Karl Vernon, Staff Reporter
MUSIC, the universal language. Whether you are a rhythm and blues lover, rock and roll freak or just a plain hip hop mama, well it's back to the basics baby.
Jamaica's premier jazz pianist Monty Alexander teams up with the Rhythm Twins, Sly and Robbie, to produce a totally Jamaican flavoured album that sees classical music complimented by the integral beat of reggae which is the unmistakable beat of the drum and bass.
Monty is coming off a high with his last CD Stir It Up being a monster hit. Throughout his 40 years in music, Monty has showcased his Jamaican roots. Also he has performed with Jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins and even played with the Chairman of the Board, the late great Frank Sinatra. He has worked with contemporary artistes such as Natalie Cole.
To date Monty has recorded over 50 albums and frequently performs at leading festivals and music venues world-wide.
Well what can we say about Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Simply put, they are the master bass percussion duo who have made an indelible mark on dancehall music.
The enigmatic style of this VP produced CD entitled Monty meets Sly and Robbie is that jazz is being put on reggae and dancehall and Monty is playing against the drum and bass. It therefore comes across as a trio playing in sync.
With 10 songs, Monty went for a mixture of popular Jamaican and American songs from the 50s and 60s and added his interpretations to them.
Favourites on the album should be Al Blakey's Moanin' Herbie Hancock's Chameleon, Ramsey Lewis The In Crowd and, my favourite, People Make the World Go Round by the Stylistics.
Chamelon is an up tempo, lively composition with the underlying piano strains sounding like guitar rifts. Marvelous.
Monty's signature piece is entitled Monty's Groove. Man, this one is tough. At this moment of writing I can hardly contain my fingers as they are busily imitating playing the piano instead of tapping out the words. Monty's Groove reminds one of a soul cleansing song. One which is to accompanied by a bottle of scotch.
It's not often where one finds albums where all the songs are melodious and it is quite difficult to choose an outright favourite.
So why don't you all go take a Soulful Strut down memory lane and get this CD.
With so much talented musicians on this album, such as Handel Tucker and Desmond Jones, it goes to show that music in whatever form is still music and finds its appreciation in the soul.
(CD provided courtesy of Headline Entertainment)
