If Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter hadn't moved to New York in 1951, we'd probably have far fewer recordings by Thelonious Monk. Nica, as she was known, was Monk's best friend and benefactor. A member of the wealthy Rothschild family, Nica's decision to relocate to Manhattan came after separating from her husband. She left her five children behind and took a suite at 995 Fifth Avenue, moves that resulted in her disinheritance. [Photo of Thelonious Monk and Nica emerging from her Bentley in 1964 in front of New York's Five Spot, by Ben Martin]
Soon, she began frequenting jazz clubs, where she had a deep and inquisitive respect for bebop improvisation and was infatuated with modern jazz's nocturnal culture and individualism. Thanks to her patronage of jazz musicians who needed a few bucks or a place to stay (Charlie Parker died in her apartment in 1955), Nica became known informally as the "Jazz Baroness." [Photo above of Thelonious Monk by Herb Snitzer]
But of all the jazz musicians she befriended (there were many), Nica was closest to Thelonious Monk. She admired his gentle manner and brilliant mind, particularly his unique playing style and ingenious compositions. By the late-1950s, Nica and Monk became close friends, and she was his protector, recognizing that he suffered from a form of mental illness that also ran in her family. From the perspective of black jazz musicians, they were honored that someone white and aristocratic had sincere respect for their art. [Photo above of Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter]
At New York's Five Spot and other clubs where Monk performed, the pair were often seen climbing out of her Bentley. Inside, she frequently sat at tables closest to the stage. Her relationship with Monk was platonic. Monk remained married to his wife, Nellie, who was, in many ways, happy to share her husband. Nica took the pressure off of Nellie when it came to caring for Monk and dealing with his mercurial moods. Monk and Nica's bond remained strong until his death in 1982. By then, he had been living with Nica at her Weehawken., N.J., home for 10 years. [Photo above of Thelonious Monk by Herb Snitzer]
Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter died in 1988. She was a champion of many jazz musicians, and more than 20 important songs were written or named for her, including Monk's Pannonica, Horace Silver's Nica's Dream, Gigi Gryce's Nica's Tempo, Freddie Redd's Nica Steps Out, Sonny Clark's Nica and Kenny Drew's Blues for Nica. But her close friendship with Monk was especially important in terms of his spirit, his welfare and the joyous volume of material we now have from the pianist.
That's the background. Now here's The Jazz Baroness (2009), a superb documentary directed by Hannah Rothschild. Nica was Hannah's great-aunt, and Nica's narrative in the film is read by actress Helen Mirren...
A special thanks to Jimi Mentis.
