Robin D.G. This folio has 70 of the master composer/pianist's most familiar pieces, as well as a number of obscure and unrecorded tunes, in easy-to-read versions. (HL.672495). Epistrophy? See full terms and conditions and this month's choices. This book covers Monk's whole life, from his birth in the environment of racially charged poverty to his death acknowledged as the greatest jazz composer except for Duke Ellington. His angular melodies and dissonant harmonies shook the jazz world to its foundations, ushering in the birth of “bebop” and establishing Monk as one of America’s greatest com­posers. I have always enjoyed listening to Monk, but never exactly understood why. It is a story that, like its subject, reflects the tidal ebbs and flows of American history in the 20th century. I have always enjoyed listening to Monk, but never exactly understood why. Unfortunately Monk never realized much financial success, due to unscrupulous promoters and record companies. Previously, almost all of what I thought I knew about Monk was through his music, and a foggy memory of the doco "Straight, No Chaser". It's sometimes hard to connect the thoughtful, reasonable man portrayed throughout this book with the character you see spinning around in "Straight, No Chaser," and the interpretive gap still has me a bit off guard -- did Kelley maybe make too many concessions or gloss over Monk's mental lapses a bit too much in the book? It embodied the most radical elements of Monk’s approach to composition and improvisation.36”, Ambassador Special Distinction Award (2010), Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Nonfiction (2010). I think my disappointment comes from the simple fact that in Kelley's quest to document virtually every moment of Monk's life, the book loses the energy & spontaneity that Monk himself embodied. Not sure if that is a fair criticism or not, but there it is. Du Bois and Pulitzer Prize winner, "An honest and eloquent treatment of one of our most important artists, Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original is a stunning tour de force! I'm a big fan of Monk's music and of (good) scholarly writing about Jazz, so this was a natural. Bill Gates, tech pioneer, co-founder of Microsoft, and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is an avid reader who people follow... THELONIOUS MONK is the critically acclaimed, gripping saga of an artists struggle to make it without compromising his musical vision. There is no rolling in the slime of drugs or mental illness, no slamming of other musicians. The evolution of every Monk composition seems to be recounted. It reveals new details about Monk… His angular melodies and dissonant harmonies shook the jazz world to its foundations, ushering in the birth of “bebop” and establishing Monk as one of America’s greatest com­posers. nice list of original compositions of monk's, and a selected discography too. The subtitle of this masterful biography claims that Monk is an "American Original", which has been applied to countless other public figures. It is the most comprehensive treatment of Monk's life to date. Sometimes we assume we know about musician's struggles just from trite anecdotes and listening to their music, but their lives are so much richer and diverse that we can understand. He certainly has an argument to make, mainly that Monk's strange behavior was a product of undiagnosed bipolar disorder. The subtitle of this masterful biography claims that Monk is an "American Original", which has been applied to countless other public figures. In 1922, the family moved to the Phipps Houses, 243 West 63rd Street, in Manhattan, New York City; the neighborhood was … Kelley leaves no stone unturned and offers a compelling picture of the great pianist and composer. Covid Safety Holiday Shipping Membership Educators Gift Cards Stores & Events Help All Books ebooks NOOK Textbooks Newsstand Teens & YA Kids Toys Games & Collectibles Stationery & Gifts Movies & TV Music Book Annex From 1994-2003, he was a professor of history and Africana Studies at New York University as well the chairman of NYU's history department from 2002-2003. Buy Thelonious Monk's album titled Palo Alto. The lead sheets are clearly laid out and accurate in terms of both the melodies and harmonies. Important in that it clears up many of the myths associated with his eccentricity and eventual mental illness and provides a multi-faceted representation of this complex, brilliant man. Thelonious Monk Plays Standards - Volume 2: Piano Transcriptions. At times, this book recalls the phrase "can't see the forest for the trees", but it is clear that the obsessive attention to the minutia of Theolonius Monk's journey was born out of a profound love and respect. Also detailed is the horrendous medical treatments available for not only addictions, but also mental illnesses. It was a life truly lived, and Kelly captures it with unflinching detail. Biography & Autobiography > People of Color, full terms and conditions and this month's choices, Publisher: Free Press (November 2, 2010). This was (and still is) the case for many performers. Hard to rate -- if I'm going on exhaustive research and attention to detail, I'd give it 5 stars. It's sometimes hard to connect the thoughtful, reasonable man portrayed throughout this book with the character you see spinning around in "Straight, No Chaser," and the interpretive gap still has me a bit off guard -- did Kelley. It won the Grammy Award for Best Album Cover. This is the last Monk album featuring the Thelonious Monk Quartet.. Its cover image depicts Monk as a French Resistance fighter in the Second World War. It reads a little slow and tends to get into a play by play of "how the shows went over" a bit too much, I thought, but generally this was an incredible, interesting read. I enjoy reading biographies (and autobiographies and memoirs) and I really enjoyed reading about the life of Thelonious Monk! Thelonious Monk is the critically acclaimed, gripping saga of an artist’s struggle to “make it” without compromising his musical vision. The music of Thelonious Monk is among the most requested of any jazz composer, but accurate lead sheets and sources have never been widely available until now. —Publishers Weekly, "A wealth of historical context is richly studded with details of Monk's family background and the broader world in which he lived and worked... Likely the most thorough possible illumination of the man behind the legend." “I could hear something so I realized, of course, what he was trying to tell me was first of all, don’t be judgmental of anybody else, just listen and pay attention and look for the beauty. I was really excited to read this book--heard that it was coming out a while ago and was probably the first person to check it out of the library--but ultimately I'm a little disappointed. Continuing in my reading about jazz, I just finished the masterpiece Thelonious Monk by Robin D. G. Kelley. A beautifully written biography of a beautiful man. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. —The New Haven Advocate, "Robin Kelley's new biography Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original is a breath of fresh air among the biographies of our legendary jazz musicians. Monk couldn’t have hoped for a better biographer than Kelley – a scholar, musician, historian, and clearly a fan – and Kelley’s given us a portrait that’s at once loving, meticulous and poignant. Aside from these two concerns, it's a must-read for anyone interested in Monk or classic jazz. Kelleys skills are all at their best when he combines his musical and historical insights, for example, in the early chapters on Monks San Juan Hill neighborhood as it and the jazz scene developed. Moves a bit slow at times--especially if you're not a die-hard Monk fan (I am). In the summer of 2000, Dr. Kelley was honored as a Montogomery fellow at Dartmouth College, where he taught and mentored a class of sophomores, as well as wrote the majority of the book, Freedom Dreams. What do you know about this dude? I have been listening to a LOT of Monk's music while reading this book, and I can't seem to get the song "Ruby, My Dear" out of my head...I LOVE that song! He discusses Monk's every performance, every masterpiece written, and every musician he ever worked with. Obviously if you are even a little bit of a Monk-head, you need to read this. No musicians or family who were willing to say Monk was distant, unhelpful, cruel, absentee, doped up? I doubt there will be a biography anytime soon that is as textured, thorough and knowing as Kelley's. It'll be hard to top this if anyone tries later on, as many of the sources are "going away." Best of Chris Botti Songbook. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it does not appear to be a National Book Award or Pulitzer finalist or nominee. In this case, however, the author is absolutely correct; "The High Priest of Bebop" was unlike anyone else, in or outside of the. Ever? Kelley's new book, Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original, focuses on the career of the eccentric jazz pianist and composer. This folio has 70 of the master composer/pianist's most familiar pieces, as well as a number of obscure and unrecorded tunes, in easy-to-read versions. Start by marking “Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Thelonious Monk Fake Book C Edition. Shop and Buy Thelonious Monk Fake Book sheet music. Kelly digs deep into the times, painting miniature portraits Monk's family, friends and associates without overdoing it. Guitar, C Instruments, Keyboard sheet music book by Thelonious Monk : Hal Leonard at Sheet Music Plus. Anyone who considers themselves a jazz musician should read this book, as Thelonious Monk is one of the great originators of modern music. And then when you find the beauty, study that and don’t bother with the rest of it.53”, “Introspection,” which took four takes to produce an acceptable version, was unlike anything that came before it. Mr. Kelley who obviously admired Monk and his music, gives Monk's entire history, month by month, including his childhood, family life and creative life. —August Kleinzahler, The New York Times Book Review, "An omnibus of myth busting." Thelonious Monk was born on October 10, 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Accurate, easy-to-read lead sheets and professional, customizable audio tracks accessed online for 10 songs. Monk is my hero, to read about his often troubled but colorful life was an emotional journey for me. To his fans, he was the ultimate hipster; to his detractors, he was temperamental, eccentric, taciturn, or childlike. Popular notions about Monk tend to emphasize his lack of formal training, his bizarre behavior and unique fashion sense. What I mean is that if one is looking for musicology, or close analyses of dates (with discussions of collaborators, etc), this book will not fully satisfy. We’d love your help. Thelonious Monk Fake Book : B-Flat Edition (Paperback) by Thelonious Monk. The first full biography of legendary jazz musician Thelonious Monk, written by a brilliant historian, with full access to the family's archives and with dozens of interviews. Kelley's Monk, Bill Gates Picks 5 Good Books for a Lousy Year. To see what your friends thought of this book, Continuing in my reading about jazz, I just finished the masterpiece Thelonious Monk by Robin D. G. Kelley. It was an incredible read about a largely misunderstood genius. October 16th 2009 Thelonious Monk was very much of the world, at least until mental and physical illness finally caused him to withdraw, making his world seem much smaller, self … 1962) is a professor of history and American studies and ethnicity at the University of Southern California. Unlike the biographies of Miles or Coltrane that I read, this book does not go into transcriptions of his music but rather speaks to up musical laymen about how he was inspired by Bartok and Schoenberg and other modern classic composers – this flies in the face of the urban myth concerning Monk’s art being solely inspired by african-american culture. There's a few thing that bothered me, but all in all that's to be expected. The 'genius of modern music' has gotten the passionate and compassionate advocate he deserves." I did like the fact that the author realized that Monk was well grounded in what came before him. From stories about his friendships with many of his fellow musicians, such as his heartbreaking friendship with Bud Powell or his strong devotion to Coleman Hawkins and Duke Ellington, and recollections of his devotion to his wife and kids, you get the sense that this is a deeply passionate and heartfelt man and yet . I was better able to appreciate the albums I love most: Underground, Straight No Chaser, Thelonious Alone in SF due to the description of his many sessions and concerts. Thelonious Monk (1917-1982) was one of jazz's greatest and most enigmatic figures. It reads a little slow and tends to get into a play by play of "how the shows went over" a bit too much, I thought, but generally this was an incredible, interesting read. Kelley provides a lot of detail but is not much of a storyteller. 2017 Other Books in This Series See All. —The Christian Science Monitor, "Robin D. G. Kelley’s exhaustive, necessary, and as of now definitive [book] offers a Baedeker of sorts…Kelley has created a lush portrait of the private, off-camera Monk, one it would have been difficult to paint without the unprecedented access he had to the Monk family." As a biography, moreover, the book naturally focuses on Monk's life, and spends less time on the music; let me hasten to say that the music is, of course, an essential part of his life, so Kelley doesn't ignore the music. —Russ Musto, AllAboutJazz.com, "…as complete a picture of this complex, original and enigmatic artist as possible… this very welcome book is certain to be a go-to reference." Robin Kelley worked on this book for 14 years and it shows in its incredible detail and insight to the great jazz pianist and composer. He is a the perfect representative for Monk: kindly defensive yet also boldly honest about his life. Kelley (b. You’ll definitely enjoy reading this book if you love jazz and want to read about every significant jazz musician who played from the 1930s through the 1970s. Even Monks lesser-known sidemen get significant backstories. Elegantly written and rich with humor and pathos, Thelonious Monk is the definitive work on modern jazz’s most original composer. $22.50. This compelling book will both challenge old assumptions and inspire new assessments of the life and legacy one of the world's greatest musicians." Excellent book written by Robin D. G. Kelley! A brother, Thomas, was born in January 1920. Thelonious Monk (1917-1982) rose from a humble beginning as the son of day laborers in Rocky Mount, North Carolina to become one of the legendary—though misunderstood and underappreciated—composers and musicians of modern jazz. Just a browse through The Notes reflects 14 years of interviews documenting musical history that would be lost forever without Robin D. G. Kelley's initiative. Plus it feels like every rehearsal, every gig, every jam session, every bad drug or drinking experience is recalled in detail. —Library Journal, "Thelonious Monk was a true original… This affectionate biography fills in the fascinating and heart-wrenching backstory of an artist the world has always longed to know better." I don't know, but he definitely uncovers a pretty rich logistics to a truly strange life. Robin D.G. 21 distinct works. Are we, It is scarcely possible for me to convey the pleasures of this book. In so doing he has given us a book that is as bold, brilliant, and beautiful as Monk and his music." In Robin Kelley's finely grained and surely definitive life and-times study, Thelonious Monk, an American original, has found an original biographer." It is a story that, like its subject, reflects the tidal ebbs and flows of American history in the twentieth century. His. Thelonious Sphere* (* yes, that's his middle name) Monk. Reading this book felt like living Monks life. Robin Kelley has also served as a Hess Scholar-in-Residence at Brooklyn College. Digital products purchased from this site are sold by Simon & Schuster Digital Sales Inc. Don't miss our eBook deals starting at $0.99! 9780634039201. From 1994-2003, he was a professor of history and Africana Studies at New York University as well the chairman of NYU's history department from. It reveals new details about Monk… —Down Beat Magazine, "A seminal examination of the man and his music." by Free Press, Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original. —Steve Greenlee, The Boston Globe, "Every step of Monk's musical journey is teased out in meticulous detail...whether he's charting the highs or lows of Monk's emotional swings, Kelley rarely strays from his central theme of an extraordinary talent pushing against the boundaries of his art." Kelley leaves no stone unturned and offers a compelling picture of the great pianist and composer. As a composer, pianist, and bandleader, Monk both extended the piano tradition known as Harlem stride and was at the center of modern jazz's creation during the 1940s, setting the stage for the experimentalism of the 1960s and '70s. Even Monk’s lesser-known sidemen get significant backstories. The sad parts include the terrible scourge that heroin had on jazz musicians in that time period, leading to the early deaths of so many. This book is a monolithic scholarly undertaking: Kelley has certainly done his research, providing a ridiculous amount of historical and personal background information, even getting to speak. The music of Thelonious Monk is among the most requested of any jazz composer, but accurate lead sheets and sources have never been widely available - until now. It is also sad that he never really got his due and struggled most of his life for money – I learned much to my dismay that for one of his earliest and most often quoted songs – ‘Round Midnight – he only received 33% of the rights having been ripped off my the person that submitted the lead sheet for royalties. —Chick Corea, the Grammy-winning composer and pianist, "Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original is one of the most anticipated books in jazz scholarship, and well worth the wait. If should be. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. From 2003-2006, he was the William B. Ransford Professor of Cultural and Historical Studies at Columbia University. Kelley paints it. Thoroughly researched, meticulously footnoted, and beautifully crafted, Thelonious Monk presents the most complete, most revealing portrait ever assembled of the man known as the high priest of bebop." And that is of course impossible. (Artist Books). THELONIOUS MONK is the critically acclaimed, gripping saga of an artist’s struggle to “make it” without compromising his musical vision. As he is an historian with a distinguished track record in that field, he comes to this job (which is clearly a labor of love for him) far more completely equipped than many who assay the field of jazz biography. Underground is an album by Thelonious Monk.It features Monk on piano, Larry Gales on bass, Charlie Rouse on tenor sax, and Ben Riley on drums. So amazing to read about. Reading this you touch on almost. One of the youngest tenured professors in a full academic discipline—at the age of 32—Kelley has spent most of his career exploring American and African-American history with a particular emphasis on African-American musical culture, including jazz and hip-hop. Drawing upon a wealth of family documents, Kelley masterfully weaves a story that captures Monk's genius and his humanity with compassion and profound appreciation. In this case, however, the author is absolutely correct; "The High Priest of Bebop" was unlike anyone else, in or outside of the world of jazz. You finish wondering if there could possibly be any gaps in his history or the history of where he lived, who he knew, or the African-American experience of the time. This is a strength of the book, but it is also a very tiny drawback, for this reader: but indeed the fault may lie in me and not in the book, because so fascinating and marvelous do I find Monk that I want to be inside his head completely. “Robin Kelley’s new biography Thelonious Monk: The Life And Times of an American Original is a breath of fresh air among the biographies of our legendary jazz musicians. This first complete biography is … It fills in the missing pieces about the growth of the jazz scene in New York through the forties, fifties, and sixties, detailing each step of Monk's development—who passed through his bands, what gigs he played, and what happened on those scenes. Autobiographies and memoirs ) and I really enjoyed reading about the life and of! Jazz, I just finished the masterpiece Thelonious Monk is my hero, to read this book put the straight! Of both the melodies and harmonies —down Beat Magazine, `` a seminal examination of great! Authors from Simon & Schuster what came before him: Piano Solo Artist: Monk! And written were willing to say Monk was well grounded in what came before.! People that respected Monk and did everything they could to protect and nurture Monk boldly about! Also boldly honest about his life finalist or nominee pioneers of jazz 's greatest most. Books you 'll love for all the extensive family history, and his music ''... 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