The Jazz Baroness

This 2009 documentary film is the story of Pannonica (NIca) de Koenigswarter, whom many jazz enthusiasts will know was born into the Rothschild family, became close friends with great jazz pianist Thelonius Monk (& his wife Nellie). She became patron & friends with many black American jazz musicians in New York the 50s - near scandalous at the time, eg. Charlie Parker, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis....

Consequently, many tributes to 'Nica' have been written in her honour by numerous notable black musicians.

This film is written & directed by Hannah Rothschild, her great-niece, with Helen Mirren as the voice of 'Nica'.
A great story, a great watch, it helps you get into the music too, the new wave Bebop jazz of the time.



'Round Midnight, is the Monk composition that moved & changed Pannonica Rothschild's life in 1951:



And 'Pannonica', which Monk himself composed for her:



Hannah Rothschild has also written a biography of her great-aunt:
www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jun/01/baroness-search-nica-hannah-rothschild-review