I like the solo piano of Thelonious Monk
on the Mosaic Records Complete
Black Lion
and Vogue Recordings of Thelonious Monk, Disc 1.
“Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.”
“Round
How many times did he play those tunes. And different
every time. And yet you recognize him two notes in.
His signature. A telegrapher has what they call a fist.
So does a piano player. So does a writer.
A writer has a voice.
Pipes. Chops.
Longevity. Endurance.
It isn’t taxing, physically.
I’m getting tired, though.
The constant attrition of the wood,
that is, the nutmeg against the nutmeg grater.
It takes taut strings to make music.