Home » Events » Music in Monk Time: A Retrospective Tribute to Thelonious Sphere Monk – Online Encore

Music in Monk Time (Fair Use)
MUSIC: In a first-ever U.S. broadcast, we present a rarely seen documentary and concert film that gives a precious glimpse into the life and music of jazz giant Thelonious Monk returns, 36 years after we presented its Bay Area premiere.

Music in Monk Time: A Retrospective Tribute to Thelonious Sphere Monk – Online Encore

Loading Map....

Date/Time
Date(s) - 06/13/2021
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Location
SFJAZZ Center

Category(ies)

Add This Event to Your Calendar


BUY TICKETS – Ticket holders will have access to the premiere as well as the encore rebroadcast.

  • Premiere Broadcast: THU, JUN 10 • 7 PM (PT) (10 PM ET)
  • Encore Broadcast: SUN, SUN 13 • 6 PM (PT) (9 PM ET)

Thelonious Sphere Monk was one of the few real geniuses of American music. The film captures that genius with a frequency and a communicative power rare for cinema in general…
– Stanley Crouch, Village Voice

In a first-ever U.S. broadcast, we present a rarely seen documentary and concert film that gives a precious glimpse into the life and music of jazz giant Thelonious Monk returns, 36 years after we presented its Bay Area premiere.

Conceived by producer Stephen Rice, executive produced by Paul C. Matthews III, and directed by John Goodhue, Music in Monk Time: A Retrospective Tribute to Thelonious Sphere Monk combines interview and performance footage of Monk’s classic compositions by his legendary associates Dizzy Gillespie, Carmen McRae, and Milt Jackson, along with Monk quartet members Charlie Rouse, Ben Riley, and Larry Gales with Walter Davis, Jr. on piano. Additionally, a big band featuring Terence Blanchard and Monk’s son, drummer TS Monk, recreates the famous 1959 Town Hall concert.

Written and narrated by iconic vocalist Jon Hendricks, the film balances these live performances with rare archival film footage of Monk and photos borrowed directly from his famous patron the Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, tracing Monk’s career through the decades.

We premiered the film to a sold-out crowd in March 1985, and the film was televised throughout the world, however it has never been broadcast in the United States, making this the second time we’ve premiered this priceless document of jazz history.

For this broadcast, 50/50 Fund donations will be split evenly between SFJAZZ’s programs and Live In Peace, a Bay Area non-profit organization dedicated to connecting young people to their talents, educational pathways, jobs, and a bright future.

After nearly four decades, we are thrilled to bring this film back to jazz lovers in the United States – truly a twice in a lifetime event.
– Paul C. Matthews III, Executive Producer, Music in Monk Time

IMAGE courtesy of SFJAZZ (Fair Use)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.