After hearing a singular piece of music, Baroness Nica de Koenigswarter, daughter of the Rothschild dynasty, abandoned her gilded cage and basically left her husband behind to become a patron saint to the High Priest of Jazz, Thelonious Monk, and a muse to countless other musicians.
More than just a groupie, she was a freedom fighter and a philanthropist who made headlines for kicking race and class norms in the shins. But just as quickly as she found her place in the world, she became embroiled in scandal when her old friend, jazz legend Charlie “Bird” Parker passed away in her hotel room.
It was a sad chapter in her life, and one that caused dark rumors to swirl. It all became a tragic reflection on all she’d done to support the musicians in her life, but ultimately, her legacy—which includes the 20+ songs written about her by some of jazz’s greatest figures—stands on its own.
