Rhythm-A-Ning is a contrafact by Thelonious Monk built on the chord changes of I Got Rhythm, blending blues-rooted phrasing with Monk's signature angular melodic sensibility. Elements of the A section melody can be traced back to a 1936 Mary Lou Williams arrangement, which Monk developed and refined over more than a decade of live performances before first recording it under this title on May 15, 1957, at a session led by Art Blakey for Atlantic Records. An earlier live version from September 1954 also exists on Prestige. The tune's bridge is particularly distinctive, employing the whole tone scale to create a floating, playful tension that contrasts with the driving, syncopated A sections. This use of the whole tone scale is a hallmark of Monk's harmonic creativity and sets Rhythm-A-Ning apart from the many other rhythm changes contrafacts in the jazz repertoire. The melody's rhythmic displacement and off-kilter accents give it a quirky, unpredictable feel that rewards close study by improvisers. Abbey Lincoln later added lyrics and recorded her vocal version as Monkery's the Blues with Monk's approval. The tune stands as one of Monk's most frequently performed and recorded compositions, a standard that appears regularly at jam sessions and in jazz programs. In the AllSolos library, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown's performance on Thelonious Monk Tribute with Steven Feifke and Bryan Carter captures the tune's energetic character.
