Jazz Compositions: "Well, You Needn't"

"Well, You Needn't" is a jazz standard composed by Thelonious Monk in 1944. According to Robin D.G. Kelley in his seminal biography "Thelonious Monk: the Life and Times of an American Original" the title was inspired by a protegé of Monk's, the jazz singer Charlie Beamon; Monk wrote a song and told Beamon he was going to name it after him, to which Beamon replied "Well, you needn't". ~wikipedia

Videos: Thelonious Monk - Blue Monk (Oslo, April 1966)

Biography: Thelonious Monk ~all·About·Jazz

Thelonious Monk

Born: October 10, 1917
Died: February 17, 1982
Instrument: Piano

With the arrival Thelonious Sphere Monk, modern music-- let alone modern culture--simply hasn't been the same. Recognized as one of the most inventive pianists of any musical genre, Monk achieved a startlingly original sound that even his most devoted followers have been unable to successfully imitate. His musical vision was both ahead of its time and deeply rooted in tradition, spanning the entire history of the music from the “stride” masters of James P. Johnson and Willie “the Lion” Smith to the tonal freedom and kinetics of the “avant garde.” And he shares with Edward “Duke” Ellington the distinction of being one of the century’s greatest American composers. At the same time, his commitment to originality in all aspects of life--in fashion, in his creative use of language and economy of words, in his biting humor, even in the way he danced away from the piano--has led fans and detractors alike to call him “eccentric,” “mad” or even “taciturn.” Consequently, Monk has become perhaps the most talked about and least understood artist in the history of jazz.

Thelonious Monk, 1917-1982, Pianist/Composer