Jazz Artist of the Week
Thelonious Monk

One of the most influential composers in jazz was the pianist Thelonious Monk. Below are two of his most famous compositions - "Straight No Chaser" and "Epistrophy." Two things are very clear about Thelonious Monk. He was an eccentric and he was a genius. It took people about 5 minutes to realize the first and many years of recording and composing to realize the second. The "Epistrophy" video especially showcases his splayed finger piano technique and his intensely creative sense of rhythm and musical time. Monk's solos utilize dramatic silences and hesitations along with sharp dissonances and percussive attacks. It is challenging and fascinating music.