The Complete "Thelonious Monk: Straight No Chaser" Available For Viewing!
May 29, 2011 at 4:00 AM 
Don't know what to do with yourself on a lazy and humid Sunday afternoon? Want to watch a film but don't want to leave the comfort of your home?
Well, look what I found for you on YouTube! It's the full 90 minute documentary Thelonious Monk: Straight No Chaser!
" Filmmaker Bruce Ricker couldn't believe his luck. Michael and Christian Blackwood's extensive 1968 footage of the groundbreaking modern jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, including the only footage of the very private Monk off stage, was in excellent condition.
The reels were, in Ricker's words, "just sitting there like the Dead Sea Scrolls of jazz." Ricker, as co-producer, joins director and fellow producer Charlotte Zwerin (Gimme Shelter), executive producer Clint Eastwood and others to bring these scrolls to astonishing life.
Thelonious Monk: Straight No Chaser combines the Blackwood's rare footage of Monk in studio on tour and behind the scenes with new interviews, archival photos and more to create a landmark aural and visual treat.Tunes in order of appearance: Evidence; Rhythm-a-ning; On the Bean; Round Midnight; Well, You Needn't; Bright Mississippi; Blue Monk; Trinkle, Tinkle; Rhythm-a-ning; Ugly Beauty; Ask Me Now; Just a Gigolo; Crepuscule with Nellie; I Should Care; We See; Osaka T.; Evidence; Epistrophy, Don't Blame Me; Ruby, My Dear; I Mean You; Lulu's Back in Town; Off Minor; Pannonica; Boo Boo's Birthday; Misterioso; Monk's Mood; Sweetheart of All My Dreams; Round Midnight."
My thoughts: It was a revelation seeing a little of Mr. Monk's personality for an extended period of time and listening to people close to him talk about what was going on with him mentally (like his son, Thelonious Monk Jr.) made for sobering thought and reflection. Thelonious Monk's wife, Nellie, had an amazing capacity of love and understanding. A great look into the life of a legend that I'm becoming more familiar with as my jazz journey continues.
I want to thank jazz and (scrap) pages on Tumblr for posting the video!
Reader Comments (4)
Great stuff, will try and watch it today.... many thanks for the link !!!
Hi Pieter!
I hope that you are able to watch the video very soon, it's an amazing "slice of life"! :)
Donna
Thx D! The Monk doc fits perfect w/live works I've assembled on YouTube. See playlist - The Loneliest Monk at youtube.com/user/jediknightrider.
You're welcome, JH! Thank you for letting me know the address to your YouTube channel again. Appreciate it. :)