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Monk Trivia Quiz

No, this quiz isn't about USA Network's obsessive-compulsive cop, but about one of jazz's greatest pianist-composers, Thelonious Monk.

A multiple-choice quiz by tjoebigham. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
tjoebigham

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
169,855

Updated
Jun 14 23

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
572

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Where and when was Monk born? Hint

Tallahassie, FL. 1916

Royal Mountain, N.C., 1917

Atlanta, GE., 1920

Jackson, MS., 1910

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Question 2 of 15

2. Where did he and his mother settle? Hint

San Juan Hill, N.Y.

Providence, R.I.

Weehawken, N.J.

Boston, MA.

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Question 3 of 15

3. Where did he study piano? Hint

Harvard

Oxford

Sorbonne

Juilliard

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Question 4 of 15

4. What nightclub did he first perform at? Hint

Minton's

Onyx

Cotton Club

Savoy Ballroom

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Question 5 of 15

5. Of the jazz styles here, which one did Monk have a hand in helping to create? Hint

Bebop

Swing

Dixieland

Fusion

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Question 6 of 15

6. What tune did he play on his first recording? Hint

Sweet Sue

On The Bean

Sweet Georgia Brown

Ain't Misbehavin'

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Question 7 of 15

7. What composition wasn't his? Hint

Well You Needn't

Ornithology

Ruby My Dear

Straight No Chaser

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Question 8 of 15

8. Monk named a composition of his for his wife.

True

False

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Question 9 of 15

9. Who collaborated with him on his best-known work "Round Midnight"? Hint

Bertie Hanighen and Cootie Williams

Count Basie and Harold Arlen

Johnny Mercer and Dizzy Gillespie

Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn

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Question 10 of 15

10. What crime was Monk charged for? Hint

murder

burglary

littering

drug possession

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Question 11 of 15

11. In 1964, Monk was on the cover of Newsweek.

True

False

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Question 12 of 15

12. Of these four jazz legends, who is the one Monk never worked with? Hint

John Coltrane

Art Blakey

Dizzy Gillespie

Duke Ellington

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Question 13 of 15

13. What European baroness was his friend and patron? Hint

Panonica de Koenigswarter

Elizabeth Bathory

Lili van Shtupp

Karen Dinesen Blixen

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Question 14 of 15

14. When did Monk die? Hint

1982

1969

1971

1988

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Question 15 of 15

15. Finally, what was Monk's middle name? Hint

Sphere

Wolfgang

Thaddeus

Tiberius

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Where and when was Monk born?

Answer: Royal Mountain, N.C., 1917

After his birth, his mother took her son up North.

2. Where did he and his mother settle?

Answer: San Juan Hill, N.Y.

San Juan Hill was in the West Eighties of New York City, where Monk grew up hearing the "stride" pianists of the early Twenties and discovered his skill at the piano.

3. Where did he study piano?

Answer: Juilliard

Monk's musical education was at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music.

4. What nightclub did he first perform at?

Answer: Minton's

The legendary yet infamous (for its racial segregation of its audience) Cotton Club was gone by the early Forties, when Monk began at Minton's. The Savoy Ballroom was best known for Swing music.

5. Of the jazz styles here, which one did Monk have a hand in helping to create?

Answer: Bebop

Dixieland had already seen its day and Swing was already swinging when Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and others created bebop, a more dissonant and rhythmic form of jazz. Fusion was started by Miles Davis.

6. What tune did he play on his first recording?

Answer: On The Bean

In the years ahead, Monk would be better known for his own compositions.

7. What composition wasn't his?

Answer: Ornithology

"Ornithology" was composed by Charlie "Bird" Parker. Jazz fan Clint Eastwood directed the biopic "Bird" and produced the documentary "Thelonoius Monk: Straight No Chaser"

8. Monk named a composition of his for his wife.

Answer: True

The dissonant and bluesy "Crepuscule with Nellie" was named for his wife, with whom he had a son, Thelonious, Jr.

9. Who collaborated with him on his best-known work "Round Midnight"?

Answer: Bertie Hanighen and Cootie Williams

Trumpeter Williams co-wrote the music with Monk and Hanighen wrote the lyrics. Perhaps the most recorded song in jazz history (Linda Ronstadt sang the lyrics on a recording) and a personal favorite of mine, it was the title of Bertrand Tavernier's film.

10. What crime was Monk charged for?

Answer: drug possession

It seems that Monk took the rap for fellow musician Bud Powell. He had his cabaret card, which gave him the right to perform, suspended for six years. All he could do was record.

11. In 1964, Monk was on the cover of Newsweek.

Answer: False

It was Time magazine that Monk was on the cover of.

12. Of these four jazz legends, who is the one Monk never worked with?

Answer: Duke Ellington

Monk started out with Gillespie's band and later teamed with Blakey and Coltrane, but never with Duke Ellington. (But what a team they would have made!)

13. What European baroness was his friend and patron?

Answer: Panonica de Koenigswarter

Bathory was the "female Dracula" who bathed in the blood of virgin girls in medieval times, Blixen is best known as writer Isak Dinesen (Out of Africa) and von Shtupp is from "Blazing Saddles"! Monk named a composition for the German-born noblewoman who became his friend and patron. (She in turn was named for a butterfly species!)

14. When did Monk die?

Answer: 1982

Monk was mourned throughout the jazz world and his legacy and influence continue to this day.

15. Finally, what was Monk's middle name?

Answer: Sphere

Yep, don't ask why, but his middle name WAS Sphere! Hope you enjoyed the quiz and are inspired to seek out and enjoy Monk's music!

Source: Author tjoebigham

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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