The best jazz pianist ever - period! I just can’t wrap my mind around at his technique, originality, swing, feeling, etc. I’ve seen him many times in person. I know of what I speak because I’m a jazz pianist too. Monty, may he live and continue playing forever!!!! He’s one unique person and pianist!!!! When he was younger he was especially in his prime. The greatest ever, as I already said when I started writing this!!
I so agree. He surpassed Oscar Peterson even in some respect. His timing, phrasing, and energy are amazing. And he developed some very unique licks and effects. His prime was definitely between 1976-1986. I asked him in 2015 at the jazz showcase, where he performed for 25 people only, if I could have a lesson with him. He just smiled at me for a minute, then looked me dead in the eye and said "just keep listening". And so I did.
Estoy de acuerdo, le conocí en esa época, Festivales en Madrid en la primera mitad de los 80. Luego le he seguido, sobre todo por aquí (TH-cam) y hace un par de años en directo en el F Jazz de Santander. Fue una maravilla, una puta orquesta, porque la edad se nota, sí, pero en todo, el conocimiento suple con creces la falta de aquella técnica de joven. Y aún así es sorprendente que se pueda tocar así con ochenta años y una artrosis bien visible. Yo le quiero, punto 😂. Pero en cuanto a “superar” a Peterson? Esa palabra me sobra, a mí me gusta más Monty, ya está, sin menosprecio de Oscar, que también me gusta. Ambos son un par de ‘hijos de puta’ (*)lo máximo. ¡Ah! Yo también soy pianista y me gané la vida tocando. Salud! Para todos.
One of my favorite jazzpiano players, always uplifting those calypso tunes and calypso improvisations. And man what a fantastic conga-player! Just amazing, powerful!
This is as good as it gets!! Yes this performance is in fact during Monty's prime as was shared by Karen Shelinsky a year ago in this thread.Don't you love how this platform works especially with legends like Mr.Alexander here who is still playing concerts to this very day with as much energy and inspiration of an artist half his age! Although he may not be as close to flawlessness as he was at the time of this performance he still brings it to every performance and never fails to reach every single listener within earshot!!! What a joy to watch and listen!!
1. Speak Low 2. Montevideo 3. Isn't She Lovely 4. Bossa Nova de Marillo 5. Funji Mama Reggie Johnson - bass Frank Gant - drums Othello Molyneaux - steel drums
I know what it is... He's awesome!!! So much fun and so swinging. I miss playing with him and thank my lucky stars that I did. Frank was always a joy to be with.
Piano trios and rhythm sections take notice. If you spread the rhythm across the stage, you lose in rhythmic cohesion what you gain in visual presentation. Instead of the drummer playing his left-footed hi-hat at the furthest remove from the piano, place him behind the pianist, the hi-hat cutting right into the sonic space of the piano.. Next, have the bass player hovering over the pianist's left hand. The effect? A powerful engine, generating power from within as one cookin' unit. Don't tolerate bass players who want equal solo time and who set up in front of the piano or beyond the pianist's range. I'm tired of playing with guys who don't have the first clue about swing and don't even know what they don't know. Listen--but also watch--Oscar and Monty, including their set-ups.
Monty can be a wonderful jazz player and with good rhythm section like he has here (Reggie Johnson and Frank Gant) he could have played a great trio set. But he wants to be different and show his Jamaican roots, so he has various congas, bells and steel drum - an instrument that should be banned from any jazz event, so annoying it is after a little while. Incidentally, for all his Jamaican roots, Monty doesn't play any native music here - Three tunes out of Ahmad Jamal Songbook (Speak Low, Montevideo and Bossa Nova de Marillo),last two written by bassist Richard Evans, Stevie Wonder tune (thank God nobody's playing THAT anymore) and Funji Mama written by trumpeter Blue Mitchell. Fair set, but I heard him play a lot better than that.
The best jazz pianist ever - period! I just can’t wrap my mind around at his technique, originality, swing, feeling, etc. I’ve seen him many times in person. I know of what I speak because I’m a jazz pianist too. Monty, may he live and continue playing forever!!!! He’s one unique person and pianist!!!! When he was younger he was especially in his prime. The greatest ever, as I already said when I started writing this!!
I so agree. He surpassed Oscar Peterson even in some respect. His timing, phrasing, and energy are amazing. And he developed some very unique licks and effects. His prime was definitely between 1976-1986. I asked him in 2015 at the jazz showcase, where he performed for 25 people only, if I could have a lesson with him. He just smiled at me for a minute, then looked me dead in the eye and said "just keep listening". And so I did.
Estoy de acuerdo, le conocí en esa época, Festivales en Madrid en la primera mitad de los 80. Luego le he seguido, sobre todo por aquí (TH-cam) y hace un par de años en directo en el F Jazz de Santander. Fue una maravilla, una puta orquesta, porque la edad se nota, sí, pero en todo, el conocimiento suple con creces la falta de aquella técnica de joven. Y aún así es sorprendente que se pueda tocar así con ochenta años y una artrosis bien visible. Yo le quiero, punto 😂.
Pero en cuanto a “superar” a Peterson? Esa palabra me sobra, a mí me gusta más Monty, ya está, sin menosprecio de Oscar, que también me gusta. Ambos son un par de ‘hijos de puta’ (*)lo máximo.
¡Ah! Yo también soy pianista y me gané la vida tocando.
Salud! Para todos.
There is only one Monty Alexander. There are no words to describe his professionality, style and personality.
One of my favorite jazzpiano players, always uplifting those calypso tunes and calypso improvisations. And man what a fantastic conga-player! Just amazing, powerful!
To bring the steeldrum on the cubop-stage is a real find. They're all masters in their profession.
He is my favourite jazz pianist.... he is very unique pianist....
This is as good as it gets!! Yes this performance is in fact during Monty's prime as was shared by Karen Shelinsky a year ago in this thread.Don't you love how this platform works especially with legends like Mr.Alexander here who is still playing concerts to this very day with as much energy and inspiration of an artist half his age! Although he may not be as close to flawlessness as he was at the time of this performance he still brings it to every performance and never fails to reach every single listener within earshot!!! What a joy to watch and listen!!
1. Speak Low
2. Montevideo
3. Isn't She Lovely
4. Bossa Nova de Marillo
5. Funji Mama
Reggie Johnson - bass
Frank Gant - drums
Othello Molyneaux - steel drums
and Robert Thomas Jr. - Percussion ;)
Truly wonderful, please keep posting videos. I have never seen this concert and love to see older concerts with Monty Alexander.
thanks,
I don't know what it is but I just love Frank Gant's playing--always have. Everything just looks so easy to him.
That's my father!
I know what it is... He's awesome!!! So much fun and so swinging. I miss playing with him and thank my lucky stars that I did. Frank was always a joy to be with.
Learned so much from Frank back at Smalls in the 90s. Great drummer and person.
We are waiting for Monty Alexander to come to New England please make it real 🙏 real 🙏 soon all of New England is waiting for you 😀 👍
Bravo Monty-the best!
genius!
O I PLay JAZZ FOR REAL BUT tHIS GUY IS IN anothER LEAGUE
Me too!!
Othello Molyneaux on steel drum and Gerald Wiggins on bass I believe
Leon Harting - Reggie Johnson on bass.
🎼🎼🎶🎶👌👌✨✨💎💎🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🙌🙌❤❤❤❤❤
Reggie Johnson on bass?
I think so 👍🏼
珍しい編成初めて見た、スチールドラムか？
Othello Molyneaux on steel drum !
Piano trios and rhythm sections take notice. If you spread the rhythm across the stage, you lose in rhythmic cohesion what you gain in visual presentation. Instead of the drummer playing his left-footed hi-hat at the furthest remove from the piano, place him behind the pianist, the hi-hat cutting right into the sonic space of the piano.. Next, have the bass player hovering over the pianist's left hand. The effect? A powerful engine, generating power from within as one cookin' unit. Don't tolerate bass players who want equal solo time and who set up in front of the piano or beyond the pianist's range. I'm tired of playing with guys who don't have the first clue about swing and don't even know what they don't know. Listen--but also watch--Oscar and Monty, including their set-ups.
Monty can be a wonderful jazz player and with good rhythm section like he has here (Reggie Johnson and Frank Gant) he could have played a great trio set. But he wants to be different and show his Jamaican roots, so he has various congas, bells and steel drum - an instrument that should be banned from any jazz event, so annoying it is after a little while. Incidentally, for all his Jamaican roots, Monty doesn't play any native music here - Three tunes out of Ahmad Jamal Songbook (Speak Low, Montevideo and Bossa Nova de Marillo),last two written by bassist Richard Evans,
Stevie Wonder tune (thank God nobody's playing THAT anymore) and Funji Mama written by trumpeter Blue Mitchell.
Fair set, but I heard him play a lot better than that.
It's sad that you feel that way about steelpan. I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion....
Thank god you're not anyone worth noting.
Your words are a shame, sorry
Think of it this way, this video has not even 20k views as I am writing this, Billie Eilish just got 250 Million views for her newest release. Hm.