Thelonious S. Monk was an African American jazz pianist and composer born on October 10,1920 and rested on February 17, 1982. According to The Penguin Guide to Jazz Monk (as he is most commonly referred to) was "...One of the giants of American Music". Monk had a very unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire including Epistrophy, Round Midnight, Blue Monk, Straight, No Chaser, and Well, You Needn't. Often regarded as a founder of bebop, Monk's playing later evolved away from the bebop style. His compositions and improvisations are full of dissonant harmonies and angular melodic twists, and are impossible to separate from Monk's unorthodox approach to the piano which combined a highly percussive attack with abrupt, dramatic use of silences and hesitations. Visit YouTube to hear his unusual piano sounds. Mr. Monk was seldom or never seen performing without wearing a hat.
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