The production company, Songfilms, had a history producing successful music videos, and the firm was a partnership between Paul Matthews and Stephen Rice.

[3] Many calls across the Atlantic resulted in the NRK, the Norwegian government broadcasting company, releasing black and white film of Monk performing there in 1965.

[4] The producers were also able to obtain film of a 1970 performance, also in black and white, of Monk playing solo in a TV studio in Paris.

[3] The Paris performance "shows us Monk's face dripping with sweat and his fingers percussively poking and stabbing the keys as he creates his unique world of sound.

"[5] Jon Hendricks agreed to narrate the film in "a bubbly, streetwise manner" and also sang "In Walked Bud", repeating his contribution to Monk's Underground album.

"[15] Writing in the San Francisco Chronicle, a reviewer said that the film is a "superbly crafted documentary that tells the story of his art by deftly mixing footage of Monk performances with interviews with musicians and family, still photographs, live performances of Monk's music by musicians who'd worked with him, and Jon Hendrick's pithy, lyrical narration.