Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Monk's Music Trio is an acoustic hard bop trio that is devoted exclusively to the compositions of the influential pianist Thelonious Monk (b. Oct. 10, 1917; d. Feb. 17, 1982). The concept of a repertory jazz group with a Monk-only focus is not unprecedented; from 1961-1964, soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy and... [+] Read More

This vocal quartet formed as high school students in Oklahoma City before relocating to New York. They proved adept at both churning dance tunes and sincere ballads. Signing to Giant Records, they broke through in 1991 with their performance of "I Wanna Sex You Up" on the soundtrack of New Jack City. Released as a single, the song topped the R&B... [+] Read More