As the pianist in the band at mintons playhouse, a nightclub in new york city, in the early 1940s, monk had great influence on the other musicians who later developed the bebop movement. Thelonious monk institute of jazz class graduates with a. Davy mooney, left, and johnaye kendrick perform at the 2007 launch of the thelonious monk institute of jazz s first new orleansbased class. The life and times of an american original, a hefty, familyauthorized, and definitive factual biography, which declared that monk was. He placed third in the thelonious monk international jazz competition another signature effort of the monk institute back in 2005. The winner of the 2015 thelonious monk institute international jazz competition is jazzmeia horn. Its role is multifaceted due largely to the instruments combined melodic and harmonic capabilities. Thelonious monk institute of jazz in china jazztimes.
The life and times of an american original by robin d. Before 2019, it was known as the thelonious monk institute of jazz, but was. The thelonious monk institute of jazz wrapped up its 20th annual jazz. Consequently, monk has become perhaps the most talked about and least understood artist in the history of jazz. Ransford professor of cultural and historical studies at columbia univeristy. Sep 17, 20 on september 16 the thelonious monk international jazz saxophone finals and allstar gala concert will be held at the kennedy center in washington, d. Thelonious monks quiet, slow conquest of the world for decades a respected but somewhat eccentric figure even within the jazz scene, the pianist and composer is at the peak of his influence as he. Department of state presented a 10day jazz education and performance tour of china. Playing for benny golson who visited ucla and gave a masterclass. On september 16 the thelonious monk international jazz saxophone finals and allstar gala concert will be held at the kennedy center in washington, d.
Kennedy center honors and is the chairman of the thelonious monk institute of jazz. Since the fall of 2012 it has been housed at ucla as part of the herb alpert school of music. Dec 12, 2001 the mit festival jazz ensemble s tribute to thelonious sphere monk on friday, dec. The thelonious monk institute of jazz, which presents these competitions, will change its name to the herbie hancock institute of jazz. Thelonious monk, in full thelonious sphere monk, born oct. All about thelonious monk few musicians have made such significant or unique contributions to the jazz lexicon as pianistcomposer thelonious monk. The thelonious monk institute of jazz performance usc. Thelonious monks most popular book is thelonious monk plays standards volume 2. For this reason it is an important tool of jazz musicians and composers for teaching and learning jazz. Wurman borders books and music chamber music america barbara. With his finish at the thelonious monk institute of jazzs gala, he will receive a. Mccurdy is a professor of music at the usc thornton school of music and serves as past president of the international association for jazz education iaje. Jazzmeia horn wins thelonious monk institute international. The herbie hancock institute of jazz is a nonprofit music education organization cofounded in 1986 by t.
Israeli jazz musician wins international piano competition israel21c. Bye ya, epistrophy and little rootie tootie, and includes visual surprises. His life and music are really well represented throughout this massive biography that tells it all really. Its mission is to offer public schoolbased jazz education programs for young people around the globe, helping students develop imaginative thinking, creativity, curiosity, a positive selfimage, and a respect for their own and others cultural. He was leading an allstar group through the opening salvo from his. Thelonius monk thelonius sphere monk, 191782, american jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, b. Recognized as one of the most influential figures in jazz, pianist and composer thelonious monk 191782 wrote music whose spare style and unusual harmonic sense reached from bebop to the abstractions of modern jazz. A journey into the silence of thelonious monk, is on tour from 5 november and at the london jazz festival on 18 november. Heres a page on thelonious monk, the first name in the modern jazz movement. Named for pianistcomposer thelonious monk, the thelonious monk institute of jazz is dedicated to nurturing and acknowledging musical excellence. Thelonious monks surreally strange and spartan genius. Thelonius monk to be celebrated by jazz ensemble and guest.
Its good to see him involved with the institute in this capacity, where he can only develop further. Widely regarded as a genius composer of uncompromising creativity, his music is equally loved and feared by musicians for its wide intervals, angular melodies, and surprising rhythms, making it both. Thelonious monk institute of jazz trumpet competition herbie. Yes, educational foundation is hugely important, but real experience tend. Thelonious monk, american pianist and composer who was among the first creators of modern jazz. Thelonious monk is the critically acclaimed, gripping saga of an artists struggle to make it without compromising his musical vision. The thelonious monk institute of jazz performance class of 2020 from left to. Jazz improvisers thelonious monk blue monk 1957 facebook. Monk is considered one of the most important, and eccentric, figures in modern jazz. The life and times of an american original, a hefty, familyauthorized, and definitive factual. Live from cbs studio 58, the town theater at 851 ninth avenue in new york city. Jimmy greene, jon gordon, john wojciechowski, thelonious monk. The festival celebrates monks centenary on 19 november. Jazz piano is a collective term for the techniques pianists use when playing jazz.
J ust for his name alone, the presence of thelonious monk on the planet between 1917 and 1982 has probably registered with more people who. Monk, the son of the late american jazz musician thelonious monk, opera singer maria fisher and jazz musician clark terry. Thelonious monk institute of performance jazz ensemble the nash third anniversary concert phoenix, arizona november 18, 2015 an international jazz ensemble performed two polished concerts, including cameo sitins by new york drummer lewis nash, during the third anniversary weekend of the nash concert venue that is named in his honor. The thelonious monk institute of jazz class of 2016 named for pianistcomposer thelonious monk, the thelonious monk institute of jazz is dedicated to nurturing and acknowledging musical excellence. The route to jazz glory wasnt an easy one for the father of bebop jazz. Before 2019, it was known as the thelonious monk institute of jazz, but was then renamed after its longtime board.
Prior to his appointment at usc, he served as director of the thelonious monk institute. Thelonious monk institute of performance jazz ensemble. Jazz legends herbie hancock and wayne shorter named. The fact that he was unique was a disadvantage a few years earlier when all modern jazz pianists were expected to sound like bud powell who was ironically a close friend, but by 1957 the jazz public was looking for a new approach. Oct 10, 2017 thelonious monk 19171982 was a man of many hats literally. Thelonious monk 19171982 was one of jazzs greatest and most enigmatic figures. The students study both individually and as a small group, receiving personal. The thelonious monk institute of jazz was established in 1986 by the monk. Not in the clinical sense, but in the frequent mood swingsand swinging moodsthat took place over the course of the semifinals and the finals.
Coming to usc in 1999, the thelonious monk institute of jazz performance, under the direction of terence blanchard, is a unique collegelevel jazz program where the masters of jazz pass on their expertise to the next generation of jazz musicians the way thelonious monk did in his manhattan apartment throughout the 50s and 60s. Students will first read a passage about this influential person and then answer comprehension questions. Thelonious monk biography life, family, wife, mother. Rutgers university institute of jazz studies thelonious monk jazz institute young. This is without a doubt,the definitive book about thelonious monk. The thelonious monk institute presented bill clinton with an award at its annual jazz competition this year. Popular notions about monk tend to emphasize his lack of formal training, his bizarre behavior and unique fashion sense. List of books and articles about thelonious monk online. A look at the covers for some of his most beloved albums the unique thelonious monk, monks music, thelonious alone in. I am very excited that you have chosen to provide this educational and informational site. Tom oren has tickled the ivories in relative obscurity up until this point in his career, but thats all about to change. Jan 05, 2020 the thelonious monk institute of jazz, which presents these competitions, will change its name to the herbie hancock institute of jazz. He spent most of his life in new york city, playing in nightclubs. Thelonious himself using dissonant chords, a keen sense of space and knotty, syncopated melodies, monk created some of the most original and challenging american music of the.
Jimmy greene, jon gordon, john wojciechowski, thelonious. He had to struggle a long time till success finally came knocking at his door. It is a story that, like its subject, reflects the tidal ebbs and flows of american history in the twentieth century. On behalf of the entire thelonious monk institute of jazz organization, we. Kelley is a meticulously researched and engaging read that seeks to put the record straight without any chaser. The herbie hancock institute of jazz performance at ucla was formerly know as the thelonious monk institute. The thelonious monk institute of jazz was established in 1986 by the monk family and maria fisher. Nov 16, 2015 the winner of the 2015 thelonious monk institute international jazz competition is jazzmeia horn. He was instrumental in founding the thelonious monk institute of jazz, which is. Apr 15, 2015 thelonious monk institute ensemble demetrios katsantonis. This tour marked the institutes first visit to china and introduced tens of thousands of young people and adults in china to jazz, americas greatest musical contribution to the world. In my experience, when it comes to music, kids learn by doing. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. All of the students, known as thelonious monk fellows, receive full scholarships as well as stipends to cover their monthly living expenses.
Little of this groups music was documented owing to contractual problems. Herbie hancock institute of jazz performance at ucla. The thelonious monk institute of jazz in partnership with the u. Thelonious monk institute brings peertopeer jazz program. The first musical sounds he heard were from a player piano that his family owned.
The demons and obsessions of jazz genius thelonious monk. Jul 12, 2017 j ust for his name alone, the presence of thelonious monk on the planet between 1917 and 1982 has probably registered with more people who know little and care less about jazz than almost any. This worksheet is geared toward a fifth grade reading and history curriculum. The thelonious monk institute of jazz class of 2016. Apr 26, 2019 the thelonious monk institute of jazz in partnership with the u. Thelonious sphere monk was an american jazz pianist and composer. Herbie hancock institute of jazz ensemble the ucla herb alpert. Finally, the critics and then the jazz public recognized thelonious monk s greatness during this important gig. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings.
Horn, 23, is a singer with a smart, steadfast connection to the jazz vocal tradition, as defined by predecessors like betty carter and sarah vaughan. A look at the covers for some of his most beloved albums the unique thelonious monk, monks music, thelonious alone in san. From 19942003, he was a professor of history and africana studies at new york university as well the chairman of nyus history department from 20022003. Horn, 23, is a singer with a smart, steadfast connection to the jazzvocal tradition, as defined by predecessors like betty carter and sarah vaughan. At the age of five or six he began picking out melodies on the piano and taught himself to read music by looking over his sisters shoulder as she took lessons.
Israeli pianist wins thelonious monk contest the new york times. Thelonious monk institute ensemble demetrios katsantonis. Diego maldonado, smithsonian jazz, institute of jazz studies, mayor ras j. May 04, 2008 he placed third in the thelonious monk international jazz competition another signature effort of the monk institute back in 2005. Books by thelonious monk author of thelonious monk plays. This pathbreaking study combines cultural theory, biography, and musical. The thelonious monk institute of jazz performance is a twoyear, graduate level college program that accepts one ensemble of musicians for each class. The life and times of an american original by robin kelly. Thelonious sphere monk was born on october 10, 1917, in rocky mount, north carolina. Oct 18, 2017 thelonious monks quiet, slow conquest of the world for decades a respected but somewhat eccentric figure even within the jazz scene, the pianist and composer is at the peak of his influence as he. Thelonious monks surreally strange and spartan genius gets. Join facebook to connect with thelonious sphere monk and others you may know. Thelonious monk 19171982 was a man of many hats literally. Thelonious monk blue monk 1957 thelonious monk p, ahmed abdul malik b, osie johnson dr the sound of jazz december 8, 1957.
Thelonious monk has 21 books on goodreads with 54 ratings. The 24yearold oren, a native of tel aviv, just received the thelonious monk institute of jazz international piano competition one of jazzs highest honors the award was announced earlier this week at a gala event held at the kennedy center in washington, d. Kelley is a professor of history and american studies and ethnicity at the university of southern california. Celebrate black history month by studying the contributions of african american jazz legends. Concord music groups john burk, left, and thelonious monk institute of jazz chairman herbie hancock flank israeli musician tom oren. Its good to see him involved with the institute in. As a composer, pianist, and bandleader, monk both extended the piano tradition known as harlem stride and was at the center of modern jazzs creation during the 1940s, setting the stage for the experimentalism of the 1960s and 70s. Finally, the critics and then the jazz public recognized thelonious monks greatness during this important gig.
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