![thelonious monk rhythm-a-ning thelonious monk rhythm-a-ning](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_ZU6CdAyEWA/mqdefault.jpg)
First recorded in 1957, Rhythm-A-Ning is one of his most famous songs. I was given the sheet music for it at one of my jazz band rehearsals, and I fell in love with the song. If you’re going to listen to one track from A rt Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk, I’d recommend Rhythm-A-Ning.
![thelonious monk rhythm-a-ning thelonious monk rhythm-a-ning](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/8144OoWtD+L._SS500_.jpg)
He was also known to be a very intense performer, often putting all of his energy into performances and rapidly moving his legs while sporadically dancing to the music from his piano. Dissonance was a signature of his, and he used it to capture melancholic emotions. Monk’s music was, at times, unpredictable-he didn’t always follow traditional harmonies or chord progressions. Thelonious Monk’s jazz was mysterious, off-color, and it filled his audience with wonder. Even in the era of fast, hot jazz, Monk ushered in a new flavor of jazz. Monk’s music has been described as angular, slow, and dissonant. Monk heavily influenced cool jazz and bebop during their infancy. He started playing jazz and eventually became an artist to watch. Though, these artists did not satisfy his musical needs. While he did not finish high school, Monk later studied at Julliard where he learned the music of Liszt, Chopin, Bach, and Beethoven.
![thelonious monk rhythm-a-ning thelonious monk rhythm-a-ning](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4Gjz5-AFOSI/maxresdefault.jpg)
Monk started playing the piano at age six. From there, my interest in Monk only grew, and I looked forward to learning and listening to his music. As I began to dive into the world of jazz, I fell in love with his 1957 album, Monk’s Music. Though my knowledge of music theory was limited, I could hear that Monk was different- he had a very good ear for intricate melodies, harmonies, and arrangements. His eclectic rhythms and dissonant harmonies sounded so interesting to me. This past week, I’ve been listening to Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk. Thelonious Monk is my favorite jazz artist! When I first started playing jazz, I was most drawn to his music. Lately, I’ve been spending my time revisiting albums that I enjoy.