Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

Thelonious Monk is a genius who inspired a whole generation of musicians and composers.

Multi-instrumentalist Elliot Sharp, a member of New York’s avant-garde who is mainly known as a member of the experimental rock band Carbon, recently released an album with unique interpretations of Monk compositions.

Pianist Michiel Braam’s approach to Monk is equally fascinating, witness his album Monk Materials. He cites pianists Cecil Taylor, Thelonious Monk and Lennie Tristano as his biggest influences. All of these artists have left their mark jazz from outside of the mainstream.