Credits:

Monty Alexander

Description:

Monty Alexander's previously unreleased live performance from 1982, featuring swingy standards, Caribbean, cocktail lounge ballads, and more, opening with the classic POP number "New York City Serenade"! Pianist Monty Alexander is still active today, but his momentum in the early 1980s was extraordinary. His "Triple Treat" with Herb Ellis and Ray Brown, formerly of the Oscar Peterson Trio, featured swing after swing of standard numbers, while "Ivory & Steel" with Othello Molyneaux on steelpan featured pop and funky Caribbean-flavored jazz. The album was recorded in 1981. This album, recorded in 1981, is a kaleidoscope of sounds, including swing, Caribbean, and cocktail lounge ballads by a "third unit" of musicians. The members are also well rounded. Bassist Paul Varner, who made his name in the band of Red Rodney (a trumpet player who played with Charlie Parker and also trained Chris Potter as a boy), is a gem of a player.It is a joy to hear the woody sound of 1981, a time when amplified wood basses were sticky and bloated. Drummer Duffy Jackson is the son of Chubby Jackson, bassist and newcomer scout for the Woody Herman Orchestra in the '40s. A dynamic player who has played in Count Basie and Lionel Hampton's orchestras, he again inspires Monty with his thrilling playing. Bobby Thomas on hand drums is, of course, the master of the Weather Report rhythm section in its heyday, along with Jaco Pastorius and Peter Erskine. These four musicians gathered in Florida, a state with a warm climate and close proximity to the Caribbean Sea, to play to their heart's content in front of an audience that truly loves jazz. Just naming the songs "Orfe's Samba," "Montevideo," and "Reggae Reiter" is more than enough to convey how much fun they had on stage. The stylish and danceable jazz version of Christopher Cross' hit "New York City Serenade" will also bring a smile to your face.

Tracklisting:

1.Arthur's Theme
2.Love You Madly
3.Samba De Orfeu
4.Sweet Lady
5.Eleuthra
6.Reggae Later
7.SKJ