Thelonious Monk: An American Original

We love Monk. We love his unmistakable piano style and his knack for writing great tunes that become jazz standards. Although many of his solos and compositions are advanced rhythmically and harmonically, his music always feels rooted in the blues and soul that so profoundly influenced 20th Century music. This Genius of Modern Music had an almost punk rock attitude and with such a unique musical voice, Monk's appeal will grow on you. In a new book, Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original, author Robin Kelly explores his incredible history and misunderstood mental problems. His bipolar disorder alienated some during his career, but there seemed to be a method to his madness. Later in life he literally could not sit still, but when on the piano, he could swing like no one else.