At every turn of his long life in jazz, Monk’s hats have described him almost as well as the name his parents had the crystal vision to invent for him 43 years ago — Thelonious Sphere Monk.

“Konjaku Monogatarishu” (Anthology of Tales from the Past), written during the late Heian Period (794-1185), features many distinguished Buddhist monks who may have possessed supernatural power ...