"When I heard Monk in person in 1955, he was playing with a quartet in a small club. The place was full of musicians, but there was no public at all"

This quote by Steve Lacy talks to the simple beginnings of the excellent jazz musician Thelonious Monk. In 1955, Monk was playing in a little club with a quartet, and the only individuals in attendance were other musicians. This talks to the lack of acknowledgment Monk had at the time, as he was not yet a family name. Despite this, Monk was still able to draw a crowd of fellow musicians, which reveals the regard he had actually currently earned in the jazz neighborhood. It likewise speaks to the power of Monk's music, as it had the ability to draw a crowd of artists even without the presence of a paying audience. This quote acts as a pointer of the hard work and dedication Monk put into his craft, and the regard he earned from his peers.