Thelonious Monk's Early Bebop Career (1941–1952)

1. Monk joins Minton’s Playhouse house band

   Jan 1, 1941Labels: Minton's Playhouse, Thelonious Monk

   • Minton s Playhouse
   • Monk bio

2. Jam-session recordings document Minton’s sound

   Jan 1, 1941Labels: Minton's Playhouse, Jerry Newman

   • Monk bio
   • Minton s Playhouse

3. “’Round Midnight” is copyrighted as “I Need You So”

   Sep 24, 1943Labels: 'Round Midnight, Thelonious Monk

   • Round Midnight
   • WRTI

4. Cootie Williams makes first “’Round Midnight” recording

   Aug 22, 1944Labels: Cootie Williams, 'Round Midnight

   • Round Midnight
   • Jazziz

5. Monk records with Coleman Hawkins (bop-leaning session)

   Oct 19, 1944Labels: Coleman Hawkins, Thelonious Monk

   • Hawkins bio
   • Monkzone notes

6. First Blue Note session as a leader

   Oct 15, 1947Labels: Blue Note, Thelonious Monk

   • JazzTimes
   • Blue Note box

7. Trio session records “Ruby, My Dear” and “Well You Needn’t”

   Oct 24, 1947Labels: Gene Ramey, Thelonious Monk

   • Blue Note box
   • Genius notes

8. Monk records his first “’Round Midnight” performance

   Nov 21, 1947Labels: 'Round Midnight, Blue Note

   • Round Midnight
   • Blue Note box

9. Blue Note session with Milt Jackson expands Monk’s sound

   Jul 2, 1948Labels: Milt Jackson, Thelonious Monk

   • Blue Note box
   • Genius dates

10. Blue Note comeback session records key late-bebop tunes

    Jul 23, 1951Labels: Blue Note, Criss Cross

    • Genius dates
    • Blue Note box

11. Arrest leads to loss of New York cabaret card

    Aug 8, 1951Labels: Cabaret Card, Thelonious Monk

    • Powell chronology
    • WICN

12. Final early-period Blue Note session closes the 1947–1952 arc

    May 30, 1952Labels: Blue Note, Kenny Dorham

    • Genius dates
    • Discography