Thelonious Sphere Monk (1917-1982) is a name that may not be familiar to some non-jazz buffs, but there was no musician quite like him. He was a true American original with a unique improvisational style who made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including “‘Round Midnight,” “Blue Monk,” “Straight, No Chaser,” “Ruby, My Dear,” and “Ugly Beauty.” As of 2009, Monk was the second-most-recorded jazz composer in history, after Duke Ellington, according to the book, “Jazz,” published by W.W. Norton.

Monk’s compositions and improvisations feature dissonances and angular melodies, often using flat ninths, flat fifths, unexpected chromatic notes and low bass notes. His unorthodox playing style combined a highly percussive attack with abrupt, dramatic use of switched key releases, silences and hesitations.

When I first saw a video of Monk playing many years ago, I realized he was like nobody else. His distinctive look included suits, hats and sunglasses. He had an idiosyncratic habit during performances; while other musicians continued playing, Monk would stop, stand up and dance for a few moments before returning to the piano.

Monk is one of five jazz musicians to have been featured on the cover of Time magazine, along with Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington and Wynton Marsalis.

On Friday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m., in the fourth weekly performance of Woodmere’s Friday Night Jazz series, Mt. Airy’s super-talented jazz pianist Adam Faulk will be playing the distinctive music of Thelonious Monk.

“Monk was a genius,” Faulk told the Local last week. “He made so many songs to choose from. We will put on a great show and pay homage to Monk in ways that would have made him proud.”

Faulk, 46, is a jazz pianist, writer and producer originally from the Boston area. He was first introduced to music through violin lessons at the age of five. In high school he switched to viola, which he played in the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 1998. About that time he gravitated to the piano and attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, majoring in jazz piano performance and graduating in 1998.

“The household I grew up in had all kinds of music,” Faulk said. “My mom was a music teacher, so I heard every type of music. I went through my parents’ record collection. One of them was ‘The Best of Herbie Hancock.’ When I heard that record, I said, ‘I want to play like that.’”

In addition to live performances, Adam is an accomplished studio musician, producer and arranger, working across jazz, hip-hop and R&B genres.

Both of Faulk’s parents were raised in Philadelphia. Adam has lived in the city starting in 2004 and in Mt. Airy for the last 12 years.

“I have been very blessed to play here with great musicians,” he said, “like Billy Paul, Monnette Sudler, Sun Ra Arkestra, Doc Gibbs, Rufus Harley, Donald Byrd, Bootsie Barnes and Larry McKenna. I am thankful for each and every opportunity to play with musicians of this stature.

“My favorite live performances were playing with Sun Ra Arkestra in Carnegie Hall, which was surreal and such a blessing. And also in backing up Aretha Franklin, the ‘Queen of Soul.’ I was in her band in her last performance.”

What composers’ music does Faulk most like to play? “That’s a hard question because there are so many great ones,” he said. “I would say it depends on the environment and the audience you’re playing for and the mood you’re in. But I will say Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, Chick Corea, Chopin, Bach and Thelonious Monk.”

Faulk has a wife and children. “I am blessed to have an amazing wife who helps with everything,” he said. “Without her my life would be a lot more complex. I improvise for a living on the piano and in life as well. Unexpected things often happen, so it is important to learn to go with the flow. How you react to unexpected events will have a profound effect on your life. So I try to have patience and flexibility to deal with all the nuances. It has been my experience to be blessed with a great team. We balance my music career with family life at home.”

If Faulk could meet and spend time with anyone, past or present, who would it be? “It would be Quincy Jones,” he replied. “He crossed genres and spanned decades, and he did it all very well. I’d love to pick his brain to find out how he evolved with the changing times. What is it that helped him stand the test of time?

“In my personal life, I would most like to meet my ancestors from four, five or six generations back or even farther back. That would be a true self-reflective experience.”

For more information, visit woodmeremuseum.org, click on “Happening” and then “Jazz.” Woodmere is located at 9201 Germantown Ave. in Chestnut Hill. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com.