CaribPR Wire

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. December 15, 2023: Renowned Jamaican-born Grammy-nominated jazz legend, Dr. Monty Alexander, CD, O.J, is set to once again infuse the holiday season with his soulful rhythms and positive vibes in New York and Washington, D.C.

Dr. Alexander will return to grace the stage at Birdland Jazz in NYC from December 21st to 25th for twice nightly shows that promise to uplift  the spirits of jazz fans everywhere in what has become an annual performance.

For show times and ticket reservations, visit HERE and at https://www.birdlandjazz.com/tm-event/monty-alexander-holiday-show-2/

Nestled at 315 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036, Birdland has been an integral part of New York City’s musical heritage since 1949, hosting jazz legends like Tito Puente and showcasing iconic big bands including those led by Chico O’Farrill, Duke Ellington, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Maria Schneider.

To close out the year, Dr. Alexander will again enchant audiences at Blues Alley in Washington D.C., with performances from December 27th to 31st. These twice nightly shows at Blues Alley are once again bound to be unforgettable, and tickets can be secured HERE and at https://www.instantseats.com/?fuseaction=home.venue&artistID=2145&venueID=3 Located at 1073 REAR Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007, Blues Alley has held its reputation as the nation’s premier jazz and supper club since 1965.

Dr. Alexander’s holiday repertoire will draw from a rich tapestry of musical experiences with American entertainment luminaries such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, and Quincy Jones. He will also pay homage to jazz giants like Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Milt Jackson, and Ray Brown. Moreover, he will hark back to his pioneering role in Jamaican popular music during the late 1950s and his profound friendship with the late Jamaican American icon and freedom fighter, Dr. Harry Belafonte.

Joining Dr. Alexander on stage will be accomplished musicians Luke Sellick on bass and Jason Brown on drums, while the special feature guest for the nights of December 21/22 and 23 in NYC will be the celebrated hand drummer/percussionist extraordinaire, Bobby Thomas, Jr.

These performances follow the completion of his highly anticipated upcoming studio album, ‘D-DAY,’ which features Sellick on bass and Brown on drums.

As he approaches his 80th birthday, Dr. Alexander continues to mesmerize global audiences with his infectious energy and heartfelt messages during his worldwide tours. Currently in production, “The Monty Alexander Movie,” a documentary filmed in Jamaica, the United States, and Europe, directed by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Jefferson Miller and veteran filmmaker Arthur Gorson, promises an insightful glimpse into Dr. Alexander’s artistic journey.

Since his move from Kingston, Jamaica to the United States almost six decades ago, Alexander has remained an iconic figure in American jazz. His captivating energy, boundless melodic creativity, effervescent rhythms, and sophisticated artistry span jazz, blues, gospel, calypso, reggae, and the American songbook.

Boasting an extensive discography of over 75 albums and recognized as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Alexander received the esteemed Commander in the Order of Distinction in 2000. In 2022, the Jamaican government honored him with the national distinction of the Order of Jamaica for his outstanding contributions to Jamaican music and his remarkable interpretations of jazz on a global scale. Additionally, he holds an honorary doctorate (DLitt) from the University of The West Indies.

Alexander’s virtuosic piano skills and his unique fusion of jazz with Caribbean musical influences continue to captivate global audiences. His performances are marked by infectious energy, soulful improvisation, and an innate groove. Whether interpreting jazz classics, reimagining popular tunes, or showcasing his own compositions, Alexander’s expressive playing leaves an indelible mark on listeners.

Beyond his musical achievements, Dr. Alexander takes immense pride in representing Jamaican culture on a global stage, infusing the spirit and vibrancy of his homeland into his performances. As a respected figure in the jazz world, his music transcends borders, forging connections among people and leaving an enduring impact on all fortunate enough to witness his extraordinary talent.

For more information, visit his YouTube channel or his official website at https://montyalexander.com/. You can also follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/officialmontyalexander or stay updated on his performances through his Twitter handle, @montyHKE.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A photo for use with this article is available HERE: Dr. Monty Alexander, C.D., O.J. (Hollis King Image)

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CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. June 7, 2022: One of the Caribbean’s premier artiste, Jamaican-born, Grammy-nominated international musician, Dr. Monty Alexander, CD, will mark National Caribbean American Heritage Month in Washington, D.C., this weekend with his 51^st annual performance at the famed Blues Alley Jazz Club.

Fresh from captivating audiences in France and Japan, Alexander returns to his loyal fan base in Washington, D.C. for a series of thrilling contemporary jazz performances at the iconic Blues Alley. The shows will kick off on Friday, June 9th and continue through Sunday, June 11th, with two shows per night at 1073 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007.

Blues Alley, founded in 1965, is a jazz nightclub in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Musicians who have performed at Blues Alley include Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, John Abercrombie, Tony Bennett, Taj Mahal, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Sarah Vaughan, Grover Washington Jr., Mary Wilson, Nancy Wilson and dozens more.

Dr. Alexander, whose jazz album ‘Love Notes,’ was released last year as his first recording featuring his vocals, will not only mesmerize the audience but also celebrate his recent Order of Jamaica award from the Jamaican government, recognizing his significant contributions to Caribbean American and Jamaican music.

The showtimes for the Blues Alley performances are scheduled at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST, respectively, from June 9th to June 11th. Tickets priced at US$42 can be reserved now by selecting the desired date and time on the Blues Alley website at https://www.bluesalley.com/events.

Reflecting on the upcoming performances, Dr. Alexander, the Caribbean musical genius, shared: “At this special time my desire is to also pay musical tribute to a man with whom I enjoyed a wonderful friendship, fellow Jamaican, Harry Belafonte.” He also expressed his excitement to bring his timeless jazz artistry to the stage once again in the nation’s capital.

After almost six decades since his move from Kingston, Jamaica to the United States, Alexander remains an iconic figure in American jazz, delighting audiences worldwide with his vibrant personality and soulful message. Renowned for his endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, and sophisticated voicings, his performances encompass a repertoire that spans jazz, blues, gospel, calypso, reggae, and the American songbook.

With over 75 recorded albums and being recognized as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Monty Alexander received the Jamaican government’s esteemed Commander in the Order of Distinction in 2000 and the national honor of the Order of Jamaica in 2022 for his exceptional contributions to Jamaican music and his global interpretations of the jazz genre. Furthermore, he was bestowed with an honorary doctorate (DLitt) from the University of The West Indies.

Monty Alexander’s virtuosic piano skills and unique blend of jazz and Caribbean musical influences continue to captivate global audiences. His performances are characterized by infectious energy, soulful improvisation, and an innate sense of groove. Whether interpreting jazz standards, reimagining popular tunes, or showcasing his own compositions, Alexander’s expressive playing leaves an indelible mark on listeners.

In addition to his musical achievements, Monty Alexander proudly represents Jamaican culture worldwide, incorporating the spirit and vibrancy of his homeland into his performances. As an esteemed figure in the jazz world, his music transcends borders and connects people, leaving a lasting impact on all who have the pleasure of experiencing his remarkable talent.

As he approaches his 80th birthday, the jazz maestro continues to tour the world, delighting audiences with his vibrant personality and soulful messages. His latest project, “The Monty Alexander Movie,” a documentary showcasing his life and music, is currently in production in Jamaica, the U.S., and Europe, directed by Academy Award© winning cinematographer Jefferson Miller and veteran filmmaker Arthur Gorson.

For more, visit  him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him on Facebook at facebook.com/officialmontyalexander or keep up to date on his performances on Twitter at @montyHKE.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please see pic for use with this article here:

Dr. Monty Alexander, C.D., O.J. (Hollis King Image)

MEDIA CONTACT:

Felicia J. Persaud

Hard Beat Communications

718-476-3616

[email protected]

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CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Tues.  Jan. 8, 2019: Jamaica’s world-renowned jazz maestro, Dr. Monty Alexander, is kicking off the New Year in fine style with a musical explosion in his adopted city of New York.

Dr. Alexander will open his New Year tour with a five-night performance at the Big Apple’s legendary jazz club, Birdland, from January 15^th -19^th.

The Grammy-nominated international musician will present the New York show under the theme: ‘Love Notes-Jamaica to Jazz.’ The performance is sure to take fans through a musical history that starts in his homeland and features calypso, reggae, mento and other island music and ends with traditional jazz from his Grammy-nominated album. As with his performances, fans are sure to get into the rhythm while jazz purists are certain to be baptized into true fans of the genre.

Tickets for the show at 315 West 44th St., New York, NY 10036 are US$30 to $40 and can be obtained here by selecting ‘Tickets’ on the performance night. Showtime on opening night, Jan. 15^th is 11 p.m. while performances for Jan. 16^th – 19^th will start at 8:30 p.m. nightly.

Alexander, CD, late last year received an honorary Doctorate of Letters of the University of the West Indies Mona Campus. Born Montgomery Bernard Alexander on D-Day in Kingston, Jamaica in 1944, the musical virtuoso has five decades of performances and over 70 CDs under his belt.  Alexander began his musical career at age four by playing Christmas carols by ear. He is now most widely known as an upper echelon master of the swinging piano trio function as he has demonstrated with several top-shelf groups, including iconic units with bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, and with the legendary bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis.

Alexander also performs frequently with Harlem-Kingston Express, a double trio in which he coalesces his love for hard-swinging jazz with musical flavors that reflect his Jamaican heritage, shifting between an acoustic trio and master Jamaican practitioners of electric bass and drums.

At 74, he continues to tour the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message.

For more on the Monty Alexander and his amazing brand of jazz, visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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

[email protected]

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Dec. 12, 2018: Jamaican-born, Grammy-nominated international jazz maestro, Monty Alexander, CD, is set to make his first US performance this holiday as a newly-minted honorary Doctorate of Letters of the University of the West Indies Mona Campus.

Alexander, who has made his mark globally for his own brand of jazz, will celebrate the holidays at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, (JCAL), 153-10 Jamaica Avenue, Queens, NY 11432, on December 15, 2018 at 7 p.m. under the theme: “Love Notes.”

The performance is sure to feature the maestro’s mashup of jazz with calypso, reggae, mento and other island music from his Grammy-nominated album, and leave many fans tapping their feet, straight up dancing or make converts of the staid.

Tickets are US$20 for adults and $15 for students and can be obtained here or on Event Brite.

Born Montgomery Bernard Alexander on D-Day in Kingston, Jamaica in 1944, the musical virtuoso has five decades of performances and over 70 CDs under his belt.  Alexander began his musical career at age four by playing Christmas carols by ear. He is now most widely known as an upper echelon master of the swinging piano trio function as he has demonstrated with several top-shelf groups, including iconic units with bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, and with the legendary bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis.

Alexander also performs frequently with Harlem-Kingston Express, a double trio in which he coalesces his love for hard-swinging jazz with musical flavors that reflect his Jamaican heritage, shifting between an acoustic trio and master Jamaican practitioners of electric bass and drums.

At 74, he continues to tour the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message.

For more on the Monty Alexander and his amazing brand of jazz, visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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

[email protected]

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Sat. Nov. 17, 2018: Days after receiving an honorary Doctorate of Letters degree from the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, Jamaican-born, international jazz maestro, Monty Alexander, is still beaming with joy as he heads out on a European tour.

“I am so proud to have received another great honor from my beloved native Jamaica,” Alexander, who in 2000 received the Jamaican National Award of Commander of Distinction, (CD) commented. “It fills me with joy but I’m also very humbled.”

Alexander, born Montgomery Bernard Alexander on D-Day in Kingston, Jamaica, was presented with the DLitt distinction on November 3rd, 2018 at the Kingston Jamaica, UWI Mona Campus by Chancellor Robert Bermudez at the 2018 graduation ceremonies. Also honored with the Jamaican musician extraordinaire was actress, singer, model and producer, Grace Jones.

The performer, who has five decades of performances and more than 70 CDs under his belt, began his musical career at age four by playing Christmas carols by ear. He is now most widely known as an upper echelon master of the swinging piano trio function as he has demonstrated with several top-shelf groups, including iconic units with bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, and with the legendary bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis.

He also performs frequently with Harlem-Kingston Express, a double trio in which he coalesces his love for hard-swinging jazz with musical flavors that reflect his Jamaican heritage, shifting between an acoustic trio and master Jamaican practitioners of electric bass and drums. He debuted the project at Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2009 and documented it both on the Grammy-nominated 2011 CD, Harlem-Kingston Express: LIVE, and its 2014 Soultrain Award nominated follow-up, Harlem Kingston Express 2: The River Rolls On (Motéma).

Alexander headed out on a European tour this month, beginning today Saturday, November 17^th in Backnang, Germany. He will then move on to Vienna, Austria on November 19^th and Dresden, Germany on November 21^st before playing Prague, Czech Republic on November 22^nd and the Auditorium de la Seine Musicale in Paris, France on November 23^rd. Alexander wraps up the tour on November 25^th at the London Jazz Festival in London, UK.

For more on the Monty Alexander and his amazing brand of jazz, visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him on Facebook at facebook.com/officialmontyalexander or keep up to date on his performance on Twitter at @montyHKE.

UWI

Established in 1948, UWI is the largest and longest standing higher education provider in the English-speaking Caribbean. In its more than 60 years of existence, UWI has evolved from a fledgling college in the Caribbean island of Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged University with over 45,000 students, approximately 9,000 graduates annually and more than 120,000 alumni. The impressive network of UWI alumni includes one Nobel Laureate, dozens of Rhodes Scholars and more than 18 current and former Caribbean prime ministers and heads of state.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Felicia Persaud

Hard Beat Communications

718-476-3616

[email protected]

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CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. June 7, 2018: Over five decades of performances and more than 70 CDs later, award-winning Jamaican jazz maestro, Monty Alexander, is still thrilling jazz fans and introducing newbies to the genre with style. And this June, he is getting ready to do it all over again, as he gears up for a busy National Caribbean American Heritage Month in the United States.

The man, who singer extraordinaire, Tony Bennett, has declared put on one of the “best jazz shows” he has ever seen, is getting ready to play venues across the US as well as in Canada this June.

His month will kick off in Phoenix, Arizona on June 21^st as the man considered to be one of the top five jazz pianists ever, will take his rhythmic, emotionally charged and virtuosic style of playing to Phoenix, Arizona’s Musical Instrument Museum, (MIM), at 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Show time is 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $38.50–$48.50 and can be obtained here.

The Museum is the largest of its type in the world with a collection of over 15,000 musical instruments and associated objects includes examples from nearly 200 countries and territories. Alexander will join a long list of stellar artists who have performed at MIM, including jazz legend Ramsey Lewis, Grammy-award winner George Benson, Motown’s Martha Reeves, Lyle Lovett, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and Ronnie Spector.

Then its off to the West Coast for a two-night LA performance at Catalina’s Jazz Club at 6725 W. Sunset Blvd. from June 22nd to the 23rd. Showtime will be 8:30 p.m. nightly and tickets are priced from $30 for the Friday night show and can be bought here while Saturday night’s performance will cost $5 more and can be secured here.

New York Performances

Alexander will celebrate jazz and Caribbean American Heritage Month in New York City with back-to-back shows from June 24 – 26^th at the popular NYC Jazz haunt, Blue Note, at 131 West 3rd Street in Manhattan. Show time nightly will be 8 p.m. and this special series of performance will be presented under the theme: “Love Notes: Jamaica To Jazz,” paying tribute to the maestro’s homeland, which he left behind 55 years ago but still holds in his heart and honors with every performance.

Tickets start at $20 for a bar seat and $35 for a table reservation and can be obtained here.

Canada
The Jamaican and American classic will wrap up the month in Canada as he takes his unique brand of jazz to the groovy Montreal International Jazz Festival at Monument-National, 1182 St. Laurent Blvd. from 8 p.m. Tickets are $51.75 and can be secured here.

ABOUT ALEXANDER

Born on D-Day, June 6, 1944 in Kingston, Jamaica, Alexander was playing Christmas carols by ear at 4, entertaining neighbors and relatives by 5 and taking his first piano lessons at 6. He resisted formal instruction, but still, growing up in Kingston, absorbed all the musical flavors that comprise his mature sonic palette of today.

Alexander began playing in local Kingston clubs at 14, when he also made his first recordings, some as leader of a group called Monty and the Cyclones, and others as a sideman for such legendary producers as Ken Khouri (Federal Records), Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), and Clement Coxsone Dodd at Studio One.

These early sessions for Federal, which Alexander describes as “not calypso music, but the beginning of Ska,” included such subsequently famous talents as trombonist Don Drummond, tenor saxophonist Roland Alphonso and guitarist Ernest Ranglin.

Alexander is most widely known as an upper echelon master of the swinging piano trio function, as he has demonstrated with several top-shelf groups, including iconic units with bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, and with the legendary bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis.

He also performs frequently with Harlem-Kingston Express, a double trio in which he coalesces his love for hard-swinging jazz with musical flavors that reflect his Jamaican heritage, shifting between an acoustic trio and master Jamaican practitioners of electric bass and drums. He debuted the project at Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2009 and documented it both on the Grammy-nominated 2011 CD, Harlem-Kingston Express: LIVE, and its 2014 Soultrain Award nominated follow-up, Harlem Kingston Express 2: The River Rolls On (Motéma).

For more on the Monty Alexander and his brand of jazz, visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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

[email protected]

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Mar. 30, 2018: Jamaica’s Grammy-nominated jazz maestro, Monty Alexander, is set to return for a four-night performance next week in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., after a four-year absence.

Alexander is slated to perform at the legendary Blues Alley, located at 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW in Washington, D.C., from Thursday, April 5^th to Sunday, April 8^th.  The show has been billed as: “Monty Alexander – From Kingston to Harlem,” and fans will certainly be taken on this extraordinary musical journey with the star musician, who not only treats his audience to a spectacular performance, but to a captivating tale of his rise from a self-taught young man in Kingston, to the globetrotting, in demand performer he is today.

“I have been playing at Blues Alley off and on since 1971, so this will be my 47th year there and I am looking forward to returning,” commented Alexander.

Showtimes are 8 and 10 p.m. nightly and tickets start at US $46 and can be purchased directly by logging on here or at https://www.bluesalleylive.com/?fuseaction=home.artist&VenueID=3&artistid=2145

Blues Alley has been around since 1965 in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood. It is the nation’s oldest continuing jazz supper club. Jazz musicians who have recorded a Live at Blues Alley album include Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis and Grover Washington, Jr. Blues Alley offers its patrons a unique ambiance, reminiscent of the jazz clubs of the 1920’s and 30’s.

ABOUT ALEXANDER

Alexander is a Jamaican and an American classic. Since moving to the US 55 years ago, he has continued to tour the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. Like his “eternal inspiration,” Erroll Garner, Alexander – listed at Number 5 in ‘The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time,’ gives the hardcore-jazz-obsessed much to dig into while also communicating the message to the squarest “civilian “along with his Harlem-Kingston Express. In live performances with his band, Alexander spontaneously orchestrates, switching-off from straight-ahead to two-worlds-meet.

Born on D-Day, June 6, 1944, Alexander was playing Christmas carols by ear at 4, entertaining neighbors and relatives by 5 and taking his first piano lessons at 6. He resisted formal instruction, but still, growing up in Kingston, absorbed all the musical flavors that comprise his mature sonic palette of today.

For more on the Monty Alexander and his brand of jazz, visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him on Facebook at facebook.com/officialmontyalexander or keep up to date on his performance on Twitter at @montyHKE.

Media Contact:

Felicia J. Persaud

Hard Beat Communications

718-476-3616

[email protected]

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Feb. 28, 2018: Jamaica’s jazz great and Grammy nominated musical maestro, Monty Alexander, is among a hand-picked group of musicians set to celebrate the twentieth edition of ‘Carnaval on the Mile,’ in Miami in Coral Gables, Florida this weekend.

Alexander will perform at the remodeled Miracle event, that will also feature musicians like Ozomatli, Negroni’s Trio, Shamarr Allen & the Underdawgs and Dr. Ed Calle. The free event is set for Saturday, March 3^rd from 10 a.m. to. Midnight and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 4^th.

Monty Alexander and his Harlem Kingston Express will bring the curtains down on the show with a performance on March 4^th from 6:45 – 8 p.m. on the Heineken stage.

The event is presented by the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana and will also include an eclectic assembly of local artists and their unique jewelry, paintings, sculptures, photography and more, including a world-class juried art fair recognized by the artists it features and the collectors it draws. For more see http://carnavalmiami.com/events/carnaval-on-the-mille/

ABOUT ALEXANDER

Alexander is a Jamaican and an American classic. Since moving to the US 55 years ago, he has continued to tour the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. Like his “eternal inspiration,” Erroll Garner, Alexander – listed at Number 5 in ‘The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time,’ gives the hardcore-jazz-obsessed much to dig into while also communicating the message to the squarest “civilian “along with his Harlem-Kingston Express. In live performances with his band, Alexander spontaneously orchestrates, switching-off from straight-ahead to two-worlds-meet.

Born on D-Day, June 6, 1944, Alexander was playing Christmas carols by ear at 4, entertaining neighbors and relatives by 5 and taking his first piano lessons at 6. He resisted formal instruction, but still, growing up in Kingston, absorbed all the musical flavors that comprise his mature sonic palette of today.

For more on the Monty Alexander and his brand of jazz, visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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

[email protected]

Click Here for More Information »

Grammy Nominated Legendary Jamaican Jazz Great Monty Alexander.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY,  Dec. 29, 2017: Award-winning, Jamaican-born jazz great, Monty Alexander, will bring his unique brand of jazz back to New York City for a jolly five-night New Year kick-off on January 2, 2018.

Alexander, who has played with jazz royalty like Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Tony Bennett and Milt Jackson among others, as well as with fellow national musicians like Ernest Ranglin and Sly & Robbie, is sure to have jazz and music fans on their feet as he returns to the famous Birdland Jazz Club in the Big Apple, at 315 West 44th Street in Manhattan, New York.

The Grammy-nominated musician, who tells many incredible stories of his adventures from Jamaica to the world through music, will play Birdland from January 2nd-6^th at 8:30 and 11 p.m., respectively, each night.

Caribbean and New York jazz fans can get tickets here now for just $40 or by logging on directly to  birdlandjazz.com/attraction/monty+alexander

Alexander is certain to open his play book for fans, which is well documented on over 70 CDs and spans a broad range of jazz, blues, gospel, bebop, calypso and reggae. Alexander, whose performances have been called pure magic by many journalists and jazz fans around the world and whose sets are undoubtedly “a refined concept of groove,” also has a busy rest of the year already planned.

UPCOMING DATES:

From January 9-10, 2018, he will play the Triple Door in Seattle, Washington from 7:30 p.m. nightly;

From January 11-13, 2018, he will play Frankie’s Jazz Club in Vancouver, British Columbia from 8 p.m. nightly;

On January 14, 2018 he will be at The Moss Theatre in Santa Monica, California from 7:30 p.m., and;

On January 16^, 2018, he will play Yoshi’s Oakland in Oakland California at 8 p.m.

Alexander is a Jamaican and an American classic. Since moving to the US 55 years ago, he has continued to tour the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. Like his “eternal inspiration,” Erroll Garner, Alexander – listed at Number 5 in ‘The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time,’ gives the hardcore-jazz-obsessed much to dig into while also communicating the message to the squarest “civilian “along with his Harlem-Kingston Express. In live performances with his band, Alexander spontaneously orchestrates, switching-off from straight-ahead to two-worlds-meet.

Born on D-Day, June 6, 1944, Alexander was playing Christmas carols by ear at 4, entertaining neighbors and relatives by 5 and taking his first piano lessons at 6. He resisted formal instruction, but still, growing up in Kingston, absorbed all the musical flavors that comprise his mature sonic palette of today.

For more on the Monty Alexander and his brand of jazz, visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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

[email protected]

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Oct. 10 2017: Renowned Grammy-nominated, Jamaican jazz great, Monty Alexander, has taken his brand of jazz to fans around the world. But this month he returns to Upstate New York for a performance at the famous Jazz Forum.

Alexander, who has been presented with the Commander In The Order Of Distinction for outstanding service to his homeland as a worldwide music ambassador, is set to bring his one-of-a-kind jazz to fans in Tarry Town, NY.

The maestro, who has made his mark on the jazz music scene for his unique infusion of traditional jazz and reggae – the music of his homeland – will play at one of the country’s premiere not-for-profit jazz venues from Friday, October 20 to Saturday, October 21, 2017. Alexander will play two shows on both nights – at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively.

Tickets are US $30 per night and can be purchased by selecting the day of attendance in the calendar here and clicking the Buy Tickets button.

ABOUT ALEXANDER

Alexander is one of the most sought after jazz pianists in the world and is ranked in the top five in ‘The Fifty Greatest Piano Players of All Time.’ Soon after moving to the U.S. from his native Jamaica, his amazing talent caught the ears of Frank Sinatra and Jilly Rizzo, and he was hired as house pianist at Jilly’s, New York City’s famed club, where he worked with some of the top names in jazz. Fifty-five years after he moved to the United States from Kingston, Jamaica, he has become an American classic. Alexander is also mentioned in Robert Doerschuk’s 88: The Giants of Jazz Piano. He gives the hardcore-jazz-obsessed much to dig into while also communicating the message to the squarest “civilian.”

Whether playing straight jazz, Jamaican Reggae, Soul, or the music of his idols, Nat ‘King’ Cole and Frank Sinatra, Alexander’s energy and vibrancy, coupled with his musical prowess on the piano, will astound fans anywhere. He tours the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his effervescent personality and soulful message. His spirited conception is one informed by the timeless verities: endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, sophisticated voicings, a romantic spirit, and a consistent predisposition. As Alexander, himself, sums it up: “To build up the heat and kick up a storm.”

For more on Monty Alexander and his music visit him on YouTube or at http://www.montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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

[email protected]

Click Here for More Information »

Grammy Nominated Legendary Jamaican Jazz Great Monty Alexander.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. June 2, 2017: Jazz fans in San Francisco are in for a treat next weekend as award-winning, Jamaican jazz maestro, Monty Alexander, makes his debut at the 35^th annual San Francisco Jazz Festival.

Alexander, fresh from playing sold out concerts in Europe and Africa, will make a rare West Coast appearance with his band, the Harlem Kingston Express, at the celebrated Festival on Friday, June 8^th. Show time is 8 p.m. at the Herbst Theater, 401 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA. Tickets are US$30, $50 and $70 and can be obtained here.

The San Francisco Jazz Festival made its debut in 1983 and is today an annual three-week celebration of some of the best jazz music anywhere, with over 30 concerts held over the three-week event.

“I am glad to have been invited to participate in the San Francisco Jazz Festival,” said Alexander. “It means a great deal to me to be able to come to the great city with my Harlem Kingston Express; a place where I first played in the late 1969 at such joints like El Matador, The Keystone Corner and at the Monterey jazz festival and where I remember my co-players being SF native, drummer Dick Berk and bassist John Heard following Roberta Flack and preceding Miles Davis. We kinda rocked the joint! I also came to SF on several occasions to make records for Concord Records, so returning brings back a ton of only good memories!”

But, added Alexander, “Now is the time, and these days it is my thrill and joy and privilege and objective – in addition to sharing music – to bring upliftment and One Love to our audiences. Hope the good folks will come and experience the incredible artistry of each of my brother musicians. As  might be said on a Jamaican street corner: ‘Dem Bad No Rahtid!’”

Fans who are unable to get tickets for the Festival can also catch the Grammy nominated musician in Hollywood at Catalina Bar & Grill Jazz Club at 6725 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA on Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June10^th at 8:30 p.m. nightly. Tickets are $30 per person and can be obtained here or by logging on directly to catalinajazzclub.com/.

Catalina’s supper club is a Hollywood institution known for presenting some of the best jazz talents to its top clientele and Alexander and his Harlem Kingston Express are without a doubt, no exception.

The jazz legend is a Jamaican and American classic who continues to tour the world relentlessly. In Paris, France, recently, he thrilled 2,400 jazz fans at the Paris Philarmonie while in Zurich, Switzerland, his music was well received by the 1,500 who gathered at the Zurich Tonhalle. And in London, the master pianist played six sold out concerts at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club while also taking time out from his hectic performance schedule to make a first appearance at the 20th edition of the Saint Louis Jazz Festival in Senegal, Africa. The event is where artists share the roots of African music with musicians from all over the world.

Alexander’s roots in the Caribbean island of Jamaica, the birthplace of reggae, allows him to offer his global audience a spirited fusion of jazz and Jamaican musical expression unlike few contemporary jazz musicians of today.

His is the spirited conception of a melody distinctly his own, that draws in even the squarest “civilian” and takes them on a music journey of blues, gospel and bebop, calypso and reggae.

As the jazz great tells it: “For the most part, when I play music, I smell it and see colors. Every song has its own personality, its own soul, and if I can’t feel it, I can’t play it with feeling. I don’t understand what it is that makes me different, but I feel I have very little in common with anybody else. I seem to be my own strange character. If I’m right in my motivations and attitude, amazing things happen.”

Alexander’s work has been documented on more than 70 CDs and includes albums like the Grammy nominated “Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express Live! @ Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola,”  Harlem-Kingston Express Vol. 2: The River Rolls On, Stir It Up and Uplift.

In August 2000, the Jamaican government designated Alexander Commander In The Order Of Distinction for his outstanding service to his homeland as a worldwide music ambassador.

For more on Monty Alexander and his music visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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

[email protected]

Click Here for More Information »

Grammy Nominated Legendary Jamaican Jazz Great Monty Alexander.

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. March 6., 2017: Minneapolis jazz fans will be in for a treat this Wednesday, March 8, 2017 as Grammy-nominated, award-winning Jamaican jazz pianist and band leader, Monty Alexander, and his Harlem Kingston Trio, bring the warmth of Jamaica to the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant.

Along with his swinging jazz piano interpretations, Alexander says he will be bringing his Jamaican heritage – all stirred up for an uplifting ‘One Love’ experience – at the rare Minneapolis’ entertainment gem at 1010 Nicollet, Minneapolis, MN.

Alexander and his band will perform only one show only so get your tickets now. Tickets are $35 and $30, respectively, and can be secured now here or directly at http://sa1.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?eventId=1128014&presenter=DAKOTA&venue=&event=.

ABOUT ALEXANDER

Alexander is an American classic. He tours the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. His spirited conception, documented on more than 70 CDs, draws upon the timeless verities: endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, sophisticated voicings, a romantic spirit. In the course of any given performance, Alexander covers a repertoire spanning a broad range of jazz and Jamaican musical expression—the American songbook and the blues, gospel and bebop, calypso and reggae. Like his “eternal inspiration,” Erroll Garner, Alexander— listed at Number 5 in The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time (Hal Leonard Publishing) gives the hardcore-jazz-obsessed much to dig into while also communicating the message to the squarest “civilian.”

Alexander is most widely known as an upper echelon master of the swinging piano trio function, as he has demonstrated with several top-shelf groups, including iconic units with bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, and with the legendary bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis. A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Alexander also performs frequently with Harlem-Kingston Express, a double trio in which he coalesces his love for hard-swinging jazz with musical flavors that reflect his Jamaican heritage, shifting between an acoustic trio and master Jamaican practitioners of electric bass and drums.

In August 2000, the Jamaican government designated Alexander Commander In The Order Of Distinction for outstanding services to his homeland as a worldwide music ambassador. Furthermore, every Labor Day weekend since 2010, Alexander has served as Artistic Director and perennial performer at his namesake Monty Alexander Jazz festival in Easton, Maryland. For more on Monty Alexander and his music visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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

[email protected]

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Jan. 10, 2017: Grammy-nominated, award-winning Jamaican jazz pianist and band leader, Monty Alexander, will begin the New Year in fine style as he returns to the Jazz Standard, one of NYC’s renowned jazz clubs, from Jan. 31st to Feb. 4, 2017 for ten shows under the theme: “Looking Back.”

Alexander kicks off a five-night series of shows on January 31^st by looking back on his career of pure jazz performances as he remembers and revisits his musical journey in jazz and jazz collaborations with some of the greatest giants of the genre between 1959 and 1977.

On Jan. 31^st and Feb. 1^st, Alexander, along with special guests Warren Wolf, (vibraphone), and Ron Blake, (tenor sax), will reprise songs from the Impulse! LP: ‘That’s The Way It Is,’ an outstanding album by the Milt Jackson Quintet – featuring Alexander, Ray Brown and Teddy Edwards that was recorded live in 1969 at Shelly Manne’s Manne–Hole in Los Angeles.

On Feb. 2, 2017, the jazz maestro, whose “right-hand lines ring out with the power of a great vocalist” according to NPR, will remember legends Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson and Norman Granz and Jazz at the Philharmonic/Montreux 1977.

The show wraps up on Friday, Feb. 3^rd and Saturday, Feb. 4^th with a special Jamaican fusion spotlight as Alexander, Jamaica’s Commander of Distinction, and his band, the Harlem-Kingston Express, bring the vibes of his beloved homeland to their fans, while remembering Clement Seymour “Sir Coxsone” Dodd, CD and Studio One, one of Jamaica’s most influential record producer whose record label and recording studio has been described as the ‘Motown of Jamaica.’

Show times are 7:30 and 9:30 P.M. nightly. Caribbean and other jazz fans who call New York City home can secure their tickets for the shows here or by logging on to the Jazz Standard website. Tickets are $35 for per show from Jan. 31^st to Feb. 2^nd and $40 per show from Feb. 3^rd – 4th.

For over a decade, the Jazz Standard, at 116 E 27th St, New York, NY, has been setting the standard for world-class jazz, warm hospitality, pitch-perfect sound and award-winning Southern cuisine and barbecue in an intimate and comfortable environment.

Alexander is an American classic. His performances have been called pure magic by many journalists and jazz fans around the world and his sets are undoubtedly “a refined concept of groove.” This extraordinary musician continues to tour the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. His energetic pieces, documented on more than 70 CDs, draws upon the timeless verities: endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, sophisticated voicings, a romantic spirit, and a consistent predisposition “to build up the heat and kick up a storm,” as Alexander puts it.

In the course of any given performance, Alexander applies those aesthetics to a repertoire spanning a broad range of jazz and Jamaican musical expression – the American songbook and the blues, gospel and bebop, calypso and reggae. Like his “eternal inspiration” – Erroll Garner -  Alexander is cited as the fifth greatest jazz pianist ever in The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time (Hal Leonard Publishing) and mentioned in Robert Doerschuk’s ‘88: The Giants of Jazz Piano.’

Alexander’s voluminous discography includes albums for many labels including MPS, Concord Music, Island Jazz, Telarc and Studio One. Two of his most fondly remembered professional associations was with legendary jazz entrepreneur and producer Norman Granz, who conceived of Jazz at the Philharmonic back in the late 40’s/50’s and “Sir Coxsone Dodd.” The pianist recorded “Monty and the Cyclones” between 1959-1961 for Studio One and released three LPs on Granz’s Pablo label in the 70’s – Jamento (1978), In Tokyo (1979), and Soul Fusion (1978) by Milt Jackson & The Monty Alexander Trio.

For more on Monty Alexander and his music visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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

[email protected]

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Aug. 24, 2016: Legendary Grammy-nominated piano master and Jamaica’s Commander Of Distinction, Monty Alexander, along with the magnificent Harlem Kingston Express (HKE) band, are set to lead fans across a musical bridge of Jamaican ‘riddims’ and American classical jazz in New York City this weekend.

Inspired by the amazing triple gold medal wins in Rio of Jamaican Olympian Usain Bolt and on the heels of the conclusion of the Summer Games of the 31^st Olympiad, Alexander and the HKE  will host a celebration of both musical genres at the popular Blue Note Jazz Club at 131 W. 3rd Street in Manhattan, NY on Saturday August 27^th and Sunday August 28^th from 8 and 10:30 p.m., respectively, each night.

The two-night, four concert series is sure to get fans of Alexander’s blend of infectious jazz rhythms up and on their feet. Tickets for this Jamaican musical celebration in the Big Apple are $30 per person for the bar and $45 per person for a table booking. For reservations book here or log on to http://www.bluenote.net/newyork/schedule/moreinfo.cgi?id=14353 or call (212) 475-8592.

ABOUT ALEXANDER

In a career spanning five decades, pianist Monty 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. In the process, he 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, Ernest Ranglin, Barbara Hendricks, Bill Cosby, Bobby McFerrin, Sly Dunbar, and Robbie Shakespeare, among others.

Alexander today remains an American classic. Born on D-Day (June 6, 1944) and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, he took his first piano lessons at age six, although he is largely self-taught. At 71, he tours the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. His spirited conception, documented on more than 70 CDs, draws upon the timeless verities: endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, sophisticated voicings, a romantic spirit, and a consistent predisposition “to build up the heat and kick up a storm,” as Alexander puts it.

In the course of any given performance, Alexander applies those aesthetics to repertoire spanning a broad range of jazz and Jamaican musical expression – the American songbook and the blues, gospel and bebop, calypso and reggae. Like his “eternal inspiration” – Erroll Garner –  Alexander is cited as the fifth greatest jazz pianist ever in The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time (Hal Leonard Publishing) and mentioned in Robert Doerschuk’s ‘88: The Giants of Jazz Piano.’ He gives the hardcore-jazz-obsessed much to dig into while also communicating the message to the squarest “civilian.

For more on the Monty Alexander and his music visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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)

[email protected](email)

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. July 6, 2016: It’s the reunion that will have jazz lovers humming as Jamaica’s Legendary Jazz Great Monty Alexander returns to the stage with  Grammy-winning bassist John Clayton and renowned drummer Jeff Hamilton to mark the 40th anniversary reunion of one of the great trios in jazz.

The historic event is set for the prestigious Catalina Bar & Grill 6725 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, on July 10th from 7:30 P.M. PDT. On the same date, 40 years ago – July 10, 1976 – the trio of Alexander, Clayton and Hamilton, recorded the original classic album ‘The Monty Alexander Trio ‎– Montreux Alexander – Live! At The Montreux Festival.’

The original album was well received and featured some of Alexander’s finest recordings for the MPS label with Clayton and Hamilton. It was reissued on CD featuring Alexander playing “Satin Doll,” “Work Song” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and a version of “Feelings.”

For tickets to this one time can’t miss performance, see here

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

MONTY ALEXANDER

Pianist Monty Alexander is an American classic. At 71, he tours the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. His spirited conception, documented on more than 70 CDs, draws upon the timeless verities: endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, sophisticated voicings, a romantic spirit, and a consistent predisposition “to build up the heat and kick up a storm,” as Alexander puts it.

In the course of any given performance, Alexander applies those aesthetics to repertoire spanning a  broad range of jazz and Jamaican musical expression – the American songbook and the blues, gospel and bebop, calypso and reggae. Like his “eternal inspiration” – Erroll Garner –  Alexander is cited as the fifth greatest jazz pianist ever in The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time (Hal Leonard Publishing) and mentioned in Robert Doerschuk’s ‘88: The Giants of Jazz Piano.’ He gives the hardcore jazz-obsessed, much to dig into while also communicating the message to the squarest “civilian.”

For more on the Monty Alexander and his music visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him on Facebook at facebook.com/officialmontyalexander or keep up to date on his performance on Twitter at @montyHKE.

JOHN CLAYTON

John Clayton is a natural born multi-tasker, excelling as a composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator, and an extraordinary bassist. His skills have garnered him a number of challenging assignments and commissions. With a Grammy on his shelf and eight additional  nominations, artists such as Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gladys Knight, Queen Latifah, and Charles Aznavour vie for a spot on his crowded calendar. Clayton is the co-founder of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and is a former bass teacher at Cal State Long Beach, UCLA, USC and the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. Now, in addition  to individual clinics, workshops,  and private students as schedule permits, he also directs the educational components  associated with the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Centrum Festival, and Vail Jazz Party.

His career highlights include arranging the ‘Star Spangled Banner” for Whitney Houston’s performance at Super Bowl 1990, which went platinum;  playing bass on Paul McCartney’s CD “ Kisses On The Bottom;”  arranging and playing bass with Yo-Yo Ma and  Friends on “Songs of Joy and Peace;” arranging playing and conducting the 2009 CD  “Charles Aznavour With the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra,” and numerous recordings with  Diana Krall, the Clayton Brothers, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz, Orchestra, Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander and many others.

JEFF HAMILTON

Originality is what versatile drummer Jeff Hamilton brings to the groups he performs with and is  one of the reasons why he is constantly in demand, whether he is recording or performing with his trio, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, the Clayton Brothers or co-leading the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Hamilton’s recording, ‘It’s Hamilton Time,’ (Lake Street Records), received enormous  airplay while reaching #5 on the Gavin national jazz radio chart.

His trio’s second release, ‘Jeff Hamilton Trio-LIVE!,’ (MONS) was nominated by critics for best jazz recording in Germany in 1997. The trio’s second MONS release was entitled, ‘Hands On.’ ‘Hamilton House-Live at Steamers,’ (MONS) was the trio’s 2000 release.

As well as recording and performing throughout the world, Hamilton also teaches, arranges and composes. He has received rave reviews for his dynamic drumming. In addition to his many recordings with Ray Brown, Hamilton has been on nearly 200 recordings with artists such as Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, Milt Jackson, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Streisand, Mel Torme, John Pizzarelli, Benny Carter, Lalo Schifrin, George Shearing, Dr. John, Clark Terry, Gene Harris, Toshiko Akioshi, Scott Hamilton, Harry “ Sweets”  Edison, Keely Smith, Bill Holman, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel and Mark Murphy. He is a frequent guest of the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany and has also appeared in Natalie Cole’s Great Performances PBS special, ‘Unforgettable’ and an Oscar Peterson documentary, ‘Life In The Key Of Oscar.’

MEDIA CONTACT:

Felicia Persaud

Hard Beat Communications

718-476-3616 (phone)

[email protected](email)

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. June 1, 2016: Legendary piano master and Jamaica’s Commander Of Distinction, Monty Alexander, along with the magnificent and expanded version of the Harlem Kingston Express (HKE) band, will lead a celebration of National Caribbean American Heritage Month from tonight, June 1st at a premier New York City jazz location.

Alexander and the HKE band will return to Dizzy’s Jazz Club Coca Cola @ Jazz at Lincoln Center from tonight, Wednesday, June 1^st through Sunday, June 5^th in what is being billed as an energetic show that will blend the musical genre of classical jazz and the rhythms of the Caribbean seamlessly.

The Jamaican-born musician, whose performances the Wall Street Journal describes as ‘an outrageously good time,’ “will be telling stories of his own and Jamaica’s musical history, with special guests throughout the week.”

Alexander will be joined by top musicians and guests throughout the week including:

Hassan Shakur – the acoustic bassist who learned to play bass at age four through the guidance of his father, pianist Gerald Wiggins, Sr. and still plays for the Duke Ellington Orchestra which the joined at age 18.

Dan Wilson – the jazz guitarist who has toured with three-time Grammy nominated jazz organ legend, Joey DeFrancesco and released his debut album, ‘To Whom It May Concern’ in 2012.

Obed Calvaire – the Haitian-roots drummer who has performed and recorded with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Seal, Eddie Palmeri, Vanessa Williams and Mary J. Bilge among others.

Andrae Murchison – one of the most versatile and talented trombonist of his generation who has performed on The Letterman Show and at numerous festivals, concert halls, and venues worldwide.

Clark Gayton – a composer, trombone and tuba player and band leader who has played with some of the finest jazz musicians in the world, such as Charles Tolliver, Lionel Hampton, McCoy Tyner, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, Ted Nash and Odeon, Ben Allison and Medicine Wheel, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra Nancy Wilson, and Ray Charles and who is also the founder of the Ritual, Ltd. label and Lautir Publishing.

Popular Jamaican drummer and percussionist Karl Wright

Electric bass player Joshua Thomas

Electric keyboard player Earl Appleton

Award-winning Guitarist Andy Bassford

Wendel Ferraro – the Montego-Bay, Jamaica born jazz singer who also goes by the name. ‘Jr. Jazz,’ and singer of ‘Love Is Waiting There,’ which was heavily promoted through black music video channels and who recently released recordings with Ikronik, now available on iTunes.

And Duane Stephenson –  the Kingston-born Jamaican reggae singer whose album ‘From August Town,’ released in 2007, was included in Billboard’s “Six Essential Albums Heralding Roots Rock’s Resurgence and whose song “Rasta For I” became a favorite. Stephenson, whose third album ‘Dangerously Roots: Journey from August Town,’ was released in September 2014, will perform on June 4^th and 5^th.

Show times nightly at Dizzy’s Jazz Club Coca Cola  are 7:30 P.M. and 9:30 P.M. EST. To make reservations log on here or directly to http://www.jazz.org/dizzys/events/168391/monty_alexander/ or reserve by phone

at: 212-258-9595.

Born on D-Day, June 6, 1944, Alexander was playing Christmas carols by ear at 4, entertaining neighbors and relatives by 5 and taking his first piano lessons at 6. Fifty-five years after he moved to the United States from Kingston, Jamaica, home town pianist Alexander is an American classic, touring the world relentlessly with various projects and delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message.

2016 will mark the seventh edition of the namesake ‘Monty Alexander Jazz Festival’ in Easton, Maryland, for which he has served as Artistic Director and perennial performer every Labor Day weekend since 2010.

Alexander’s spirited conception is one informed by the timeless verities: endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, sophisticated voicings, a romantic spirit, and a consistent predisposition, as Alexander accurately states, “to build up the heat and kick up a storm.”

In the course of any given performance, Alexander applies those aesthetics to repertoire spanning a broad range of jazz and Jamaican musical expression – the American songbook and the blues, gospel and bebop, calypso and reggae. Like his “eternal inspiration,” Erroll Garner, Alexander—cited as the fifth greatest jazz pianist ever in The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time (Hal Leonard Publishing) and mentioned in Robert Doerschuk’s 88: The Giants of Jazz Piano—gives the hardcore-jazz-obsessed much to dig into while also communicating the message to the squarest “civilian.”

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 designated Alexander Commander in the Order of Distinction for outstanding services to Jamaica as a worldwide music ambassador. In 2015, the great modern pianist Donald Vega released With Respect To Monty, which included his interpretations of seven Alexander compositions.

For more on the Caribbean’s greatest jazz pianist and his music visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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)

[email protected](email)

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, New York, NY – February 1, 2016 – At 17 years old, a serendipitous encounter with Frank Sinatra and his long-time pal Jilly Rizzo changed the trajectory of Jamaican-born pianist Monty Alexander’s career forever: Alexander would soon become the house pianist for the famed Jilly’s club in New York City and develop a unique relationship with its most famous patron.

Sinatra’s centennial elicits fond memories of Alexander’s time spent at the intimate hangout, and with the help of GRAMMY® Award-winning and DownBeat Critics Poll-dominating singer Kurt Elling, he will share stories and anecdotes from a treasured and rare perspective. A masterful pianist, Alexander’s career spans five decades and includes collaborations with some of the most important figures in jazz, like Milt Jackson, Miles Davis, and Dizzy Gillespie, as well as an illustrious recording career as a leader.

National touring artist Elling, referred to by The Guardian as, “a kind of Sinatra with superpowers,” will provide his vocal interpretation of the classic tunes, of which he is no stranger to. Joining the duo will be bassist Hassan Shakur, guitarist Frank Vignola, hand drummer Robert Thomas Jr., and drummer Dennis Mackrel. This early, nurturing period in which the young pianist and an iconic hero spontaneously mused on saloon songs up into the wee hours of the night is a Valentine’s weekend treat sure to satisfy both nostalgic and contemporary tastes.

Sinatra songs featured in the concert will include “Young at Heart,” “I’ve Got You Under my Skin,” “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning,” “Luck, Be a Lady Tonight,” “The Summer Wind” and “Fly Me to the Moon.”

Tickets to Monty Alexander & Friends can be purchased through at jazz.org, 24 hours a day, or via CenterCharge at 212-721-6500, open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Box Office, located on Broadway at 60^th Street, ground floor. Box Office hours: Monday–Saturday from 10am to 6pm (or 30 minutes past curtain) and Sunday from noon to 6pm (or 30 minutes past curtain).

Hot Seats, $10 seats for select shows in Rose Theater, are available for purchase to the general public on the Wednesday prior to each performance. Subject to availability. Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Hot Seats Ticket Discount Program is supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Please visit jazz.org for more information.

Press Inquiries:
Danielle Bias
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Jazz at Lincoln Center
[email protected]
212-258-9807

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Nov. 9 2015: Jamaica’s legendary award-winning international master pianist, Monty Alexander, fresh from a tour of Japan, will be taking his Harlem Kingston Express to Hollywood this weekend.

Alexander, who has built a reputation exploring and bridging the worlds of American jazz, popular song, and the music of his native Jamaica, will  bring ‘A Jamaica Reggae/Jazz One Love Party’ to Los Angeles, California this November 13^th and 14th.

He and his Grammy-nominated band will perform at the popular Catalina Jazz Club at 6725 W. Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, CA  from 8:30 PST over the two nights where he will treat fans to his own version of contemporary jazz.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=5995895&pl=cbg or by clicking here.

Alexander has over 70 recordings under his belt and has performed globally with renowned artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Ray Brown, Natalie Cole and Tony Bennett among numerous others.

He was awarded the title of Commander in the Order of Distinction for outstanding services to Jamaica in August 2000 by the Jamaican government 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, the freewheeling virtuoso  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.  Last year, ‘Harlem Kingston Express Vol. 2’ was nominated for a Soul Train award.

Alexander maintains a rigorous touring schedule worldwide because of his unchained improvisational style – playing from jazz clubs to concert halls and top Jazz Festivals.

For more on the Caribbean’s greatest jazz pianist and his music visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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)

[email protected](email)

Click Here for More Information »

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 25^th 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 31^st 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)

[email protected](email)

Click Here for More Information »

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. April 14, 2015: Fresh from a one night performance in The Windy City of Chicago, Jamaican-born award-winning jazz great, Monty Alexander and his Grammy-nominated band, the Harlem Kingston Express are heading to Canada.

Alexander and his band will take over the Royal Conservatory Koerner Hall in Toronto, Canada for a one night performance on April 25^th as part of the 2014-2015 Season.

Toronto jazz fans, including Caribbean Canadians, are being urged to get their tickets now to ensure a seat for a night that will be truly unforgettable. “Our brand of jazz lets people get up and dance as we infuse traditional jazz with a dash of Caribbean culture that truly is a true representation of this beautiful region and its people,” said the award-winning musician.

Show time will be 8 p.m. sharp and tickets starts at CDN$35.  For tickets call the box office at 416.408.0208 or logging on here or at http://performance.rcmusic.ca/event/harlem-kingston_express

Alexander will return with his band to the U.S. for a performance in the Big Easy, New Orleans, on Thursday, April 30^th. There he will play the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the New Orleans Fair Grounds. Tickets can be purchased here for the annual festival, that will feature others greats like Elton John, Ed Sheeran and No Doubt or by logging on directly at  http://www.ticketmaster.com/shoppinglist/1B004E2676E61721

Alexander has built a reputation exploring and bridging the worlds of American jazz, popular song, and the music of his native Jamaica. With 70 recordings under his belt, he has performed globally with renowned artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Ray Brown, Natalie Cole and Tony Bennett among numerous others.

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.

For more on the Caribbean’s greatest jazz pianist and his music visit him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him 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)

[email protected](email)

Click Here for More Information »