Mumbling Monk

so I've recently been getting into T Monk's solo piano works (so far Thelonious himself and Alone in San Francisco...still trying to find Monk Solo)

Anyways as fantastic as these LPs sound on my system I keep thinking I am hearing mumbling or talking during the performances.

Can anyone confirm or deny?

Thanks!

 

Hmm BBQ goes with blues. Steve, what is a good gastronomic pairing with solo jazz piano?

 

Monk makes sounds as he performs. As do many other artists, including pianists such as Peterson, Powell and Jarrett. It's a neat thing (or a horrible thing, there are many who are angered or irritated by this but I'm not among them).

 

I think it's cool! I have some isolated drum tracks from some of the original Zep recording sessions. Talk about vocal!! Bonzo moans, grunts and yells as he smacks those things!!

 

I had the priviledge of being at an Elvin Jones Quintet show in the early 90's in a small theatre; we were in the balcony and his grunts while playing could at times be heard over the instrumentalists; a magic performance that my very being cherishes.

 

Monk's occasional noises are not at all obtrusive or distracting. You should also add to your want list The London Collection: Volume One from November 15, 1971. There are two other volumes of trio material, but Volume One is solo piano.

 

Thanks! I will check it out...I have a couple other records by him and love them!

 

Erroll Garner was loud too!

I don't mind the sounds that Monk and Powell made. For some reason, Jarrett's vocalizing or whatever he does gets underneath my skin.

 

And David Helfgott (classical pianist, the subject of the movie Shine).

 

To paraphrase John Lennon on "For You Blue",
"Gruntin' tennis players got nuthin' on these piano playin' cats"

 

Or Glenn Gould, another classical pianist of note.

 

Don't mind Monk's mumbling a bit. Jarrett, on the other hand ...