Thelonious Monk: A Biography of the Jazz Legend Robin Kelley

Tim Robinson: A comprehensive, balanced and thoroughly engaging biography of this genius of jazz. I really enjoyed this book and will continue to dive into Monk’s music.

Australia on Jul 22, 2023

felisfelix: Clair et précis. Bonne biographie avec contexte historique.

Canada on Jun 07, 2023

Kouin Karpenstein: I bought this book as a Christmas present for my father. He is a big jazz fan and he really liked it! Even though the book didn't look brand new, when it arrived, it is still a great product.

Japan on Jan 05, 2023

Runmentionable: Jazz biographies (and autobiographies) are prone to creating and perpetuating myths about performers. Kelley's authoritative and almost certainly definitive biography of Monk tries and succeeds in doing the exact opposite, and is a much-needed corrective to the unhelpful myths which still circulate about Monk nearly 35 years after his death. In particular, it shreds the notion of Monk as an idiot savant and instead portrays him as a complex man who, though he clearly struggled with mental illness and the difficult behaviour resulting from it, was fully engaged with his family as well as his art. In doing so, it makes that art seem all the greater by dispelling the notion it mysteriously came from an unworldly man-child, and showing that it came from hard work, skill and learning as well as from unique genius.

The book's success hinges on its detailed research, To indicate just how detailed that was, it took 14 years to write, nearly half of the Kindle edition consists of footnotes and an index, and the first draft was 70, 000 words longer than the published version. Kelley's approach is straightforward. A chronological account, with an unusually and laudably tight grip on...

United Kingdom on Jul 10, 2017

Jürgen de Waal: Das Buch ist ein absolutes Muß für Fans von Thelonious Monk und auch sonstige Jazzkenner. Auch Zweifler, die dieses musikalische Genie des letzten Jahrhunderts verpasst haben, bekommen hier detaillierte Infos zum Leben und Wirken eines Mannes mit Ecken und Kanten, der aber immer seinem Impetus treu blieb. Das haben hunderte deutsche Zeitungskritiker in den 60'ern nicht verhindern können, die ihm einen schlechten Stil am Piano vorwarfen, und ihn seinerzeit als "Großen, schwarzen Bärtigen..." einstuften,nach dem Motto: "Wer hat Angst vorm schwarzen Mann" ! Heute wissen wir, dass diese Kritiker ihn überhaupt nicht verstanden haben, ihn totschrieben, denn manches braune Gedankengut war Anfang der 60'er noch nicht ausgelöscht. So schrieb ein Kritiker nach einem Düsseldorfer Konzert: "Man sollte nicht meinen der Name "Monk" käme von Mönch, vielmehr kommt er von "monkey", so hüpfte er auf der Bühne herum" (Artikel erschienen in Düsseldorfs mächtigster Tageszeitung 1963 !!).
Dieser pure Rassismus prägte die deutsche Zeitungskritikergilde in jenen Jahren, in Frankreich oder Holland z.B. gab es nichts dergleichen an billigen Attributen!
So ist das Buch von Kelly eine...

Germany on Oct 06, 2012

Simeon Stylites: As a longtime fan of Thelonious Monk's music, I looked forward to reading Robin D. G. Kelley's much acclaimed biography, only to find it a serious disappointment. A good biography tells a story, including detail, anecdote, recollection, etc. that help the reader better understand the life - inner and outer - of the subject. I do not believe that a biography needs to include details about every single moment of a person's life, especially if it shines absolutely no light on the subject matter. Yet, that's precisely what Kelley does here. This text is absolutely over-loaded, bloated with the utmost minutiae that would interest only an obsessive compulsive stalker of Monk's, not a reader who wants to actually learn something about the man himself, especially his personal philosophy, influences, thoughts, hopes, fears, etc. along with a sense of why we - the readers, the fans, the students - should actually care about him as a human beyond his music.

Kelley, however, offers little in that respect, instead he fools himself into thinking that he is elevating Monk by cluttering the text with details, names, and dates; and that, by doing so, he is actually telling a story,...

United States on Jan 24, 2011

J. Snyder: Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original by Robin D.G. Kelley is a meticulously researched and engaging read that seeks to put the record straight without any chaser. Popular mythology about Monk tends to cast him as untrained, childlike and eccentric. Drawing upon a wealth of family documents, Kelley masterfully weaves a story that counters these myths and captures Monk's genius and his humanity with compassion and profound appreciation.

As an educator, I found myself drawn to the parts of the story that brought the people and local institutions that nourished Monk's musical creativity into vivid clarity. Very early on, Monk demonstrated a keen interest and talent in music, especially the piano. Growing up in Harlem during the early part of the twentieth century, his budding talents were nurtured thanks in part to his participation in an after school boys and girls club. At this youth center, Thelonious was able to begin his musical education and develop his piano playing. His mother, raising three children by herself, also provided a pivotal role in the young musician's life -- finding ways to provide him with piano at home and lessons to further hone...

United States on Feb 21, 2010