Episode 36-Thelonious Monk: Wrong Is Right-Part Two

The conversation continues.

In Part Two of Thelonious Monk: Wrong Is Right, Steve Braunginn returns to his extraordinary two-day conversation with T.S. Monk—Thelonious Sphere Monk III—and his son, Thelonious Monk IV.

We pick up with tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse and a fascinating question: What made Rouse such a distinctive musical partner for Monk?

T.S. draws a revealing distinction between the great saxophonists who played with his father. Johnny Griffin, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane brought powerful individual voices to Monk's music. Rouse, he says, found a way to play with Monk—to understand his time, space and musical language.

Then comes a remarkable Archie Shepp story, along with T.S.'s argument that Monk's harmonic influence reaches far beyond jazz. His shorthand for young musicians: "No Monk, no funk." And we hear why one of Monk's favorite sayings—"Wrong Is Right"—may tell us more about his musical revolution than a stack of textbooks.

The conversation moves into the present as Thelonious Monk IV discusses joining his sister Sierre in carrying the family legacy into the digital age—preserving archival recordings, confronting bootlegs and introducing Monk to generations born long after his death. Branding the name is their future, says T.S. Monk. The excitement about future products was so present that both men were almost giddy when disclosing consumer items yet to arrive at the marketplace. Secrets were kept close to the vest but they did whisper about the wine “Legit” and beer “Brother Thelonious Belgian Ale.”

But some of the most revealing moments are personal. T.S. forcefully challenges the mythology surrounding his father and remembers the man he knew: a working father, a family man and, simply, "Daddy."

And then there's Nellie Monk—Thelonious's lifelong partner and, in T.S.'s words, the support system without whom there might not have been a Thelonious Monk as we know him.

The music continues thanks to the Monk Estate, with selections from Thelonious Monk: Live in Paris, Volume 2, released October 9^th on the Rhythm-A-Ning Entertainment label. The playlist is: Epistrophy (with the opening), Blue Monk-5:15 and Oska_T-12:24.

Part Two brings the journey home: Charlie Rouse, Archie Shepp, "Wrong Is Right," the future of the Monk legacy—and the family behind one of the most singular voices in American music.

Strictly Jazz Sounds with Steve Braunginn—conversations that let the music breathe. Photo from Arthur R. George (Thelonious Monk with Children, T.S. and Barbara).

 

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Episode 36-Thelonious Monk:Wrong is Right-Part One

Thelonious Monk changed the language of jazz. But behind the unmistakable harmonies, rhythms and compositions was a husband, father and grandfather whose story is still being told by the family carrying his legacy forward.

On this edition of Strictly Jazz Sounds, Steve Braunginn welcomes T.S. Monk—Thelonious Sphere Monk III—and his son, Thelonious Monk IV, for an expansive conversation about the man the world knows simply as Monk.

T.S. remembers his father not as the mysterious, eccentric figure often portrayed in jazz history, but as "Daddy"—a deeply committed family man who always came home. He also makes the case for recognizing Monk as the father of modern jazz, whose new musical vocabulary helped open doors for other jazz giants-Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins-and generations that followed.

The conversation takes a particularly revealing turn toward Charlie Rouse, Monk's longtime tenor saxophonist. T.S. explains why Rouse's sound represented something new for Monk and explores the musical connections among Rouse, Coltrane and Monk.

Preserving the legacy of Thelonious Monk is what the family is all about today. The brand of Monk is their focus, says Monk IV as he and TS take us inside the continuing work of preserving the legacy. Thelonious Monk IV discusses Rhythm-A-Ning Entertainment and the challenge of bringing historic recordings to new audiences while protecting the catalog from decades of unauthorized releases, better known as bootlegs. He also gives us a peak at the merchandise they're selling to boost the brand: cabernet from Tuscany (Legit-bottled by Tolaini; imported by Banville Wine Merchants), a dark Belgian ale (Brother Thelonious Belgian Ale), even a hat and watch.

The conversation also explores Monk's relationship with Paris, the restoration and release of his remarkable 1967 Paris performance, the rediscovery of archival recordings such as Palo Alto, and what Monk's live performances reveal that his studio recordings sometimes do not and could not.

Most importantly, T.S. offers listeners a different way to hear his father's genius: don't listen only to Monk's solos. Listen closely to what he plays behind the other musicians—the countermelodies, rhythms and unexpected harmonies that could lift a soloist without ever getting in the way.

This is Thelonious Monk through the memories of his son, the perspective of his grandson, and a family determined to carry one of America's great musical legacies into the future.

Part-one closes as we learn how important Monk was to Miles Davis, leaving listeners wondering where this fantastical story goes. Part two is close behind.

The music is provided by Rhythm-A-Ning Entertainment. Music from the Thelonious Monk/Live in Paris 1967, Vol. 1 playlist includes: 1. Ruby My Dear-7:08, Epistrophy-9:37, Osaka-T-07:50.

Thank you for listening. Subscribe and you become one of the first to get the podcast episodes, annual top 20 jazz music playlist and jazz articles. Photo is by Olivia Monk. 

 

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