Thelonious Monk
Piano Solo on
Trinkle Tinkle

About

Thelonious Monk's piano solo is the second of 3 solos on this recording, following John Coltrane's tenor sax and before Wilbur Ware's closing acoustic bass statement. Spanning two choruses of the 32-bar AABA form at a medium-up 155 BPM with a swing feel in E♭, the solo runs approximately 1:37. "Trinkle Tinkle" is one of Thelonious Monk's most technically demanding compositions, and this 1957 recording from Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane showcases both musicians navigating its intricate melodic and harmonic challenges. Thelonious Monk was 39 to 40 years old at the time of this 1957 recording.

Thelonious Monk was 39 to 40 years old at the time.