard-swinging,' with the addition of runs in the style of. Monk's stated influences included, and other early. In the documentary, it is stated that Monk lived in the same neighborhood in New York City as Johnson and knew him as a teenager., who mentored Monk and his contemporaries, spoke of Monk's rich inventiveness in this period, and how such invention was vital for musicians, since at the time it was common for fellow musicians to incorporate overheard musical ideas into their own works without giving due credit. 'So, the boppers worked out a music that was hard to steal. I'll say this for the 'leeches,' though: they tried. I've seen them in Minton's busily writing on their shirt cuffs or scribbling on the tablecloth. And even our own guys, I'm afraid, did not give Monk the credit he had coming.
Why, they even stole his idea of the beret and bop glasses.' Early recordings (1944–1954).
From left, Monk, and, New York, N.Y., c. September 1947 In 1944 Monk made his first studio recordings with the Quartet. Hawkins was one of the earliest established jazz musicians to promote Monk, and the pianist later returned the favor by inviting Hawkins to join him with. Monk made his first recordings as leader for in 1947 (later anthologized on ), which showcased his talents as a composer of original melodies for improvisation. Monk married Nellie Smith the same year, and in 1949 the couple had a son, (called Toot), who became a jazz drummer. A daughter, Barbara (affectionately known as Boo-Boo), was born in 1953 and died of cancer in 1984.
In August 1951, New York City police searched a parked car occupied by Monk and his friend. They found narcotics in the car, presumed to have belonged to Powell. Monk refused to testify against his friend, so the police confiscated his. Without this, Monk was unable to play in any New York venue where liquor was served, and this severely restricted his ability to perform for several years. Monk spent most of the early and mid-1950s composing, recording, and performing at theaters and out-of-town gigs.
After intermittent recording sessions for from 1947 to 1952, Monk was under contract to for the following two years. With Prestige, he cut several highly significant, but at the time under-recognized, albums, including collaborations with the saxophonist and the drummers and. In 1954, Monk participated in a Christmas Eve session, which produced most of the albums and by Davis. In his autobiography, Miles, Davis claimed that the anger and tension between them did not take place and that the claims of blows being exchanged were 'rumors' and a 'misunderstanding.' In 1954, Monk paid his first visit to Paris. As well as performing at concerts, he recorded a solo piano session for French radio (later issued as an album by ).
Backstage, Mary Lou Williams introduced him to Baroness, a member of the and a patroness of several New York City jazz musicians. She was a close friend for the rest of Monk's life, including taking responsibility for him when she and Monk were charged with marijuana possession. Riverside Records (1955–1961) By the time of his signing to, Monk was highly regarded by his peers and by some critics, but his records remained poor sellers and his music was still regarded as too 'difficult' for more mainstream acceptance. Indeed, with Monk's consent, Riverside had managed to buy out his previous Prestige contract for a mere $108.24. He willingly recorded two albums of jazz standards as a means of increasing his profile: (1955) and (1956). On, recorded in late 1956, Monk mainly performed his own music. The complex title track, which featured Rollins, was so difficult to play that the final version had to be edited together from multiple takes.
The album, however, was largely regarded as the first success for Monk. After having his restored, Monk relaunched his New York career with a landmark six-month residency at the Cafe in the East Village neighborhood of New York beginning in June 1957, leading a quartet with on tenor saxophone, on bass, and on drums. Little of this group's music was documented owing to contractual problems: Coltrane was signed to Prestige at the time, but Monk refused to return to his former label.
One studio session by the quartet was made for Riverside, three tunes which by the subsidiary label along with outtakes from a larger group recording with Coltrane and Hawkins, those results appearing in 1957 as the album. An amateur tape from the Five Spot (a later September 1958 reunion with Coltrane sitting in for ) was issued on Blue Note in 1993; and a recording of the quartet performing at a concert on November 29 was recorded in high fidelity by engineers, rediscovered in the collection of the Library of Congress in 2005 and released by Blue Note. 'Crepuscule with Nellie,' recorded in 1957, 'was Monk's only, what's called through-composed composition, meaning that there is no improvising. It is Monk's concerto, if you will, and in some ways it speaks for itself. But he wrote it very, very carefully and very deliberately and really struggled to make it sound the way it sounds. It was his love song for Nellie,' said biographer. The Five Spot residency ended Christmas 1957; Coltrane left to rejoin Davis's group, and the band was effectively disbanded.
Monk did not form another long-term band until June 1958 when he began a second residency at the Five Spot, again with a quartet, this time with Griffin (and later ) on tenor, on bass, and on drums. On October 15, 1958, en route to a week-long engagement for the quartet at the Comedy Club in, Monk and de Koenigswarter were detained by police in. When Monk refused to answer the policemen's questions or cooperate with them, they beat him with a. Though the police were authorized to search the vehicle and found narcotics in suitcases held in the trunk of the Baroness's car, Judge Christie of the ruled that the unlawful detention of the pair, and the beating of Monk, rendered the consent to the search void as given under duress.
Columbia Records (1962–1970) After extended negotiations, Monk signed in 1962 with, one of the big four American record labels of the day. Monk's relationship with Riverside had soured over disagreements concerning royalty payments and had concluded with a brace of European live albums; he had not recorded a studio album since in June 1959. Working with producer on his debut for Columbia, the sessions in the first week of November had a lineup that had been with him for two years: tenor saxophonist Rouse (who worked with Monk from 1959 to 1970), bassist, and drummer., his first Columbia album, was released in 1963. Columbia's resources allowed Monk to be promoted more heavily than earlier in his career. Monk's Dream became the best-selling LP of his lifetime, and on February 28, 1964, he appeared on the cover of magazine, being featured in the article 'The Loneliest Monk.'
According to biographer Kelley, the 1964 Time appearance came because ', who wrote the cover story, wanted to write about a jazz musician and almost by default Monk was chosen, because they thought and Miles Davis were too controversial. Monk wasn't so political.Of course, I challenge that in the biography,' said Kelley. Monk continued to record studio albums, including, also in 1963, and, in 1968. But by the Columbia years his compositional output was limited, and only his final Columbia studio record, Underground, featured a substantial number of new tunes, including his only piece, 'Ugly Beauty.'
As had been the case with Riverside, his period with Columbia contains many live albums, including (1963), and, the latter two recorded in 1964, the last not being released until 1982. After the departure of Ore and Dunlop, the remainder of the rhythm section in Monk's quartet during the bulk of his Columbia period was on bass and on drums, both of whom joined in 1964.
Along with Rouse, they remained with Monk for over four years, his longest-serving band. Later life and death Monk had disappeared from the scene by the mid-1970s and made only a small number of appearances during the final decade of his life. His last studio recordings as a leader were made in November 1971 for the English label, near the end of a worldwide tour with the Giants of Jazz, a group which included Gillespie, and Blakey. Bassist McKibbon, who had known Monk for over twenty years and played on his final tour in 1971, later said: 'On that tour, Monk said about two words.
I mean literally maybe two words. He didn't say 'Good morning,' 'Goodnight,' 'What time?' Why, I don't know.
He sent word back after the tour was over that the reason he couldn't communicate or play was that Art Blakey and I were so ugly.' A different side of Monk is revealed in 's biography, John Coltrane: His Life and Music; Coltrane states: 'Monk is exactly the opposite of Miles Davis: he talks about music all the time, and he wants so much for you to understand that if, by chance, you ask him something, he'll spend hours if necessary to explain it to you.' Blakey reports that Monk was excellent at both chess and. The documentary film (1988) attributes Monk's quirky behavior to mental illness. In the film, Monk's son says that his father sometimes did not recognize him, and he reports that Monk was hospitalized on several occasions owing to an unspecified mental illness that worsened in the late 1960s. No reports or diagnoses were ever publicized, but Monk would often become excited for two or three days, then pace for days after that, after which he would withdraw and stop speaking. Physicians recommended as a treatment option for Monk's illness, but his family would not allow it; and were prescribed instead.
Other theories abound:, author of the book Straight, No Chaser: The Life and Genius of Thelonious Monk (1997), reported that at least one of Monk's psychiatrists failed to find evidence of. Another physician maintains that Monk was misdiagnosed and prescribed drugs during his hospital stay that may have caused brain damage. As his health declined, Monk's last six years were spent as a guest in the, home of his long-standing patron and friend, de Koenigswarter, who had also nursed Parker during his final illness. She proved to be a steadfast presence, as did his own wife Nellie, especially as his life descended into further isolation. Monk did not play the piano during this time, even though one was present in his room, and he spoke to few visitors. He died of a stroke on February 17, 1982, and was buried in in.
In 1993, he was awarded the. In 2006, he was awarded a for 'a body of distinguished and innovative musical composition that has had a significant and enduring impact on the evolution of jazz.' The was established in 1986 by the Monk family and Maria Fisher. Its mission is to offer public school-based jazz education programs for young people around the globe, helping students develop imaginative thinking, creativity, curiosity, a positive self-image, and a respect for their own and others' cultural heritage. In addition to hosting an annual International Jazz Competition since 1987, the Institute also helped, through its partnership with, designate April 30, 2012, as the first annual International Jazz Day. Monk was inducted into the in 2009.
Tributes. Soprano saxophonist performed as Monk's accompanist in 1960. Monk's tunes became a permanent part of his repertoire in concert and on albums. Lacy recorded many albums entirely focused on Monk's compositions. wrote the work 'Variants on a Theme of Thelonious Monk' in 1960.
It was later performed and recorded by other artists, including, and. Round Midnight Variations is a collection of variations on the song ' premiered in 2002. Composers contributing included,., and. Tribute albums The following to Monk have been released:.
(1982) by: the band was named after Monk, and the album was coincidentally recorded on the day of his death. (1983), by pianist. (1983), by saxophonist. That's The Way I Feel Now: A Tribute To Thelonious Monk (1984), a compilation album featuring rock and jazz musicians including, and.
(1987), by. (1988), by., by with. (1991), by pianist. (1996), by. (1999), by Wynton Marsalis. (1999), by.
(2005), a triple CD set that includes every composition by Monk, by pianist. (2008), by. (2011), by and. (2012), by. (2012), by The Quartet. (2017), by Discography.
A Jazz Anthology MP3 Choose listen download MP3 tunes jazz artists Classic Jazz online We at the Jazz-On-Line website are dedicated to the preservation of the Jazz music of the early twentieth century. Many of these recordings were made on fragile, 78-RPM, shellac discs and exist only in the collections of some contributors to this website. Won't you help the Jazz-on-Line team to preserve these Humanity Treasures with a donation? Choose, listen to or download MP3 Listen More: see Play Lists some for your enjoyment Links Internet Radio Bill's Swing era music links (open to public) Install VLC (Free): Then enter the URLs in VLC to access these streams. Big Blue Swing Fred Hall KCEA KDKI Radio Dismuke Swing FM Swingstreet Radio Swiss Internet Radio UK 1940's Jazz WGBH Jazz Decades WHRO 1920's Radio If you find yourself listening to the same stream, don't be afraid to send a donation, encourage and support your favorites. Updated August 6, 2017 Contact 1917-1982 (m3u): Thelonious Monk Quintet (1947) George Tait (tp) Sahib Shihab (as) aka Edmund Gregory (as) Thelonious Monk (p) Bob Paige (b) Art Blakey (d) BN 318-3 Blue Note, BN548 Thelonious Monk Sextet (1948) BN311 Blue Note, BN542A.