Thelonious Monk: His Life and Music

Rating:
Summary: breezy read
Review: Only about a third of this volume is alloted for Monk's life--which is not bad; the rest is about the various recordings he made.

You get enough to wet your appetite. Makes you want to look for something more indepth, etc. Worth buying, though, as it is written by a genuine fan of Monk and the whole jazz scene. I don't regret getting it.

Rating:
Summary: breezy read
Review: This book is really good...especially if you own or plan to collect Monks music.The first part gives a brief(100 pages)bio(more expanded in gourse's "straight no chaser")a decent overveiw.The second part explains more or less "the Monk sound"his style in understandable terms(terms are also explained.) The third part is the best...monk on disk(and vinyl) and all sessions and personnel(all confirmed) in chronological order.Very excellent if you are obsessed like i am about this kind of stuff. It covers all this extremely well with much commentary.In depth even. If you got Monk on record this is a great reference.The focus on the music is its strong point.

Rating:
Summary: Brief but Comprehensive
Review: This book is really good...especially if you own or plan to collect Monks music.The first part gives a brief(100 pages)bio(more expanded in gourse's "straight no chaser")a decent overveiw.The second part explains more or less "the Monk sound"his style in understandable terms(terms are also explained.) The third part is the best...monk on disk(and vinyl) and all sessions and personnel(all confirmed) in chronological order.Very excellent if you are obsessed like i am about this kind of stuff. It covers all this extremely well with much commentary.In depth even. If you got Monk on record this is a great reference.The focus on the music is its strong point.

Rating:
Summary: Great discography and brief bio
Review: This is a very well written concise biography of Monk that is comprehensive enough to foster an understanding of his influences and the music and cultural scene in which he emerged. It is thoroughly researched and doesn't bog down in trivial detail the way many iconographic bios do. About one third of the book consists of a comprhensive discography which is notable for it's objectivity in reviewing all of Monk's recordings. This would be very helpful to anyone looking to begin or expand their Monk collection. The musicians that played with Monk in various sessions are all covered and the circumstances surrounding most of the recordings are adequately described.
All in all I think this is a wonderful reference for the jazz lover and a good overview of the life and work of one of the all-time great jazz musicians.