Exceeded my expectations
Monk is one of my "trinity of pianists" (the other two are Teddy Wilson and Bud Powell), so when this came as part of a box set titled [[ASIN:B005MQJP9E Masters of American Music]] my expectations were not high.  Was I wrong!<br /><br />This is not as exhaustive as Clint Eastwood's [[ASIN:B000053VC9 Thelonious Monk - Straight No Chaser]], but on the other hand, it is more focused and gives deeper insights on Monk the man, stripping away his eccentricities and portraying him as a human who remained true to himself and his musical vision - and prevailed! Most telling is a statement made by [I believe] his son that said that he was the same person after he achieved his vision as he was before.<br /><br />While Monk the person is a focus of this film, his music and his contributions are not ignored.  Indeed, Randy Weston did a remarkable job of describing Monk's place in creating an entire sub genre of jazz, and how he differed from Bud Powell who was his contemporary. Orin Keepnews also provided anecdotes, and discussed the release of Monk's albums in a certain sequence to prepare the larger public for his genius. And that strategy succeeded as well.<br /><br />In addition, Monk's influences were discussed at more length than I expected, providing even deeper insights into how he evolved as an artist. Indeed, the amount of information was overwhelming, even to someone who is familiar with Monk's story and music. Not in quantity, but in the perspectives, all of which are from those who knew him well and were closely associated with or played with him. And some of the tidbits, such as the description of how magical for ineffable reasons the Five Spot Cafe was, even though in reality it was a dive, added to context of not only Monk, but the NYC scene and some of the landmark places. Minton's Playhouse was even visited (and instead of it being a shrine, it is sadly now a dump.) I also valued Dr. Billy Taylor's insights and commentary.<br /><br />In total, this is a remarkable video about a remarkable man. It's part tribute, part biography and very focused in the subject: Thelonious Sphere Monk. I will treasure this video and undoubtedly will watch it a few more times. I am betting that my understanding of this complex genius will improve with each subsequent viewing. Highly recommended!