Legendary Piano Master and Jamaica’s Commander Of Distinction, Monty Alexander Remembers Nat ‘King’ Cole
Jamaica Award-Winning Jazz Great Monty Alexander
CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. July 9, 2015: Legendary piano master and Jamaica’s Commander Of Distinction, Monty Alexander, will lead a heartfelt exploration of one of his musical heroes, Nat ‘King’ Cole, later this month in Boston.
Alexander, along with special guests Caterina Zapponi, his lovely wife and singer, and Allan Harris who recorded a Cole tribute of his own entitled ‘Nat King Cole: Long Live the King;’ will lead the ‘Monty Alexander: Remembering Nat ‘King’ Cole’ salute at Scullers Jazz Club at the DoubleTree Guest Suites, 400 Soldiers Road in Boston, Massachusetts on July 25th.
Alexander, whose performances the Wall Street Journal describes as “an outrageously good time,” says Cole became an inspiration from the moment he heard his albums in his parent’s home as a little boy in Jamaica.
He later saw Cole perform live. That performance and music from his childhood left an indelible mark on Alexander. So much so that in 2009, he released his recording ‘Calypso Blues: The Songs of Nat ‘King’ Cole.’
Alexander later played on Natalie Cole’s classic tribute album to her father, ‘Unforgettable: With Love.’
“Non Dimenticar,” Cole’s Italian hit, was lovingly recreated with Zapponi helping Harris on vocals. On the tune, Alexander reprised the lovely, lilting Nat-like piano component that he played behind Natalie Cole on “Unforgettable: With Love.”
Show times on July 25th are 8 and 10 p.m., respectively and the Boathouse 400 Restaurant and Scullers Jazz Club are offering a dinner and show package at $75 per person. For Tickets log on to http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=6037235&pl=scullers or for more information call 617-562-4111 or email: [email protected]. For more on the Sculler’s show log on to scullersjazz.com
OTHER UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
Alexander will also play NJPAC in New Jersey on July 31st before coming to New York on August 1st where he will play the King’s Theatre in Brooklyn. On September 9th, he heads to St. Louis for a major performance at the Jazz Bistro. For more on the Caribbean’s greatest jazz pianist performance schedule see montyalexander.com.
ABOUT ALEXANDER
Alexander has built a reputation exploring and bridging the worlds of American jazz, popular song, and the music of his native Jamaica finding in each a sincere spirit of musical expression. With more than 70 recordings under his belt, Alexander has performed and recorded with artists from every corner of the musical universe and entertainment world: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Quincy Jones, Bobby McFerrin, and many more.
In August 2000 the Jamaican government awarded Alexander the title of Commander in the Order of Distinction for outstanding services to Jamaica as a worldwide music ambassador. And in 2012, ‘Harlem Kingston Express: Live!’ was singled out by both the recording industry and fans and received a Grammy award nomination.
In the summer of 2012, Alexander was also awarded the prestigious German Jazz Trophy, “A Life for Jazz,” while in November of the same year, he received the Caribbean American Heritage Luminary Award from the Institute of Caribbean Studies in Washington, D.C. His ‘Harlem-Kingston Express Vol. 2: The River Rolls On,’ was released in April on the Motéma Music label and remained for weeks at number one the Jazz radio charts.
In 2012 also, ‘Harlem Kingston Express: Live!,’ was singled out by both the recording industry and fans and received a Grammy nomination and last year, ‘Harlem Kingston Express Vol. 2’ was nominated for a Soul Train award.
Alexander maintains a rigorous touring schedule worldwide, from jazz clubs to concert halls and playing at Jazz Festivals. In Hal Leonard’s 2005 book ‘The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time,’ Alexander is listed among the top five Jazz pianists of all time.
You can like Alexander on Facebook at facebook.com/officialmontyalexander or keep up to date on his performance on Twitter at @montyHKE.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Felicia Persaud
Hard Beat Communications
718-476-3616 (phone)
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