Thelonious Monk: From Myth to Man (Part 2)

From: WFIU
Series: Night Lights Classic Jazz
Length: 59:01

An hour-long program of classic jazz, presenting the second of a two-part program exploring the life and music of Thelonious Monk, with special guest and Monk biographer Robin D.G. Kelley. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Promos

Playing: Thelonious Monk: From Myth to Man (Part 2)
From: WFIU

148d8b9751fe578a983923bdca6e21b3_small In the late 1950s Thelonious Monk's star finally began to rise, eventually culminating in a recording contract with Columbia Records and a 1964 Time Magazine cover story. But even as the pianist hit artistic and commercial peaks, other problems began to set in. After his death in 1982 he remained shrouded in the mythic, high-priest-of-bebop image that had been crafted for him in the late 1940s, and which had eventually overwhelmed the reality of the creative, funny, sensitive and loving person whose music and way of living was very much his own.

Biographer Robin D.G. Kelley joins us this week for Part 2 of a look at the life and music of Thelonious Monk, talking about Monk's relationship with his saxophonists John Coltrane and Charlie Rouse, his wife Nellie and his friend Pannonica Rothschild (the "Jazz Baroness") and the free-jazz and civil-rights movements of the 1960s. He also offers insight into Monk's often-maligned Columbia records and the later years of Monk's career.

Music highlights include the title track from Monk's Brilliant Corners album, live performances with John Coltrane and Charlie Rouse, and Monk's tribute to his friend, "Pannonica."

Playing: Thelonious Monk: From Myth to Man (Part 2)
From: WFIU

148d8b9751fe578a983923bdca6e21b3_small In the late 1950s Thelonious Monk's star finally began to rise, eventually culminating in a recording contract with Columbia Records and a 1964 Time Magazine cover story. But even as the pianist hit artistic and commercial peaks, other problems began to set in. After his death in 1982 he remained shrouded in the mythic, high-priest-of-bebop image that had been crafted for him in the late 1940s, and which had eventually overwhelmed the reality of the creative, funny, sensitive and loving person whose music and way of living was very much his own.

Biographer Robin D.G. Kelley joins us this week for Part 2 of a look at the life and music of Thelonious Monk, talking about Monk's relationship with his saxophonists John Coltrane and Charlie Rouse, his wife Nellie and his friend Pannonica Rothschild (the "Jazz Baroness") and the free-jazz and civil-rights movements of the 1960s. He also offers insight into Monk's often-maligned Columbia records and the later years of Monk's career.

Music highlights include the title track from Monk's Brilliant Corners album, live performances with John Coltrane and Charlie Rouse, and Monk's tribute to his friend, "Pannonica."

Also in the Night Lights Classic Jazz series

Have Yourself a Very Quiet Christmas (58:59)
From: WFIU

An hour-long program of classic jazz, paying tribute to the holidays with an emphasis on the quiet, reflective side of Christmas melodies.

Birth of the Cool, Birth of the School: Indiana and the Rise of Jazz Education (59:02)
From: WFIU

The fourth and final installment of the Jazz Crossroads of America series. In the 1960s universities began to establish jazz education programs, and the study of jazz became ...

A National Road of Song: Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter, the Ink Spots, and the Four Freshman (59:02)
From: WFIU

Part 3 in the Jazz Crossroads of America series. The National Road is also a metaphor for the exodus of talented jazz musicians from Indiana in the 1950s and 60s.

Indiana Avenue: Black Boulevard of Jazz (59:02)
From: WFIU

Episode 2 of “Jazz Crossroads of America,” a special four-part series on the history of Indiana jazz. Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, J.J. Johnson, David Baker, and Slide ...

Gennett Days: Hot Jazz from the Heartland (59:01)
From: WFIU

Episode 1 of “Jazz Crossroads of America,” a special four-part series on the history of Indiana jazz. King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Hoagy Carmichael, and ...

Jazz for Mad Men: Hits from the 1960s (58:56)
From: WFIU

An hour-long program of classic jazz, featuring 1960s jazz crossover hits by Dave Brubeck, Cannonball Adderley, Jimmy Smith, and others.

The New Year’s Eve Jam (59:01)
From: WFIU

An hour-long special featuring jazz music and spoken-word performances for the coming New Year from Charlie Parker, Lenny Bruce, Slim Gaillard, Ken Nordine, and more.

Live From The Netherlands: The Sesjun Radio Shows (59:02)
From: WFIU

An hour-long program of classic jazz, featuring music from 1970s and 80s radio broadcasts of Bill Evans, Chet Baker and Art Blakey.

The Big Bands’ Little Bands (58:59)
From: WFIU

An hour-long program of classic jazz, featuring music from the small groups within the larger orchestras of Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny ...

Burning With Bud: Bud Powell Live 1944-1953 (59:01)
From: WFIU

An hour-long program of classic jazz, featuring live broadcasts of the great bebop pianist Bud Powell in the prime of his career.

Piece Description

In the late 1950s Thelonious Monk's star finally began to rise, eventually culminating in a recording contract with Columbia Records and a 1964 Time Magazine cover story. But even as the pianist hit artistic and commercial peaks, other problems began to set in. After his death in 1982 he remained shrouded in the mythic, high-priest-of-bebop image that had been crafted for him in the late 1940s, and which had eventually overwhelmed the reality of the creative, funny, sensitive and loving person whose music and way of living was very much his own.

Biographer Robin D.G. Kelley joins us this week for Part 2 of a look at the life and music of Thelonious Monk, talking about Monk's relationship with his saxophonists John Coltrane and Charlie Rouse, his wife Nellie and his friend Pannonica Rothschild (the "Jazz Baroness") and the free-jazz and civil-rights movements of the 1960s. He also offers insight into Monk's often-maligned Columbia records and the later years of Monk's career.

Music highlights include the title track from Monk's Brilliant Corners album, live performances with John Coltrane and Charlie Rouse, and Monk's tribute to his friend, "Pannonica."