Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1

Recorded in the late 1940s and released in 1951, Thelonious Monk’s debut as a leader heralded the arrival of an utterly unique talent. His approach to everything — melody, harmony, song structure, rhythm, piano playing — was odd and, to some, off-putting. But his ability was undeniable and for those with ears to hear, he was (and continues to be) a breath of fresh air. “’Round Midnight,” which opens the program, is among his most accessible compositions and remains a beloved standard, but other tunes (“Off Minor,” “Humph,” the magnificent “In Walked Bud”) left both critics and audiences scratching their heads. This was not just modern jazz, but modernist jazz — and it changed American music forever.