Thelonious Monk (courtesy, Monk Institute)

“You know, anybody can play a composition and use far-out chords and make it sound wrong. It’s making it sound right that’s not easy." -- Thelonious Monk, 1961 

He was, and remains, one of the most influential and controversial figures in the history of jazz. On January 26th, the 90th birthday of Thelonious Monk will be celebrated at the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom in New York City. Hosted by Bill Cosby and featuring an all-star cast of artists, including Ronnie Matthews, Ben Riley’s Monk Legacy Septet, and Monk’s son, T.S. Monk, the multi-media tribute will include rare footage of the late legend performing live in Europe and a performance by the winners of the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Trumpet Competition.

Thelonious Monk is often cited as one of the founders of bebop, given his affiliations with Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Milt Jackson and more in the 1940s and 50s. However, his style veered off in an idiocyncratic direction, his compositions marked by dissonant harmonies and angular melodic twists, while his unique piano style featured a highly percussive attack with abrupt use of silence and hesitations. Born in Rocky Mount, NC and later moving to Manhattan, Monk started playing piano at age nine, receiving some formal training and listening in on his sister’s lessons; largely, however, he was self-taught, citing as key influences Duke Ellington, J.J. Johnson and other stride pianists.  He played the organ in church and toured briefly with an evangelist before beginning to find work as a jazz pianist. His first recordings were with Coleman Hawkins, and he soon became a key performer in the early to mid 40s at Minton’s on 52nd Street, the vortex of the developing bop movement.  

Monk’s unique style grew from his foundation in early jazz traditions fused with the new language of bop and ever evolving to encompass the more avant garde styles of the 50s and 60s. One of the greatest composers of the 20th century who, like Ellington, continues to exert considerable influence over musicians in the 21st century, his highly original and creative artistry carried over in to all aspects of his life. Monk’s quirky behavior (many assumed he was truly crazy), individual style, and unique compositions were far ahead of the bop and post bop inventions that followed many years later. For a long time, only the most sophisticated jazz musicians, including Coleman Hawkins and John Coltrane, appreciated his genius. Yet today, variations of Monk’s compositions are part of the standard repertoire of jazz, from straight ahead to avant garde.  

Ronnie Matthews, courtesy of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

Long known as a fan and supporter of jazz, comic Bill Cosby will preside over the celebration in Manhattan on January 26th. Special guest Ronnie Matthews will be the featured pianist. Matthews’ early credentials included Kenny Dorham, Roy Haynes, and Max Roach (1963-1968), Freddie Hubbard, and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1968-1969 and for a period in 1975), while more recently he has enjoyed associations with the late Frank Morgan and Roy Hargrove.  

Ben Riley courtesy of Drummerworld.com

TS Monk courtesy of Drummerworld.com

Tickets are selling fast for this special tribute to one of the most unusual and influential jazz artists ever. Part of the series “Jazz on 34th Street,” come to Midtown Manhattan on Saturday evening, January 26, to celebrate Monk’s 90th Birthday, at 8:00 pm in the Grand Ballroom of The Manhattan Center, 311 West 34th Street. General Admission seating; tickets available in advance, $30, from ticketmaster.com