At every turn of his long life in jazz, Monk’s hats have described him almost as well as the name his parents had the crystal vision to invent for him 43 years ago — Thelonious Sphere Monk.

as was the case with Monk. When widespread success finally arrived, there was this nagging suspicion he didn't quite know how to deal with it. Columbia made much of his 'eccentricities'?the hats ...