Episode 8, All About Thelonious Monk (with Michael Morse)

Special guest for this episode is jazz bassist and ethnomusicologist, Michael Morse, talking about the great pianist and composer, Thelonious Monk, in honour of the 100th year of his birth.  He addresses why people who don’t think he’s a great pianist are wrong.   And explains the intricacies of some of his compositions in a way that even I can understand!  And in the process we play a lot of his music….including an incredible vocal version of the most recorded jazz composition ever.   (Guess who wrote it). And for the piano student you have a good retort for your teacher’s command to ‘curve your fingers’.