Search - Matt Monro :: Essential Matt Monro

Masterful phrasing and swing...

Peter Sokolowski | Northampton, MA | 10/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"He was the "British Sinatra" and sings with beautiful phrasing on these recordings from the early '60s. This is Monro at his most Sinatra/Riddle-like. Several of the tracks are from his Hoagy Carmichael album (virtually the entire Matt Monro catalog is made up of compilations) -- and his renditions of "Skylark," "Blue Orchids," and "Stardust" are masterful ballad treatments. His "One Morning In May" and "Small Fry" swing with Basie-like big-band arrangements behind him (note especially the hip and attentive drumming on these swing charts).



His breath control is one of the most extraordinary in all of popular singing; there is at least one phrase in each ballad performance that is nearly impossible to speak, let alone sing, in one breath. But there's subtle swing phrasing with great breath control too -- notice the second time he sings the bridge on "Let's Face the Music and Dance" after he sings a 4-bar lead-in and then the ENTIRE bridge on one breath. Literally breathtaking singing, and mature phrasing that does not call attention to the technical prowess (very much like Sinatra). "My Kind of Girl" was Monro's swing masterpiece, a record so fine that even Sinatra had to record it -- the ultimate tribute.

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