In 1969 Thelonious Monk was at an impasse and barely touched a piano again. With his completely unique, robust style of playing the piano and composing, he had changed jazz forever from the 1940s, but he felt no real recognition for this and would only come after his death in 1982. In order to pay tribute to Duke Ellington, Monk wanted to come out of his shell and in 1969 he traveled with his wife
… Nellie to Berlin for a number of solo interpretations of Ellington's compositions. The images that appear of this 41 years later may be called historical. In six songs, the unworldly Monk slowly gets going. Completely absorbed in his piano we see him, in his well-known roughly swinging and almost abstract style, opening with Satin Doll. Sweat is pouring from his face and he seems oblivious to the many-headed crowd. In the climax, the standard Caravan, his fat fingers (filmed up close) seem to run naturally over the keyboard and Monk examines and uses every note of the well-known melody and sultry swaying cadence. To this the audience reacts (rightly) frenzied and we see Monk, almost surprised, looking up and smiling hollowly. These unfortunately far too short recordings reveal the otherworldly genius, but also the tragedy and loneliness of the older Monk and are food for every jazz fan. (MR) To this the audience reacts (rightly) frenzied and we see Monk, almost surprised, looking up and smiling hollowly. These unfortunately far too short recordings reveal the otherworldly genius, but also the tragedy and loneliness of the older Monk and are food for every jazz fan. (MR) To this the audience reacts (rightly) frenzied and we see Monk, almost surprised, looking up and smiling hollowly. These unfortunately far too short recordings reveal the otherworldly genius, but also the tragedy and loneliness of the older Monk and are food for every jazz fan. (MR)more
