London ( CNN ) -- The jazz record was only three minutes long , but it was enough time to cast a spell on a wealthy European heiress who became determined to meet the artist behind the beautiful ballad with the haunting overtones . That record was `` Round Midnight , '' by a relatively unknown jazz pianist Thelonious Monk and hearing it would herald the start of a life-long friendship between him and heiress Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter . Born into the hugely wealthy Rothschild banking dynasty and married to a French diplomat , the baroness , known as Nica , gave up a world of privilege for the love of jazz and devoted herself to Monk , who was considered one of America 's great musical geniuses . She later became known as `` the Jazz Baroness '' —and could be spotted mingling with music legends of the bebop era , such as Charlie Parker , Art Blakey and Miles Davis . To explore Nica 's elusive past , Hannah Rothschild tells her great aunt 's mysterious life story in her book , `` The Baroness : The Search for Nica , the rebellious Rothschild '' . Nica was first touched by jazz in 1948 while on a trip to New York . Just before catching a flight to join her family , she stopped to visit a friend , the jazz musician Teddy Wilson who put on `` Round Midnight . '' WATCH : YouTube video of Thelonius Monk performing `` Round Midnight '' After hearing that record , the baroness ' life changed forever , recalls Rothschild . `` It was like the vinyl version of a spell being cast . '' `` It quite literally spirited her from one world to another and she never went home . That was it . She missed every single plane , stayed in New York , determined to meet this man Thelonious Monk . '' In that very moment , she left her husband and five children behind and devoted herself to meeting the legendary musician . Armed with a mile long cigarette holder , a fur coat and a set of pearls , Nica could be found swaying to the blues in the big apple 's jazz clubs or ferrying bands to performances in her convertible Bentley . But Nica did n't find herself in the presence of Monk until some years later at the 'Salon du Jazz 1954 ' concert in Paris . She was introduced to Monk backstage by a mutual friend - pianist Mary Lou Williams -- `` and once they met they were inseparable '' , notes Rothschild . Though Monk was married , the relationship between the Baroness and him remained platonic , according to Rothschild 's research . `` I believe what kept them together was their love of music , particularly his music might I add . A real sense of companionship and friendship . '' Part of Nica 's passion for jazz could be traced back to her experience during World War II . With Jewish relatives disappearing in the Holocaust , she played an active role in the war and even fought in the battlefields of Africa for Charles De Gaulle 's Free French Army in Congo . After serving in numerous capacities , she ended the war as a decorated lieutenant . `` She had a very interesting war and when she came back it was impossible for her to settle down to a life of normalcy and domesticity , '' explains Rothschild . While Nica never took up composing or playing music herself , she remained a friend and philanthropist to the genre . As a result , she was a source of material for a dozen songs composed by jazz greats . Songs included Sonny Clark 's `` Nica '' , Kenny Dorham 's `` Tonica '' , Tommy Flanagan 's `` Thelonica '' —to name a few . The baroness remained close friends with Monk , funding his performances and even went to jail for him . The incident happened in 1958 when police stopped the pair en route to an out-of-town gig and found a small amount of Monk 's marijuana in her car . Nica claimed it was hers and she was sentenced to three years in prison . After a two-year legal battle funded by the Rothschild 's , the case was dismissed on a technicality in the appeal court . In Monk 's last years , he suffered from mental health problems and withdrew from playing jazz altogether by secluding himself in Nica 's New Jersey home . But at his funeral—Monk died in 1982 , from a stroke , both his wife Nellie and Nica were greeted by mourners as widows . Six years after Monk 's death , Nica passed away , aged 74 , after undergoing a heart valve operation . Though Rothschild only met her great aunt a handful of times on her visits to New York , she was devastated by the loss . `` I went into a silent mourning of not having spent more time with her and not having asked those questions , '' recalls Rothschild . `` It occurred to me one day that just because somebody has died or passed on , it does n't mean that your relationship with them is completely over . '' And each time Rothschild listens to that infamous Monk record , she wonders , `` Maybe this time it 'll change my life and I 'll leave my children and my country and my friends—but it has n't happened yet . ''
British Baroness of Miles Davies family abandoned her family for New Jersey jazz scene . As the 'the jazz baroness , ' she mingled with greats including Thelonious Monk , Thelonious Monk . Love of music helped her build a life-long friendship with jazz great Rothschild .