What is Musicality?


Hello fellow music lovers,

I am upgrading my system like a lot of us who follow Audiogon. I read a lot about musicality on Audiogon as though the search for musicality can ultimately end by acquiring the perfect music system -- or the best system that one can afford. I really appreciate the sonic improvements that new components, cables, plugs and tweaks are bringing to my own system. But ultimately a lot of musicality comes from within and not from without. I probably appreciated my Rocket Radio and my first transistor radio in the 1950s as much I do my high-end system in 2010. Appreciating good music is not only a matter of how good your equipment is. It is a measure of how musical a person you are. Most people appreciate good music but some people are born more musical than others and appreciate singing in the shower as much as they do listening to a high-end system or playing a musical instrument or attending a concert. Music begins in the soul. It is not only a function of how good a system you have.

Sabai
sabai
Hello Frogman,
I completely agree with your take on T. Monk,"swung like mad somehow" absolutely right! When I first developed an interest in jazz, Oscar Peterson was a major portion of my listening.As my exposure.knowledge and involvement grew ever deeper into jazz, my admiration for Monk increased. I find Monk far more interesting,emotional enjoyable and engaging than Peterson. This is by no means a knock on Peterson but Monk's playing(and compositions) just move me to a higher degree. Pure subjectivity I realize.
Charles,
Speaking of Monk compositions, unorthodox playing technique and MUSICALITY, this is about as good as it gets; imo:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MOm17yw__6U
I never get tired of listening to Monk. He was so creative, he always keeps me interested.
Frogman,
That was beautiful, thanks. I have a 1959 recording of Wes playing this tune with Melvin Rhyne on the Hammond b3 and it's also beautiful.