Music Friday!
March 30th, 2007 |Thelonious Monk and his quartet (Charlie Rouse – Tenor Saxophone, Larry Gales – Bass, Ben Riley – Drums) play his composition ‘Round Midnight.
Monk was, in a word, unique. Idiosyncratic, introspective, a prolific composer of detailed and complex works, Monk was responsible for writing jazz standards such as ‘Round Midnight, Epistrophy, and Straight, No Chaser as well as sweet ballads such as Crepuscule with Nellie.
A pioneer in the world of bebop jazz, Monk, who was essentially a self taught piano player, played along side the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins.
Although never officially diagnosed, it is speculated that Monk suffered from a mental illness such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. From the late 1960’s until his death in 1982 Monk exhibited a form of “pathological introversion” that resulted in a lack communication and complete withdrawal.
Was the condition that caused Thelonious Monk’s behavior also at the root of his creativity? There have been countless cases throughout history of the most gifted members of society also suffering from the most painful mental anguish. Van Gogh, Poe and Monk, was their creativity worth the cost of their pain?
They suffered immensely, the rest of us reap the benefit. For me, it adds an additional layer of appreciation to Thelonious Monk’s already respected body of work.
