Monty Alexander Trio

Jamaican-born New Yorker Monty Alexander is one of the most distinctive and exhilarating pianists in jazz. Influenced by the work of Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Wynton Kelly, and Ahmad Jamal, as well as by the musical styles of his homeland, he plays brilliant, straight-ahead, hard-grooving bop infused with Caribbean rhythms. His unique super-charged style bounces happily on the front edge of the beat and at the same time swings deeply and mightily. Since his arrival in the U.S. in 1963, his unique abilities have enabled him to work with a diverse assortment of great artists including Frank Sinatra, Ray Brown, Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Ernest Raglin, Quincy Jones, Sly Dunbar, and Natalie Cole. Over the years, Monty’s combustible artistry has been heard on over 70 albums as a leader. The ability to ignite a sundry collection of tunes and transform them into timeless jazz piano-trio masterpieces has been duly noted by Down Beat magazine contributor Fred Bouchard, who writes, “Monty plays with Tatum’s grace, Peterson’s richness, [Erroll] Garner’s force, Nat Cole’s wit.” With Hassan J.J. Wiggins bass and Herlin Riley drums.