My Favourite Jazz Pianist - Monty Alexander

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica Monty Alexander started piano lessons at the age of six. As a teenager he would frequently sit in with bands and often performed as a jazz pianist with very prominent Jamaican musicians. During this time he would often frequent the Carib Theatre, Jamaica where he had the opportunity of seeing performances of Louis Armstrong, Nat "King" Cole and other great musicians. Obviously these experiences would greatly influence any musician and I feel that the great 'joy' that is part and parcel of Armstrong and Cole is still evident in his playing.

His first big break came when he formed a band called "Monty and the Cyclones" and some of his recorded songs were charted on the Jamaican hit parade from 1958 to 1960. The next break came in 1963 he was spotted by Jilly Rizzo and Frank Sinatra while he was playing with Art Mooney's orchestra in Las Vegas. Recognising Monty's remarkable talent, Jilly just had to hire him to play in his club "Jilly's" in New York City. There he performed and accompanied many great personalities of the music world including Frank Sinatra himself who ranked him as his No.1 favourite jazz pianist. He also met the vibraphone virtuoso Milt Jackson while he was working there, and he hired Monty to work with him. Not long after, he started his long association with bassist Ray Brown with whom he recorded many wonderful albums and made many memorable performances. He has also performed with many other giants of jazz including Dizzy Gillespie, Clarke Terry, and Sonny Rollins.

Since then Monty has recorded many soundtracks to films including his contribution to the soundtrack to "Bird" - a film about the life of Charlie Parker which was produced and directed by Clint Eastwood (who is also a keen jazz pianist). He has also made many albums and soundtracks with Quincy Jones. Monty has recorded over 50 CDs under his own name, and he frequently performs at leading festivals and music venues worldwide. Monty Alexander is now performing as a solo jazz pianist, in a trio format, with orchestras and with big bands. He does come over to England quite a bit and I've managed to see him a few times at Ronnie Scots, so look out for his next visit.

The following is an attempt at a discography, however I'm not sure it is complete. The first album of his I bought, was "Full Steam Ahead"; I was immediately hooked. "Full Steam Ahead" has quite a diverse selection of tracks from his wildly exciting version of I Can't Get No Satisfaction to his incredibly sensitive interpretation of "Estate". After hearing this album, all I wanted to be was a jazz pianist.
For an easy listening CD try "Echoes of Jilly's" which has all those Frank Sinatra tunes we all love.

2003 Impressions in Blue, Telarc
2003 My America, Telarc
2001 Goin' Yard, Telarc CD-83527
1999 Monty Alexander Stir It Up! The Music of Bob Marley, Telarc Jazz 83469
1997 Echoes of Jilly's, Concord Picante 4769
1996 Monty Alexander's Ivory and Steel, To the Ends of the Earth, Concord Picante 4721
1996 Yard Movement, Island Jamaica Jazz 4001/524 232-2
1995 At Maybeck, Recital Hall Series Volume Forty, Concord 4658
1995 Steamin', Concord 4636
1992 Caribbean Circle, Chesky JD 80
1988 Monty Alexander's Ivory and Steel, Jamboree, Concord 4359
1987 M. Alexander/R. Brown/H. Ellis, Triple Treat III, Concord 4394
1987 M. Alexander/R. Brown/H. Ellis, Triple Treat II, Concord 4338
1985 Estate, Arco 103
1985 Threesome, Soul Note 121152-2
1985 The River, Concord 4422
1985 Saturday Nitgh, Limetree 0024
1985 Friday Night, Limetree 0022
1984 Full Steam Ahead, Concord 4287
1983 The Duke Ellington Song Book, MPS 821 151-2
1983 Monty Alexander/John Clayton/Jeff Hamilton, Reunion in Europe, Concord 4231
1982 Michel Sardaby/M. Alexander, Caribbean Duet, Harmonic 8504
1982 Look Up, Atlas 27-1021
1982 Overseas Special/To: You Everywhere, Concord 4253
1982 Monty Alexander/Ray Brown/Herb Ellis, Triple Treat, Concord 4193
1980 Monty Alexander & Ernest Ranglin, MPS 0068269
1980 Monty Alexander/Ray Brown/Herb Ellis Trio, Concord 4136
1980 Solo, Bell Records 84006 (Jeton 100 3310)
1980 Ivory and Steel, Concord 4124
1979 So What?, Black and Blue 59.148-2
1979 Facets, Concord 4108
1979 Monty Alexander in Tokyo, Pablo DeLuxe 2310.836
1978 Live at Ronnie Scott's, CBS 83038
1978 Jamento, Pablo 2310.826
1977 Soul Fusion, Pablo 2310.804
1977 Live in Holland, Verve 835 627-2
1976 Montreux Alexander, Live!, MPS 817 487-2
1976 The Way it is, MPS 15484 (0068.223)
1974-77 Three Originals: Love and Sunshine (74)/Estate (77)/Cobilimbo (77), MPS 523526-2
1974 Unlimited Love, MPS 20.22787-1 (Strikes Again, MPS 68.044)
1974 Rass!, MPS 21.22187-3
1973 Perception!, MPS 21.22021-4 (680422)
1971 We've Only Just Begun, MPS21.21653-5
1971 Here Comes the Sun, MPS 21.20913
1970 Taste of Freedom, MGM SE4731
1969 This Is Monty Alexander, Verve 8790
1967 Zing, RCA 3930/RCA Masters PL 42777
1965 Alexander the Great, Pacific Jazz 86
1964-65 Spunky, Pacific Jazz 10094 (20094)