Monty Alexander: ‘I Was Playing Piano at A Club. In Walked Frank Sinatra’

Monty Alexander is quickly among the most underrated– though not unappreciated– jazz pianists on the American jazz scene. He has actually been amongst the leading couple of jazz pianists over the last a number of years, playing regularly great music.

Mumbai will be dealt with to a night of his exceptional abilities on the piano when he carries out at the NCPA Jazz Festival on November 26 th at the Tata Theatre. His style for the celebration is ‘Jamaica to Jazz.’ Alexander will be accompanied by Dennis Rollins on the trombone, Joshua Thomas on electrical bass and guitar, Luke Sellick on acoustic bass and Jason Brown on drums.

Born in Jamaica, Alexander began playing piano at the age of 6 and transferred to the U.S. in his teenagers in 1961, and has actually been a considerable figure in jazz, having actually carried out with a few of the finest jazz artists around.

We had a long discussion with Alexander over the phone with his Mumbai launching in mind and discovered a wonderful, frank, delighted artist who wanted to speak honestly on matters jazz, cricket, calypso, reggae and nearly anything else. His technique to his music is as positive as his lilting Jamaican design of speaking, similar to Michael Holding commentating on cricket matches. It was a wonderful chat and we have actually excerpted a couple of highlights from the discussion.

Hi There Monty, how is allure scene in New York nowadays?

It’s a mix of the standard noise and what a lot of youths are doing, not constantly seeming like the music one has actually been utilized to.

For the young crowd, Duke Ellington was rather vehement when he stated, “If you wish to know where you are going, it is necessary to understand where you have actually originated from.” Perhaps the young great deal of artists ought to attend to that and discover some instructions in their noise.

Now that you take the name of the huge Edward Kennedy Ellington, for me whatever he stated is gospel. What a male he was! Yes, the youth must definitely study the music and its history.

Yes, and what an effect Duke Ellington has actually had on the music! A real pillar of jazz.

I thoroughly read his bio to attempt and soak up the understanding. I plainly remember him discussing his check out to India with his well-known band.

SS: Yes, he explored India with his renowned band in the 60 s. I when heard a referral to you on a jazz radio station, I believe in Chicago. They were having a jazz “blindfold” test where the audience was welcomed to think the pianist playing a particular piece and win a reward. Someone thought it was Oscar Peterson playing– and the commentator chuckled and stated, “No, it isn’t Oscar, however when you believe it is Oscar and it isn’t, it will most likely be Monty Alexander.” They were playing your recording.

[Laughs] That’s lovely. I understood Oscar extremely well. You understand, when he got on the phase, he looked every inch a piano gamer. He had a commanding existence even prior to he played the very first note. You understand, he was initially from the West Indies, from Barbados, and we would talk in the Caribbean terminology and about our typical culture.

Recently, Canada has actually honored Oscar by minting coins with him on them!

Who are the other jazz pianists you have liked?

Nat Cole when he played piano, Errol Garner, Ahmad Jamal. These pianists are wonderful. I’m in touch with Ahmad Jamal who is 92 now and still playing. Naturally, Sonny Rollins is likewise 92, however he has actually stopped playing.

Speaking of the fantastic Oscar Peterson, who by the way was likewise deeply satisfied with Nat King Cole’s piano playing, we discovered that you were typically accompanied by artists who had fun with Oscar– Ray Brown, Ed Thigpen, Herb Ellis and others. How was the experience of having fun with these giants?

Well, Ray Brown was merely the very best bass gamer there ever was, so I was blessed. Drummer Ed Thigpen had fun with me at Montreaux. He was a conventional hard-driving drummer and made me enhance my playing simply to stay up to date with him!

You tape-recorded with Dizzy Gillespie at Montreaux also.

That remained in 1977 with Dizzy and likewise Milt Jackson. Those were incredible sessions for Pablo Records.

Being from Jamaica, did you ever fulfill Michael Holding and Bob Marley?

When I was maturing we heard the calypso. Reggae was not around then. That came later on.

I have actually played and tape-recorded a few of Bob Marley’s music.

With Michael Holding, I when dipped into a function to honor him. He was rather something.

I like the cricket from the West Indies; individuals like the 3 W’s, Weeks, Walcott and Worrell. There was Wesley Hall and I keep in mind those spinners from Trinidad, Ramadhin and Valentine.

And Rohan Kanhai …

Ah! Yes. Rohan Kanhai, obviously.

How did you enter jazz?

As a young kid of 10 approximately, I heard Louis Armstrong in Jamaica in 1955 and after the program had the ability to shake hands with the terrific guy. That was the minute I chose that I would play jazz.

That’s rather a minute. How did you get to New York?

Serendipity! I had actually transferred to Miami and was playing piano at a club. In strolled Frank Sinatra with his buddy Jilly. Sinatra came near me and stated I ought to transfer to New York. It simply took place that his good friend Jilly owned a popular jazz club called after him. I transferred to New York and dipped into Jilly’s. Sinatra was a regular visitor there.

Did you ever have fun with Frank Sinatra?

Not on a recording however one night, Sinatra concerned the club where I was playing and stated he wished to sing a couple of. I accompanied him.

Did you satisfy other jazz artists at Jilly’s?

Yes. Miles Davis existed on a regular basis. He was constantly dressed immaculately in a match, and would sit and listen to me play.

What do you believe made Miles quit his stunning acoustic noise and require to electronic music, jazz rock and combination?

Miles had a performance in San Francisco. The band opening for him was a rock band. The crowd waiting to get in walked around the block. It ended up that the young folks had actually come for the rock band, not for Miles! That got him believing.

He began to listen to Jimi Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, and others. He desired the following that the rock folks were getting. He generated the enhanced electronic noise, keyboards, rock guitars and drummers who played the backbeat. His music was no longer melodic and he even altered the method he dressed. He used what appeared like pyjamas! He got the crowds in.

What did you consider that jazz-rock stage?

After Miles, Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter began Weather Report as did other jazz artists, playing jazz-rock. I didn’t care excessive for that noise.

I think individuals like Wynton Marsalis and a couple of others restored the standard jazz noise and swing back into style.

es, the New Orleans sound returned. And has actually remained since. Rather a relief!

We have some thrilled folks awaiting your Mumbai show at the NCPA. Invite to India, Monty Alexander!

I am truly anticipating remaining in India for the very first time and playing in Mumbai. See you there!

Sunil Sampat is a jazz critic and Contributing Editor of Rolling Stone India. Compose to Sunil at [email protected]