Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser

Members of Thelonious Monk's quartet stare at the charts and puzzle out the notes, strategizing each bar. What key is it in?  Monk just mumbles affirmations.  He doesn't need to wrangle over anything; he knows the piece straight to the end, and doesn't seem to spend a lot of time overthinking it. Improvisational style, but controlled. That's a genius: intuitive, born with an ability the rest of us have to work at.

Charlotte Zwerin, known for her work with the Maysles brothers, oversees 1988's THELONIOUS MONK: STRAIGHT, NO CHASER, an exemplary documentary that gives us a rare look at the reclusive, mysterious jazz pianist and composer while he plays makes great music in the studio and on stage.  Much of the privileged, amazing footage was shot in the late 1960s for a German public television special that aired one time.  The footage was then shelved for many years.   Those scenes have the improvisational feel of home movies, but with higher production values.  It is pure gold, especially the moments with legendary producer Teo Macero in the studio, there to help shape more seminal jazz, this documentary's namesake album.

The rest of the movie includes interviews with Monk's personnel, including tenor sax man Charlie Rouse.  Members of the old quartets and octets are also seen in present day, recreating that great old sound and reminiscing about their leader.  Manager Harry Columby tells an interesting story of how Monk covered for Bud Powell when the latter was caught with drugs.  Thelonious Jr., a drummer, is seen recalling some of the difficult years, when his dad entered some sort of fog, a bewilderment that made being around him no easy task.  He and others speak of Nellie, his long suffering wife, often by his side during tours.  When Monk began a friendship with Baroness Nica De Koenigswarter ("his second wife") Nellie was not jealous but relieved to have the mercurial musician away from her for but a while.  We see Thelonious hanging at Nica's house in New Jersey, loving on her felines.  He eventually "just stopped playing" music.

STRAIGHT, NO CHASER, funded by jazz aficienado and executive producer Clint Eastwood's Malpaso company, has the no hurry feel to match what we see of Monk's life.  The early scenes have some narration, detailing his childhood and first gigs.  He truly was an enigma.  When he speaks he's barely coherent.  Viewers who appreciate real jazz music will feast on the many performances showcased, pieces sometimes identified onscreen. Thelonious Monk's playing is shown with hands thundering down on the keys more than once.  Having "Mysteriouso" play near the close of this documentary is oh so apt.