A review by robertrivasplata
Monk!: Thelonious, Pannonica, and the Friendship Behind a Musical Revolution by Youssef Daoudi

adventurous informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

Graphic novel about Thelonious Sphere Monk, & his relationship with his friend & patron, Nica the Baroness of Jazz. Less a biography than a portrait of Monk's vibe & personality. Before reading Monk!, I didn't know much about Thelonious Monk apart from his playing style, & I'd always thought his reputation as an oddball was mostly invented by critics & adoring hipsters, but this book seems to indicate that he really was really out there. I'll have to look up some further reading about both him and Baroness Pannonica, since this is not exactly an exhaustive history. Monk! also illustrates the milieu of the New York bop scene of the 40s-50s. In addition to really making me want to listen to some (more) Monk, I really want to hear some Dizzy Gillespie now. I'd read Daoudi's graphical treatments of the lives of any other Jazz cats.