Thelonious Monk was one of the finest pianists in jazz history and one of the rare musicians who made it with their musical works to advance and enrich the music with their compositions. It is the myth of a man whose name has mysteriously been to one, but behind the humane and musically much more concealed than in the beginning is to be assumed.
Thelonious Sphere Monk was born on the 10th October 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina in the United States of America the light of the world. Even his name is on the birth of an absolutely unique, and so it is already on the registry office to a confusion of his name in Thelius (sic) Monk, where it is clearly a hearing defect.
When little Monk six years old, the family pulls together with the father, mother and two sons and an older daughter to New York City to the impoverished black neighborhood of San Juan Hill, south-west of Harlem. Here lives the family from now on the West 63rd Street between 11th Avenue and West Side Drive, directly behind the present-day Lincoln Center. It is a region with a vibrant music scene and it is the place to live in the Thelonious also most of his life is. Monks mother will also find work quickly, so that the financial position of the family is secured, because the Father is leaving New York again soon and pulls back seeking recovery in the southern United States and never appeared again. The family is still in New York and lives are getting better and better everyday life in a major American cities a
grows here he early twenties and already gets early much of the music, especially jazz, which gradually according to America's most important music genre developed with. The key event Monks in youth is a friend of the family give a piano. His older sister, Marion shall from now on piano and Monk is so fascinated by this instrument that he always practicing her shoulders and looks after a certain time teaching himself to play the piano. Although he then briefly also at the school tried trumpet his love for music is always related to the piano and he will receive at the age of eleven years, the piano lessons from a piano teacher.
With fourteen years Thelonious then already so good that he on numerous occasions, for example in the neighborhood, playing piano and so a small financial contribution for the rent and provide the musical entertainment. Even in high school to Monk too busy with music, but also in other areas of particularly good, such as in math, physics or basketball. His interest in jazz is more pronounced and so too slow, an inkling of his future career significantly.
Every Wednesday visited Monk from now on an amateur competition at Harlem's Apollo Music Hall. But this contest as often as he wins in a row he will soon no longer allowed. He is already playing with a totally different league, which shows his latest early exit from the High School at the turn of 1933/34, to a singer and other musicians on an extensive tour to go, all at the age of 16. It is the first step to becoming a professional musician and Monk in this time when he is far away from home, and considerably more human and musical maturity. In the cities, in which makes the group containing, Thelonious still looking after the jazz scene, playing gigs at so often by his late-night jam sessions. Here he meets in cities like Kansas City for the first time on real jazz legends as the pianist Mary Lou Williams.
In 1936, he then returns to end the tour back to New York City to his mother with odd jobs, like playing in pubs and dance halls to support, financially. With other musicians such as drummer Kenny Clarke, Monk controls but a new way of interpretation of jazz, with new musical plans and new features that will express itself years later in the newly emerging bebop style of music.
With Bud Powell met Monk in 1937, then an equally young minded jazz pianist. The two build a friendship that will last long and up to Powell's premature death in the mid sixties and come through his drug addiction and the Monk one time or another in difficulties.
His biggest Erfolg verbucht Thelonious Monk dann im Jahre 1940, als er der Hauspianist im Jazzlokal Minton’s Playhouse, oben auf der West 118th Street in Harlem, wird. Der Club, gegründet vom älteren Musiker und einem der ersten Musikergewerkschaftsfunktionären Henry Minton, ist fortan der zentrale Anlaufspunkt für junge und experimentierfreudige Musiker in der New Yorker Jazzszene. Neben Monk spielt außerdem noch der Schlagzeuger Kenny Clarke und oft der Bassist Nick Fenton bei den nächtlichen Jam Sessions im Minton’s. Hier entstehen durch die unvergleichliche Zusammenarbeit von Musikern wie Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, sowie Thelonious Monk und Kenny Clarke selbst bald der Bebop, eine Musikrichtung, die sich durch einen hohen Anteil of improvisation and the emergence of the soloist characterized. Away from the big band swing in the new adventures of bebop Leave Monk and the other musicians here and breathe history of the jazz scene a new life.
But with the advent of bebop also splits the audience for jazz, not every jazz fan comes this new music in fascination and then split the opinions of Thelonious Monk, who is now enjoying increasing popularity. As one of the first jazz critic, however, recognizes Monks incomparable musical gift and size, and estimated, is Herbie Nichols, himself a pianist and now only dimly aware - are among his most important recordings of his recordings for The New Yorker Jazz label Blue Note Records. He appreciates his music and his musical thinking. But the mid-forties he is still one of the few that recognize this. In many encounters Monks music to confusion, it is now giving clear that he was already ahead of its time in 1945. Although
are especially Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie in the spotlight of the Bebop is obviously cares little about Thelonious Monk. In 1946, he then gets a job in the big band by Gillespie, but this offer ends soon again, as Monk was again out of principle to one of the performances.
At the beginning of the year 1947 Monk's career starts to really get going. Musicians like Gillespie and Parker have been all the forties - with the exception of the period of the union strikes of the music industry - included plates and perpetuates their music. Monk himself, however, was only available as a sideman with other musicians - especially for Gillespie himself - moved into the eye of the jazz world. But now, to the end of his thirty years of the age, Monk seems to get his chance. The founder of the jazz label Blue Note Records, Alfred Lion investigated, Thelonious Monk for his exemplary character, founded in 1939 and Blue Note labels from Monks appear first two albums as a leader - "Genius Of Modern Music, Vol 1 + Vol 2 ". The two panels are for Blue Note but only a moderate success, but are the cornerstone of a foundation, the only Monk is still trying to build. The music of the plates is undeniably fabulous and then also add that Blue Note was on the old disk formats, while all the major record companies have used the new medium, and thus the income only slightly precipitated. happened in that time, it also means that Thelonious asks for the hand of the woman from the neighborhood named Nellie, a girl, that even on his days in the sandbox back and with which he always shared a deep and mutual love. Self-sacrificing provides Nellie from now on ihren Ehemann, sorgt für die Ordnung in seinem Zimmer, wäscht sein Geschirr ab oder steckt im die Zigarren an. Obwohl Monk sich mehr an die Musik als an sie bindet, ist es wohl Nellies rücksichtslose Bereitschaft, für Monk zu sorgen und da zu sein, der ihre Ehe für so lange Jahre am Leben lässt.
Das Jahr 1949 bringt dann jedoch einen Tiefpunkt in Monks Karriere mit sich. Nachdem er im Jahre 1948 für seine Arbeit vom Downbeat-Magazin bei einer Leserumfrage in der Sparte für Klavier wenigstens 23 Stimmen bekommen hatte folgte im Jahr darauf keine einzige. Monk lässt sich seine Verbitterung zwar nicht anmerken, aber igelt sich von da an zu Hause ein, starrt Stunden lang auf eine Stelle, spielt den halben Tag durch Klavier and hears plates. Nellie tries to stay away from him any inconvenience.
In 1950, following again the preliminary rise, Monk's son, Thelonious Junior Monk (also known as TJ Monk) comes into the world and Norman Granz invited him for a guest appearance in an All-Star Band for "Jazz at the Philharmonic" - concert series one. This is also the bassist Curley Russell and drummer Buddy Rich is one of the party.
The next year brings but then the preliminary site-off in the New York jazz scene, and thus its live career to a halt after Monk will stop with his drug-addicted friend Bud Powell by the police in her car and discovered drugs be. As Monk, however, refuses to testify against him is so that Powell's presence permits in New York clubs, where alcohol is served - the so-called "cabaret card" - withdrawn. He comes for sixty days in jail, but worse is the length of the imposed curfew. Monk six years, is now joined by the club scene in 1957 he gained through his painstaking help of many friends again Cabaret Card.
follow in this time of Monk's absence, therefore, only a few recordings for labels such as Prestige or Riverside. After leaving Blue Note in 1952, Monk returns now to other things. For two years he now working for prestige, it is only twice as a sideman for use. Although the owner of the label, Bob Weinstock, always trying to keep costs as low as possible and play Thelonious thus sometimes on a ziemlch detuned wing must, give him his records and stay afloat in the minds of people.
But Monk in this period, in which he lives somewhat reclusive, and finally the time to think about your own musical ideas, playing hours piano sleep, extensively, but also for his son TJ . take care
When in 1955 dann der Saxophonist und Leitfigur des Bebop Charlie Parker verstirbt endet damit eine ganze Ära. Mit dieser Wende in der Musik verändert sich damit auch das Publikum, sucht sich einen neuen Star, eine neue Galionsfigur. Miles Davis gibt der Jazzmusik Mitte der Fünfziger Jahre nach seiner überwundenen Drogenabhängigkeit durch den Modern Jazz ein neues Gesicht und Aufnahmen, wie die 1954 entstand Prestige Platte „Bag’s Groove“ des Vibraphonisten Milt Jackson zeigt, dass auch Monk zu dieser Entwicklung beiträgt, so z.B. als Sideman bei Davis.
Doch mit diesem Ereignis kommt auch wieder eine Wende für Monk. Er wechselt von Prestige zu Riverside, einem er erst gegründeten kleinen Jazzlabel. Es folgen as before at Riverside many of his own recordings for Monk.
who two years later the efforts, Thelonious in the New York jazz scene back at last bearing fruit. By medical opinion may finally be proved that he is not a junkie and he may then in years to accept his first club engagement. Here Monk meets the musician John Coltrane , at that time tenor saxophonist in the band of Miles Davis. Coltrane, at that time hard drug addicts will be fired only days later by Davis and Monk takes this opportunity to play with it immediately. Trane manages his drug addiction with a Cold Turkey overcome and buys into Monk.
In summer of 1957, then an eight-month long engagement follows the Five Spot club in New York, together with the John Coltrane on saxophone, Wilbur Ware on bass and Shadow Wilson drums. This website is for Thelonious a triumphant home game and a stunning success. The club is always full and the queue of admission seekers ranges always accessible to the next block. The club manager is so thrilled that he can search for Monk for his guest appearance at the club a new piano, which is then purchased for the club. Monks time with Coltrane brings him again more prestige.
addition to his Five Spot gig Monk developed during the year are other activities. So he goes for the Riverside label equal to five times the recording studio, always with changing musicians. But in the autumn already Monks altitude flight is stopped prematurely by an unpleasant incident. While driving to a gig with the saxophonist Charlie Rouse in Baltimore freeze for a Monk in Delaware, because he is thirsty. He ask the manager at the reception for a glass of water, reacts quite unfriendly, what Monk runs silently in the hall and down. The managing director, confused by the big black giant, calls the police then that he then dragged from the car and arrested him then. The New York police cut him off after that incident, the Cabaret Card again, this time for two years.
The incident has not only means that Thelonious back to 1959 show no license in New York clubs, gets the emotional distress of this fact make him racist, even long after that to create. Despite the loss Monk Cabaret card can no longer make the success of dispute. Each of his plates is praised and Monk recognized as one of the finest pianists in jazz.
Meanwhile, Monk is a real top star matured. His fees per week are moving normally around 1000 $ and for the first time not only America gets something the star of the jazz, but for the first time Europe. From 1961 to 1967 Monk goes with his quartet, consisting of Charlie Rouse on saxophone, John Ore on bass and Frank Dunlop on drums with almost annual regularity European tour.
The media conglomerate CBS, who has quite a few jazz stars such as trumpeter Miles Davis and the pianist Brubeck Davis at this time brought out great shows, to Monk then very interested. So it is that Monk Riverside soon leaves and takes the more lucrative offer from CBS. From the 31 October 1962 Monk is thus with continuous regularity to the recording studio and is growing in those six years to 1968 final at a world star. Monk ends up in Februar des Jahres 1964 auf dem Titelbild des renommierten Time-Magazins und gibt dem Pianisten aus New York einen erneuten Erfolgsschub und wird mit seinem Quartet gefeiert. Auch Monks Kleidung ändert sich, obwohl er schon seit seiner Jugendzeit sich sehr bewusst kleidet. Seit Ende der Fünfziger Jahre ist er jedoch nie ohne irgendeine Kopfbedeckung zu sehen. Anders als in Amerika, trifft bei den vielen Tourneen in der Welt die aus schwarzen Musikern bestehende Band nur selten auf rassistische Bemerkungen und wird so gut wie immer mit offenen Armen empfangen.
Im Herbst 1968 wird jedoch deutlich, dass nicht nur das Quartett selbst, sondern auch bei CBS nach sechs Jahren zusammener Arbeit die Luft langsam raus ist. Zwar will man Monk gerne weiterhin produzieren, but in the end, the two part ways after all. A year later, then gradually separate so the ways of the Quartet, which also switched between the occupation times and Monk has problems, his band to adequately occupied. So he comes in 1969/70 alone to Europe and Japan and played in that time, mostly just solo piano.
When he returned in April 1971 to New York, he then tries to solve its problems by occupation, that he gave his own son, TJ Monk - committed on the drums - now 21 years old. This new quartet gets his career but something upswing, but it can not beat Monks earlier successes by far. On 30 Then follows a June 1976 his last public appearances at Carnegie Hall.
runs in his last years, Monk back to New Jersey, where he spends most of his time in silence, is resting or just thinking. He plays almost over now no longer the piano, the music rushes to only him. On 17 February 1982 Thelonious Monk then suffers a stroke, which it 12 days later, ie on 17 February 1982 dies without having regained consciousness during this time.
Thelonious Monk was one of the pianists and musicians in the music, with their existence, not only the Jazz, but the music changed, with, what they managed on new music or changed from the old music. Here Monks remained timeless music today and his spirit lives on in music, in his records, in his guest appearances with other musicians and his numerous compositions - such as "Round Midnight", "Blue Monk" , "Ruby, My Dear "or" Well, You Need not - continue.
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"Thelonious Monk - Straight No Chaser" (A Film By Clint Eastwood) Now
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