About
Holger Marjamaa delivers one chorus of piano on Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight," the most iconic ballad in the jazz repertoire, on his 2019 album Mostly Standards. The AABA form in E-flat minor unfolds at 67 BPM, demanding expressive conviction on every phrase, and Marjamaa's touch and dynamic control prove equal to the challenge. His reading respects the composition's angular beauty while bringing his own harmonic sensibility to the changes, finding personal expression within one of the most well-traveled harmonic landscapes in jazz. The voicings and melodic choices reflect a deep understanding of Monk's unique harmonic language, honoring the signature dissonances and unexpected resolutions that make the piece endlessly rewarding to interpret.
Holger Marjamaa was 26 to 27 years old at the time.
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