Thelonious Monk, The Very Definition of Genius

When most people think of musical geniuses they think of artists like Mozart, or Bach. People whose work has stood the test of time and has become ingrained within popular culture. While I don't necessarily disagree with this, I think it often dismisses the work of our brilliant modern artists in exchange of a highly elitist musical canon. When you think of it this way, what separates Beethoven from Bill Evans or Brahms from Gershwin?

With this in mind, I would like to introduce you to a man that I am certain will be remembered for many generations to come; his name is Thelonious Monk. Chances are that you've already heard Thelonious Monk a few times in your life. He was a very controversial artist in his day. To some he was an true genius with an unorthodox style, while to others he was a little too weird to be noteworthy. I, however, definitely fall into the first category.

While it is definitely true that Monk was not your typical performer, his music was so innovative and original that it still seems very much ahead of today's generations of jazz musicians. While most people prefer to focus on his often eccentric behavior and his inability to perform even the most menial of tasks, I perfer to just let the music speak for itself. Monk is here to stay and his legend will only grow with generations. Viva Monk!



EDJ