Thelonious Monk, from Library and Archives Canada via Wikimedia Commons
Seen today on Wikipedia:
Bassist Al McKibbon, who had known Monk for over twenty years and played on his final tour in 1971, later said: “On that tour Monk said about two words. I mean literally maybe two words. He didn’t say ‘Good morning’, ‘Goodnight’, ‘What time?’ Nothing. Why, I don’t know. He sent word back after the tour was over that the reason he couldn’t communicate or play was that Art Blakey and I were so ugly.”
I find myself wondering what the two words were that he did say. Maybe I have too much time on my hands.
Here’s a great Thelonious Monk record: