Happy Birthday, Monk!

Happy birthday to Thelonious Sphere Monk! Though Monk & Mingus never recorded together, Mingus was fond of Monk and composed several pieces in his honor, including “Jump Monk,” “MDM (Monk, Duke, & Mingus),” and “Monk, Bunk, And Vice-Versa” – which one is your favorite?

This image is one of the few known photographs of the two together, playing in a group that also featured Charlie Parker and Roy Haynes. Truly an all-star band - if only someone had turned on the tape recorder, too!

Photograph by Bob Parent, captured Sunday, September 13, 1953 at The Open Door on West 3rd Street, New York, New York

Is This the Greatest Photo in Jazz History? The New York Times thought so (version below.)