In 1966, brilliant jazz pianist Thelonious Monk was riding high in international popularity. He was in the midst of a 14-album stint with major label Columbia Records, and two years earlier he was featured in a cover story for Time Magazine that sparked an interest in and curiosity about his singular style and idiosyncratic music. When he and his steady quartet—saxophonist Charlie Rouse, bassist Larry Gales and drummer Ben Riley—took the stage at la Maison de la Culture d’Amiens on March 23, it

Thelonious Monk Quartet live in Norway, 1966. A central architect of modern jazz, Monk reshaped the music through his singular compositions and percussive piano style. Joined by longtime collaborator Charlie Rouse, with Larry Gales and Ben Riley, this performance captures a defining chapter of his legacy, preserved so the music and its makers endure. | Jazz Foundation of America