Thelonious Monk Birthday Celebration

A tribute to the legendary jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, this birthday celebration at Birdland Theater brings together three musicians for a night of inventive improvisation. Pianist Uri Caine leads a trio with bassist Ben Allison and drummer Steve Smith, exploring Monk's compositions that are known for dissonant harmonies, angular melodies, and percussive attack.

Monk's music, which often uses flat ninths and unexpected chromatic notes, was central to the development of bebop. The trio's performance honors his legacy by focusing on classics like "'Round Midnight" and "Blue Monk." The intimate setting of Birdland Theater in New York City's theater district sets the stage for an evening that captures Monk's unique style, including his habit of pausing to dance during performances.