“Born on this day, Oct. 10, 1917, Thelonious Sphere Monk is one of the most prolific and original composers and musicians in the history of jazz. Monk was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, but moved to New York City at the age of 4. In fact, Monk and I actually attended the same school—Stuyvesant High School, in New York. Although he never played bebop, he is certainly credited with being one of it’s founding creators along with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bud Powell. Monk could be wild and eccentric, and was always searching for new sounds in his music and on the piano. But, he was also incredible intelligent and was able to transcend duality with his music; at once child-like and intellectual, dissonant but still melodic, seemingly simple and yet incredibly difficult. There isn’t a student of jazz out there today who hasn’t heard or played Monk’s compositions. From ‘Round Midnight’ to ‘Epistrophy,’ from ‘Blue Monk’ to ‘Ruby, My Dear,’ every one of his compositions is a masterpiece. As overused as the description can be, Thelonious Monk truly is, as the landmark albums say, a ‘Genius of Modern Music.’" – @paulnedzela, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra • (Photo by William P. Gottlieb)