Thelonious Monk's 1968 Palo Alto High School Concert Resurfaces as Impulse! Release

In 1968, a 16-year-old white student named Danny organized a concert by jazz pianist Thelonious Monk at his high school in Palo Alto, California. The performance took place on October 27, 1968, in the school's amphitheater, bringing together black and white jazz fans in a city divided by race. Danny had called Monk's manager, who was moved by the teenager's audacity and signed a contract for one date. Two days before the concert, Danny called Monk directly at the San Francisco club where he was in residence. Monk was initially confused, asking, "What are you talking about? How do you expect me to come to Palo Alto?" Danny, too young to drive, sent his older brother to pick up the musicians. The drum kit fit in the trunk, but the double bass stuck out the window. The concert lasted 47 minutes and was recorded. It remained forgotten until 2020, when Impulse! Records released it as "Palo Alto." The event occurred against the backdrop of racial unrest following the assassinations of Martin Luther King in April and Robert Kennedy in June. The album cover features a photo from the performance. The article was published in L'ŒIL n°798 on September 1, 2026, by Laure Albernhe.