Customer Ratings & Reviews

Even among jazz musicians, a notoriously eclectic and eccentric bunch, Thelonious Monk stood out as a cat of a completely different stripe. Monk wasn’t just a visionary—he was a bold insurrectionist who helped pioneer bebop and wrote numerous jazz standards to boot. Monk’s complex, evocative tunes were full of surprising twists and turns, and his piano solos were noted for their percussive force and controlled dissonance. He simply heard, wrote and played music differently from anyone before or since. Yet as challenging as his music could be, it was also imbued with an otherworldly beauty few other jazz composers have approached. Most importantly, Monk never sold himself or his music short, even at the cost of commercial success. The essence of the man and his art is admirably captured in this “Masters of American Music” documentary. Originally part of a television mini-series that aired in the late 1980s/early 1990s and which previously appeared on VHS, it has now been remastered, repackaged and released on DVD by the good folks at Naxos, who also put out the essential Jazz Icons DVD series. The film features plenty of performance and behind-the scenes footage; a wealth of archival stills; and interviews with musicians Randy Weston, Billy Taylor and Thelonious Monk III (plus record producer Orrin Keepnews), who provide additional context and emotional resonance. The disc times out at 59 minutes, which is just long enough to paint a compelling portrait in images and music, but not too long to wear out its welcome. Even those who own the more comprehensive documentary “Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser” will find this to be a worthy companion disc.