Thelonious Monk's notes to his fellow musicians

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 27 Jan 2012 7:41 am

A wise man and a jazz genius.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 27 Jan 2012 7:44 am

Monk spoke truth.

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 27 Jan 2012 8:20 am

So cool, I printed it out 12X18 and have it hanging on my wall at work.

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 27 Jan 2012 5:07 pm

Wow!
Very cool!

Nick Powers · Post by **Nick Powers** » 27 Jan 2012 9:59 pm

He had a way with words, too, didn't he?

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 28 Jan 2012 4:26 am

Gotta Love Melodious...

......Thunk that is

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 28 Jan 2012 9:33 am

Fascinating BBC documentary about Baronnes Pannonica Rothschild de Koenigswarter and her relationship with Monk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... aCiENv8YGk

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 28 Jan 2012 10:44 am

Around 1990 I was in a school in Lyle, IL (Chicagoland) and was there over a weekend. On a Saturday afternoon, at a small old downtown theatre in Hinsdale I saw a full length documentary of Monk. It was very good and little digging might turn it up if you are interested.

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 28 Jan 2012 10:58 am

That documentary would be "Straight, No Chaser."

KP

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 28 Jan 2012 1:14 pm

I love that guy. He might be my all-time favorite. Such an original, but so rooted in tradition. I wish more folks would try playing his tunes on steel, but I can also understand why they don't!

It should be mentioned that the notes above weren't actually written by Monk but someone who got to spend a little time with him. Not sure who...?

Monk was a man of few words it seems. It's always cool to hear little snippets of him talking on outtakes and to see these quotes and advice he had to share.

also, there is at least one other documentary called 'Thelonious Monk: American Composer' i believe. That Pannonica Rothschild doc is really good too.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 28 Jan 2012 11:31 pm

while we're on the subject, which Monk tunes have been attempted on the steel?

Susan Alcorn did a Monk medley which includes "Crepuscule With Nellie" and "Pannonica"

I see Mike Neer has arrangements of "Pannonica", "Straight No Chaser" and "Blue Monk" ...nice!

Buddy Emmons played "Well You Needn't" with Danny Gatton and Funhouse.

Roy Thomson did "Monk's Mood"

Norm Zocher did "Misterioso"

Here's another version of "Blue Monk" on youtube by Chris Gabriel.

I've got a version of "Ruby My Dear" on youtube and I also play "Monk's Mood" and "I Mean You"

surely someone has done "Round Midnight"...?

any others?

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 29 Jan 2012 12:29 am

There was a tribute album in the eighties by pop artists. I wish I purchased it back then, because it's no longer available.
"Round Midnight" by Joe Jackson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STY9CcTM0zc

Russ Wever · Post by **Russ Wever** » 29 Jan 2012 2:48 am

scott murray wrote:while we're on the subject, which
Monk tunes have been attempted
on the steel?

Fwiw, in The Jazz Room at ISGC, I
played 'Ask Me Now' and 'I Mean You'.
'Evidence' and 'Rhythm-a-ning' are
two I've been working with lately.
~Russ

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 29 Jan 2012 1:04 pm

sounds great Russ! i'd love to hear it all

I play "I Mean You" on E9, and I've messed around with "Evidence" too. weird timing on that one.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 29 Jan 2012 1:47 pm

There was a pretty good movie, "Round Midnight", starring Dexter Gordon.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090557/

Jerry Gleason · Post by **Jerry Gleason** » 29 Jan 2012 4:12 pm

I did a version of " 'Round Midnight" on the lap steel a while back:

http://soundcloud.com/stringmaster/round-midnight

John Ed Kelly · Post by **John Ed Kelly** » 29 Jan 2012 6:37 pm

''
It should be mentioned that the notes above weren't actually written by Monk but someone who got to spend a little time with him. Not sure who...? ''

Mike/Scott,

So we know for sure that these were Monk's words?

Thanks JK

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 29 Jan 2012 6:56 pm

Jerry-
that sounds great. thanks for posting!

John-
yes these are Monk's words, written by saxophonist Steve Lacy. here's some more info: http://1heckofaguy.com/2009/01/03/thelo ... teve-lacy/

John Ed Kelly · Post by **John Ed Kelly** » 29 Jan 2012 7:11 pm

Thanks Scott........... have passed the link to a bunch of musos.

Tom Keller · Post by **Tom Keller** » 17 Jul 2013 3:26 pm

For those who haven't seen it great documentary on Monk in its entirety "Straight No Chaser".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9udeWOjjls

Tom

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 18 Jul 2013 6:56 am

I liked that last line where he wrote "They tried to get me to hate white people but someone would always come along and spoil it".... You can't always paint everyone with the same brush, ol' Monk had a lot of wisdom, eh?.....JH in Va.

Darrell Birtcher · Post by **Darrell Birtcher** » 18 Jul 2013 7:27 am

Around the time that Bobby McFerrin did his version of "Round
Midnight" I saw an entire album of various artists' versions of that song. Has anyone ever seen it? Does anyone have it?? I looked at that record every time I went to the record store but never pulled the trigger. It finally went away and I haven't seen it since. I loved Monk's version the best and figured that cover's couldn't possibly be as good but have since come to appreciate other's takes on Monk's stuff.

Bob Taillefer · Post by **Bob Taillefer** » 23 Jul 2013 7:07 am

Monk was the real deal!

Here are two versions of Well You Need'nt. One of my favourite tunes to play on steel!

The Steel Guitar Jazz Project
http://youtu.be/J2CFHbwIazs

Thelonious Hank
http://youtu.be/l_ZU03Am3VM

Bob