by Howard Campbell
NEW YORK – Earlier than Monty Alexander turned a world-famous jazz pianist, he developed his expertise in his native Jamaica by listening to the nation’s prime musicians.
Alexander, 80, greets them in “A Dwelling Historical past: Jamaica to Jazz.” This occasion consists of two concert events on January 24-25 at Lincoln Heart in New York Metropolis.
Most of these musicians had been jazz- influenced who performed primarily in Kingston’s golf equipment in the course of the Nineteen Forties and Fifties. They embody Baba Motta, a pianist and composer, organist Aubrey Adams and saxophonist Roland Alphonso, who turned well-known as a member of The Skatalites.
“All of the music I heard and skilled in Jamaica from I used to be 5 years-old are as particular as the opposite durations (ska and rock regular of the Sixties), as a result of that’s when the promoters introduced the jazz males to Jamaica, like Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong,” mentioned Alexander.
He famous that the target of ‘A Dwelling Historical past: Jamaica to Jazz‘ is “to teach, to entertain” his various viewers.
Most of his greater than 75 albums are conventional jazz. Nonetheless, Alexander has additionally explored Jamaican music. He labored with reggae musicians like Sly and Robbie. He even launched two albums of Bob Marley songs.
Alexander has additionally carried out a number of tasks with revered Jamaican jazz guitarist Ernie Ranglin, who’s a up to date of Adams and Alphonso.
Jazz pianist Monty Alexander acquired the Order of Jamaica in 2022. This award is the fifth highest honor within the nation. He was acknowledged for his contribution to Jamaica’s music.