Rating: 
Summary: The Best Jazz Video
Review: Monk was, of course, the finest of jazz pianists. This video explains my estimation of his abilities far better than I could ever try to do such in words. I trust the original publishers of "Straight, No Chaser" will soon choose to re-issue it!
Rating:
Summary: "Why nobody just wanna do what I ask 'em to do?!"
Review: So exclaims a frustrated Monk during a late 1960s Columbia recording session, after finishing a haunting run-through of "Ugly Beauty" and learning that producer Teo Macero neglected to record it. The movie is filled with wonderful private moments like these, though I can't say how much interest it will hold for those not familiar with Monk. For me, however, and for many others who are infatuated with him and his music, the footage in this documentary is gold. The character of Monk is rounded out for us, and we find that he was just as unique and strange in his life as he was in his music. He was truly in his own world, and though for 90 minutes we see him up close, with his musicians, with his wife Nellie, with the Baroness Nica, see his bizarre behavior backstage, at the airport, in the hotel, we are no closer to getting inside his head. For that, one simply needs to hear the music.
And the music collected in the movie is astonishing--An early television appearance where Monk is miffed by Count Basie staring at him across the piano during a performance...several shows with a quartet including Charlie Rouse...great footage of the big band sessions of the mid 60s, with Rouse, Johnny Griffin, and Phil Woods scrambling to learn the arrangements...and the great Columbia session, where Monk becomes visibly annoyed, but still has time for a wonderfully tender moment with pal Teo. There are interviews with Monk's managers, his son, Charlie Rouse, and a fine piano duet of "Well You Needn't" by Tommy Flanagan and Barry Harris, reminding one and all that not only was Monk one of the most distinctive piano players in jazz, but that, along with Ellington and Charles Mingus, he was one of the most brilliant composers as well.
Rating:
Summary: "Why nobody just wanna do what I ask 'em to do?!"
Review: So exclaims a frustrated Monk during a late 1960s Columbia recording session, after finishing a haunting run-through of "Ugly Beauty" and learning that producer Teo Macero neglected to record it. The movie is filled with wonderful private moments like these, though I can't say how much interest it will hold for those not familiar with Monk. For me, however, and for many others who are infatuated with him and his music, the footage in this documentary is gold. The character of Monk is rounded out for us, and we find that he was just as unique and strange in his life as he was in his music. He was truly in his own world, and though for 90 minutes we see him up close, with his musicians, with his wife Nellie, with the Baroness Nica, see his bizarre behavior backstage, at the airport, in the hotel, we are no closer to getting inside his head. For that, one simply needs to hear the music.
And the music collected in the movie is astonishing--An early television appearance where Monk is miffed by Count Basie staring at him across the piano during a performance...several shows with a quartet including Charlie Rouse...great footage of the big band sessions of the mid 60s, with Rouse, Johnny Griffin, and Phil Woods scrambling to learn the arrangements...and the great Columbia session, where Monk becomes visibly annoyed, but still has time for a wonderfully tender moment with pal Teo. There are interviews with Monk's managers, his son, Charlie Rouse, and a fine piano duet of "Well You Needn't" by Tommy Flanagan and Barry Harris, reminding one and all that not only was Monk one of the most distinctive piano players in jazz, but that, along with Ellington and Charles Mingus, he was one of the most brilliant composers as well.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Documentary
Review: Straght, No Chaser brings a very intimete look at Thelonious Monk. From Concert Stage to the recording studio you get to see what Monk was really like. The recording sessions I enjoyed very much, for the sheer fact of how Monk would work songs and how the producers would work him. The concert footage is very lively with Monks dancing and some false starts with his big band ensemble. There are numerous complete live songs as well as behind the scene footage of Monk and his Wife. If you are fan of Monk this is a must. It is very, very well done.
Rating:
Summary: "Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser" Portrait Of Artist
Review: This documentary captures Monk as an artist probably better than any jazz musician has ever been captured on film. Although many identify Monk with bebop, I have always identified him with his musical compositions and enjoy listening to him best when it is just he playing the piano with no other accompaniment. His compositions remind me of Abstract Expressionist art and he was, of course, around during that vital time. This documentary lets you see all sides of his work and also glimpses of his personal life. Like most artists and musicians, it is pretty clear that he was not the ideal living companion. Typically, the biggest thing in his life was his music and nothing else even came close to that as a consideration.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful black and white view of Americian Jazz
Review: This film contains some very rare footage of John Coltrain on stage with Monk in New York(mid/late 50's). Coltrain, is so junked out that only after Monk ends the set and gets up from the piano to walk away, does Coltrain, open his eyes, remove the horn from his mouth, look around and follows the band off the stage. Also a great stage rehearsal in Europe with a young Phil Woods in the band. And of Monk in the studio chewing out the producer of the recording session, Teo Macero, for not turning on the tape machine when the band did a take. This is a great movie about a great American composer, who just so happened to live in our time. And lucky for us somebody decided to point a movie camera at that man, and turn it on.
Rating: 
Summary: No Actors
Review: This movie is a wonderful document of one of the most eccentric and inventive characters in the history of jazz. The documentary format serves as a framework for riveting archival footage of master pianist/composer Thelonious Monk. His antics on the bandstand and in public places are detailed here, and several classic compositions form a wonderful soundtrack. This is a rare must-have documentary look at a genius at work - a snapshot of a rich talent. Monk was an American original, and this DVD is a great way to acquaint yourself with his work.
Rating:
Summary: No Actors
Review: This movie is a wonderful document of one of the most eccentric and inventive characters in the history of jazz. The documentary format serves as a framework for riveting archival footage of master pianist/composer Thelonious Monk. His antics on the bandstand and in public places are detailed here, and several classic compositions form a wonderful soundtrack. This is a rare must-have documentary look at a genius at work - a snapshot of a rich talent. Monk was an American original, and this DVD is a great way to acquaint yourself with his work.
Rating:
Summary: Historical and classic biography of an American icon.
Review: We are lucky to have this rare, historical film giving insight into a world which will be studied one day as we study the life of Van Gogh, Picasso, etc. More valuable than gold; like having footage of Michaelangelo painting the chappel.
Rating:
Summary: hmmm
Review: well this is certainly a great video. it makes you wish they had taken this sort of footage of many of our other great american jazz legends...i dont really have a ton to add to you all. you all say everything there is to say...this is as essential as a jazz video gets.i do need to add that john coltrane is NOT in this video as some have said. they were confusing him with rouse. you can tell just by looking that it isnt him, but also---trane passed in 1967 while most of this footage was shot in 1968, the sax sounds nothing like him, and he didnt even play wih monk except for a bit in the late 50's...so it's an impossibility. anyways...dont debate whether or not to buy this...just get it.
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