Thinking of Matt on his 82nd.!
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2012 11:15 am
Hi Monrovians - and Happy Birthday Matt.!
As I sit here with Matt's musical legacy filling my headphones, I wonder what he'd be doing if he was still 'strutting the stage'. (Much in demand,no doubt).
I still marvel at Matt's breath control..not that I'm a singer..but you can hear something special (due in no small way to Richard Moore's expertise) in many of Matt's
recordings.
Take 'My Kind of Girl' for example. While the orchestra is playing the intro, you can hear Matt take a huge breath. This occurs many seconds before the first word is sung.
I have taken a breath along with Matt and held it until he says "She walks..." and it feels so un-natural for a non-singer but obviously for the magnificent Mr. Monro, it is second nature.
And in "My Way" , you can tell that Matt belted out the "My way.." and went straight into the much softer "I've loved, I've laughed and cried.." all in one take.
I'm sure Sinatra took a break between these phrases , you can 'feel' a production break in his recording as he takes a breather and prepares for the softer phrases.
We forgive with grace Matt's (very) minor and (very) rare transgressions.
In "Jean" when he says ".. halfed dreamed dream..." So What.!!
I think if Matt still walked this earth..he'd be giving Mr. Bennett a run for his money, that's for sure.
As I sit here with Matt's musical legacy filling my headphones, I wonder what he'd be doing if he was still 'strutting the stage'. (Much in demand,no doubt).
I still marvel at Matt's breath control..not that I'm a singer..but you can hear something special (due in no small way to Richard Moore's expertise) in many of Matt's
recordings.
Take 'My Kind of Girl' for example. While the orchestra is playing the intro, you can hear Matt take a huge breath. This occurs many seconds before the first word is sung.
I have taken a breath along with Matt and held it until he says "She walks..." and it feels so un-natural for a non-singer but obviously for the magnificent Mr. Monro, it is second nature.
And in "My Way" , you can tell that Matt belted out the "My way.." and went straight into the much softer "I've loved, I've laughed and cried.." all in one take.
I'm sure Sinatra took a break between these phrases , you can 'feel' a production break in his recording as he takes a breather and prepares for the softer phrases.
We forgive with grace Matt's (very) minor and (very) rare transgressions.
In "Jean" when he says ".. halfed dreamed dream..." So What.!!
I think if Matt still walked this earth..he'd be giving Mr. Bennett a run for his money, that's for sure.