Sixty years after leaving Kingston, Jamaica, Grammy-nominated pianist Monty Alexander is rightly regarded as an American classic. Loved worldwide for his vibrant personality and soulful playing, he delivers a joyous mix of timeless swinging grooves, endless melodies, sophisticated voicings, and a romantic spirit that has defined his career.
With more than 75 recordings to his name, Monty Alexander was named the fifth greatest jazz pianist ever in The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time. Jamaica has honoured him with the Commander in the Order of Distinction and the Order of Jamaica for his outstanding contribution to jazz and the promotion of Jamaican music, and the University of the West Indies awarded him an honorary doctorate.
“I love Jamaica. I love America. I love them both together more than each one separately. I inhabit the rhythmic aspect of both things… I do it naturally and joyfully. I am proud to come from a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic place,” he says, and every note he plays reflects that rich heritage.
On stage, expect a masterclass in jazz piano: endless melody-making and effervescent grooves delivered with the warmth, charm, and joy that have made Monty Alexander a global favourite for over six decades.
Pour les fans de Jazz et Reggae.
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Cue one of the most influential jazz pianists the world has seen yet, a guy called Monty Alexander, who has put in his ten thousand hours in enough to know what he’s doing. The genre that he does is definitely his own style that he has developed over many decades of practice, opening with a version of “Got to Go” on which he puts a slight Caribbean feel on, with not one wrong notes in this piece. He truly gets lost in the music when he performs, getting so passionate.
Another song that takes this gathering by surprise is his rendition of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry”. He uses some proper Caribbean chops throughout fusing them seamlessly with jazz chords creating a concoction with a real hit. He’s all about those fun sort of voicings, that colour in the music in such a distinct way, the audience reaction says it all with people cheering him on throughout this performance.