Legendary Piano Master And Jamaica's Commander Of Distinction, Monty Alexander

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)

felicia@caribpr.com(email)

Master pianist, Monty Alexander, in performance mode.

 

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Nov. 12, 2012: Monty Alexander and the Harlem Kingston Express is bringing a celebration to Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in New York City next month, as the party to mark Jamaica’s 50^th year of independence and the Grammy Award nominee’s 50^th year in music, continues.

"Monty Alexander – Harlem Kingston Express – Continuing The Celebration Of Jamaica’s 50th Year Of Independence And Monty’s 50th Year In Music," returns to Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s at Broadway and 60th Street in New York City for five nights of musical festivity from November 20th-25^th.

Concerts, featuring the Jamaican-born Commander of Distinction’s Caribbean musical roots combined with his American jazz influence, will be held at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. each night. The Thanksgiving Day show will be marked by a special treat with a top Caribbean number from Alexander so after feasting on turkey and other delicacies, fans can dance it off with Alexander and the Harlem Kingston Express.

“I’m inviting all my fans to come one last time to celebrate my 50^th and Jamaica’s 50^th before we bid adieu to 2012,” said Alexander.

Tickets for the Thursday, Friday and Sunday night shows are $35 each while Saturday night tickets are $45 per person. Students with valid identification will be able to enjoy the show for $15 per ticket.

Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, one of the three main performance venues located in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s home, Frederick P. Rose Hall, produces world-class jazz performances nightly.  The intimate 140-seat jazz club is set against a glittering backdrop with spectacular views of Central Park.

To make your reservations, book now at http://jalc.org/events/event/av-124809#.UIW4jVHhc2k or call 212-721-6500 between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 11am-1 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays.

Alexander has been dubbed “a masterly pianist who delights audiences everywhere” by the London Evening Standard since the release of his two collections – ‘Uplift,’ a trio album on JLP Records, and ‘Harlem-Kingston Express’ on Motema Music – last year.  Between ‘Uplift’ and ‘Harlem-Kingston Express,’ Monty Alexander has officially dominated the US Radio Charts with three number 1 spots, all in the summer of 2011. ‘Harlem-Kingston Express’ was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category this past February.

Last July Alexander performed at the Stuttgart Jazz Festival in Germany where he received the "German Jazz Trophy – A Life In Jazz."  He then traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa for two concerts at the Johannesburg Joy of Jazz Festival and performed at the 4th edition of the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival in Easton, MD. 

And only 2 weeks ago he played a solo piano concert in South Korea for an open air audience of 6,000 people.  Alexander will travel to Washington, D.C. on November 16th to receive the Caribbean Heritage Award from the Institute of Caribbean Studies and travel from Washington to Miami where he is slated to play as the headliner for the first Miami Jazz Fest on November 18th.

Following his five night performance at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola he will perform at a major concert with international special guests set for December 16th in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

See Monty in performances here or visit www.montyalexander.com to stay abreast of his upcoming scheduled performances and latest news.