Content by tag "Monty Alexander"

Monty Alexander at the Avalon Theater

By GENO THACKARA

Monty Alexander and Friends
The Avalon Theater
Easton, MD
August 31, 2019

“Ten years," Monty Alexander wryly observed at the center-stage microphone with a disbelieving shake of the head. “Ten years of this festival, and 75 years as me." It was a celebration of multiple anniversaries at the weekend-long Labor Day ...

Monty Alexander

“For the most part, when I play music, I smell it and see colors. Every song has its own personality, its own soul, and if I can’t feel it, I can’t play it with feeling. I don’t understand what it is that makes me different, but I feel I have very little in common with anybody else. I seem to be my own strange character. If I’m right in my motivations and attitude, amazing things happen.”—Monty Alexander, 2010 “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 can’t explain why. I do it naturally and joyfully

Monty Alexander: Still Rolling

By GENO THACKARA

If there's one defining quality to Monty Alexander's music, it's joy. An unmistakable undercurrent of happiness has been constant across several decades, dozens of recordings and countless performances all over the world. He could be honoring classic jazz balladeers, exploring the danceable “riddims" of his native Jamaica or anything in between, and you can always hear ...

Chuck Redd: Groove City

By DAN BILAWSKY

How do you get into the zone, where do your thoughts travel, and what realm do you occupy when playing and recording? The answer to that multi-pronged question, while no doubt slightly different for every musician, can be boiled down fairly easily. To paraphrase Chuck Redd's thoughts on the matter, you just appreciate the moment and ...

Chuck Deardorf: Hanging On To The Groove

By PAUL RAUCH

Bassist Chuck Deardorf has gained a reputation for virtuosity and professionalism over a career that has thus far spanned 40 years. He has been the first call bassist in Seattle for most of his career, playing with some of the most renowned musicians in the history of jazz. For many years, despite having a prolific local ...

Various Artists: MPS: 50 Years

By CHRIS M. SLAWECKI

In 2018, MPS--Musik Produktion Schwarzwald--Records, Germany's first jazz label, celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Pianist Oscar Peterson recorded the first release for MPS after his contract with Verve expired. Its catalog expanded to feature George Duke, Red Garland, Wolfgang Dauner, Horst Jankowski, George Shearing, Monty Alexander and many other pianists. Violin became the label's second most featured ...

Kevin Bales With Chuck Redd At The Jazz Corner

By MARTIN MCFIE

Kevin Bales with Chuck Redd
The Jazz Corner
Hilton Head Island, SC
January 4th & 5th, 2019

Whenever pianist Kevin Bales comes in from Atlanta to play The Jazz Corner he brings with him a great band and an inventive theme. Whether it's a centennial celebration of the blues or the ...

One Day in Brazil, 50 Years in Germany

By CHRIS M. SLAWECKI

Tony Adamo
Was Out Jazz Zone Mad
Ropeadope
2018

Some African cultures preserved their history not by the written but by the spoken word, kept by oral cultural historians known as griots. On Was Out Jazz Zone Mad, vocalist Tony Adamo aspires to serve in this same role, ...