The Man Who Makes Monk Better

The Austrian pianist Hans Groiner re-emerged recently, on Twitter. At first, I thought it might be a parody account, but it is, in fact, the actual Hans Groiner.

His artistic mission is simple. From his Twitter bio:

I am a scholar of Thelonious Monk. I improve his music by making it more relaxing, and less offensive to the ear.

Some of you may be thinking, "Wait, Thelonious Monk's music is perfect the way it is!" Let me just say that's what I thought — until I heard this.

Groiner occasionally makes it across the pond to perform live in the U.S. In fact, there's video evidence from the New York venue Small's — see these clips with Joe Martin on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums.

One more note: It may be hard to believe, but Groiner is actually distantly related to the lounge singer Johnny "Bowtie" Barstow, whose album of holiday classics is a classic in the same genre.

A Blog Supreme is off today and may take the federal holiday to listen to Larry Goldings recordings made not in jest.