“The Jazz Baroness”
The patron saint of bebop
Monk and Pannonica de Koenigswarter
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The best jazz documentary ever?
That’s pretty high praise.
But this film, which is new to me, definitely belongs in the Top 5.
Thelonious Monk, the Baroness, and the greatest story never told.
How beloved was “Nica.”?
Here are just some of the songs that were written about her:
“Pannonica” – Thelonious Monk
“Nica’s Dream” – Horace Silver
“Little Butterfly” – Monk/Hendricks
“Nica” – Sonny Clark
“Tonica” – Kenny Dorham
“Thelonica” – Tommy Flanagan
“Blues for Nica” – Kenny Drew
“Nica’s Tempo” – Gigi Gryce
“Weehawken Madhouse” – Art Blakey
“Inca” – Barry Harris
This film was made by Nica’s grandniece, Hannah Rothschild.
Beautiful work.
