Thelonious Monk was an influential American jazz pianist and composer known for his distinctive improvisational style and lasting impact on jazz. His compositions, such as Round Midnight, Blue Monk, and Straight, No Chaser, have become standards in the genre. Celebrated for using dissonance, angular melodies, and unique rhythms, Monk brought a bold, percussive approach to the piano, often pausing mid-performance to dance before returning to play. Instantly recognizable in stylish suits, hats, and sunglasses, he remains the second-most-recorded jazz composer after Duke Ellington. Monk is also one of only five jazz musicians to appear on the cover of Time magazine.