Thelonious Monk Straight, No Chaser
The closest a film camera ever got to enigmatic jazz visionary Thelonious Monk, this intimate portrait sheds light on the corners of a brilliant and complex life. Superbly crafted by Direct Cinema pioneer Charlotte Zwerin from a trove of precious 1960s archival footage, Thelonious Monk Straight, No Chaser captures the pianist and bebop innovator in rare, unguarded moments on- and offstage, revealing an eccentric and complicated personality. Made with the same freedom of spirit that defines Monk’s artistry, this essential slice of jazz history is a unique glimpse into the quixotic world of one of the twentieth century’s most revolutionary artists.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
- New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Introduction by director Charlotte Zwerin
- New interview with musician T. S. Monk, son of Thelonious Monk
- New program about Zwerin and the making of the film featuring interviews with writer Michael Schulman, assistant editor Bernadine Colish, and Zwerin’s nieces Lisa and Laura Tesone
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- PLUS: An essay by musician and scholar Paul Grimstad
New cover by Adam Maida
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
- New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- Introduction by director Charlotte Zwerin
- New interview with musician T. S. Monk, son of Thelonious Monk
- New program about Zwerin and the making of the film featuring interviews with writer Michael Schulman, assistant editor Bernadine Colish, and Zwerin’s nieces Lisa and Laura Tesone
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- PLUS: An essay by musician and scholar Paul Grimstad
New cover by Adam Maida
Cast
- Thelonious Sphere Monk
- Bob Jones
- Charlie Rouse
- Harry Colomby
- Teo Macero
- Thelonious Monk Jr.
- Nellie Monk
- Nica de Koenigswarter
- Samuel E. Wright
- Narrator
Credits
- Director
- Charlotte Zwerin
- Produced by
- Charlotte Zwerin
- Produced by
- Bruce Ricker
- Executive producer
- Clint Eastwood
- Production executive
- David Valdes
- Direction of photography
- Christian Blackwood
- Music under narration
- Dick Hyman
- Editor
- Charlotte Zwerin
- Assistant editor
- Bernadine Colish
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A scene from Thelonious Monk Straight, No Chaser
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