Thelonious Monk's surreally strange and spartan genius gets its due

The legendary pianist’s centenary was celebrated and his music vibrantly updated by John Beasley and his remarkable MONK’estraJust for his name alone, the presence of Thelonious Monk on the planet between 1917 and 1982 has probably registered with more people who know little and care less about jazz than almost any other of its legends. To have been fortunate enough to have actually heard and seen the piano-playing and composing genius from Rocky Mount, Carolina on stage feels like t