Ben Riley

Documentary portrait of jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, combining archival material of Monk playing solo and with his quartet, plus interpretations of his music by Dizzy Gillespie, Jon Hendricks and Company, Carmen McRae, Milt Jackson and members of the Thelonious Monk Quartet with Walter Davis, Jr. playing piano. The Thelonious Monk Big Band is recreated by musical director, Paul Jeffrey, featuring Terence Blanchard and Monk's son, T. S., on drums. Jon Hendricks serves as narrator, putting the entire text to rhyme. His lyrics to "Round Midnight" is performed by Carmen McRae and "In Walked Bud" performed by Hendricks and Company.

Through a more personal and conversational style of documentary, Thelonious Monk – American Composer was the first fully rounded portrait of this terribly misunderstood man and musician. He was the pianistic ringleader of the bebop revolution and, after Duke Ellington, jazz' first major composer. Thelonious Sphere Monk – a most original talent – remained a highly productive musician after more than thirty years of musical activity and continued to be a growing artist, exploring his art and extending his range.

Part one of a two-part portrait of the great Jazz composer and pianist. In 1968, we had the opportunity to spend time with Thelonious Monk and his musicians, following him in New York and Atlanta. In New York his quartet plays at the Village Vanguard and at recording sessions for Columbia Records; in Atlanta they appear at a Jazz Festival organized by George Wein. The members of the quartet were Charlie Rouse, Larry Gales, and Ben Riley.

Thelonious Monk features two intimate concerts filmed three days apart in Scandanavia in the Spring of 1966 with a legendary quartet that includes drummer Ben Riley, bassist Larry Gales and tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse. Thelonious Monk revolutionized jazz with his innovative musical approach and these remarkable performances allow viewers the rare opportunity to experience Monk’s genius up close on his classic compositions “Blue Monk,” “Epistrophy” and “’Round Midnight.”