Monday Feb 17 marks the passing of Thelonius Monk in 1982. Here is a short description of him and his music.
Pianist and composer Thelonious Sphere Monk is one of the major figures of bebop and revered, alongside such luminaries as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, as a father of modern jazz. But, in so many respects, his stylistic approach to the music differed from his illustrious contemporaries. While Parker, Gillespie and his fellow pianist Bud Powell often displayed their considerable technique at ridiculously fast tempos, Monk’s approach was entirely different with a keyboard technique that used a considerable amount of space and relied greatly on its percussive qualities for impact.
If you are interested in reading his biography I highly recommend the book “Thelonius Monk, the life and times of an American original” by Robin D.G. Kelly. This book provides a great up close view of Monk’s career and music.