Monster licks …

One of the things about boxing is sound.

We hit a bag, a trainer’s pads, a body and it is associated with sound.  There is the solid “thwack” of a body shot, the rapid fire of the speedbag and bounding double and triple pounds of the double-ended bag.

We all know when a shot is true too.  It carries a special kind of “on the button” sound as it sinks in. There’s an effortless quality as well when all of the mechanics of the body align for the perfect moment of when the hand encased in it’s padded glove hits the target.

Watching effortless boxing, effortless sound is to watch its practitioners at the top of their game.

So too with tap dancers and musicians who float through space with sonorous movement in their feet or with incomparable musical licks that delight us with their fanciful runs through the scales.

I’ve thought a lot about sound lately here are a few monsters …

Coach Rick Technical Mitt Work with female boxers.

Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell dancing to Begin the Beguine from Broadway Melody of 1940.

The amazing Tony Williams (RIP) started his career with Miles Davis as a 17-year-old.  The video has two stop your heart drum solos.

Tenor saxophone madness!  Saxophone summit webcast from Birdland in 1999 with Michael Brecker (RIP), David Liebman and Joe Lovano with a cover of John Coltrane’s Impressions. Plus, check out Billy Hart’s drumming.  Incomperable.