This evening’s listening session is dedicated to one of the most distinctive, challenging, and at the same time influential figures in jazz history — Thelonious Monk.
Monk was a pianist and composer who thought about jazz differently. In his music we hear angular lines, silences, dissonances, and unexpected accents — elements that may sound “wrong” at first, but gradually reveal themselves as part of a highly logical and deeply considered musical system. Monk’s music is not meant to be background sound; it demands attention, active listening, and an inner dialogue. That is precisely why we are gathering for this listening session.
We will listen to a wide range of Monk’s work — studio and live recordings, small ensembles as well as larger groups. Clearly, his entire body of work cannot fit into a single session, but this diversity allows us to sense the full scope of Monk’s musical world.
What will we hear?
Misterioso
One of the most striking documents of Monk’s live performance. Recorded at the Five Spot Café in New York, this album presents Monk as a true stage musician — free, ironic, at times even rough-edged. His love of silence and rhythmic surprise is especially evident here. The music constantly balances between structure and collapse.
Thelonious in Action
A natural continuation of Misterioso. Here Monk functions as a catalyst within the ensemble: rather than leading directly, he provokes. The pianist often steps back, leaving space for others, then suddenly re-enters with a single chord or phrase that shifts the entire musical direction.
’Round Midnight (recordings with Gerry Mulligan)
This album reveals Monk in a different context — in dialogue with one of the most subtle voices of cool jazz. The contrast between Mulligan’s lyricism and Monk’s angularity creates a compelling tension. It becomes clear that Monk can be not only eccentric, but deeply poetic.
Monk’s Music (septet)
One of Monk’s most conceptually ambitious studio albums. The larger ensemble allows him to think almost orchestrally: layered themes, unisons, sudden breaks. This album is often regarded as a manifesto of Monk the composer.
The Prophet
A later, more introspective side of Monk. There is less outward sharpness here, and more concentration and inner logic. Rather than provoking, this music invites reflection — like a quiet conversation with a listener already attuned to Monk’s language.
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Thelonious in Action
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Monk's Music
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'Round Midnight (su Gerry Mulligan)
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Misterioso
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The Prophet
