Monty Alexander in fine form last Saturday night at the Cinnamon Hill Ocean Course at the Wyndham Rose Hall Resort. - Noel Thompson Photo 'JAZZ BED' (a plastic garbage bag): $50.00; Season tickets for Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival: $5200.00; Hearing Monty Alexander play: Priceless!
Monty Alexander held audiences at rapt attention on Saturday night at the Cinnamon Hill Ocean Course at the Wyndham Rose Hall Resort in Montego Bay, St. James. It was a fitting final night for the festival which began last Thursday.
On Thursday night audiences were taken back in time by The Spinners; 'wooed' by the smooth crooner Jeffrey Osborne and given an energetic performance by the indomitable Toots Hibbert. There was also a bit of a Latin flavour by Soneros de Verdad. Friday night featured performances by Smokey Robinson, Roy Ayers, Ernest Ranglin and Stew.
The final night of performances featured Al Jarreau, Angie Stone and Courtney Pine along with Alexander. The result was that it was a wonderful night which featured lots of jazz and a little bit of soul.
If nothing else did, Alexander's performance proved that jazz has a very broad definition. The audience lounged under the velvet sky on the rolling slopes of the golf course and simply let his music wash over them.
Alexander was accompanied by Quentin Baxter on drums, Robert Thomas Jr. on hand drums and Hassan J. J. Wiggin Shaqur on bass.
Although his piano did most of the talking, on occasion he would give the audience titbits of information. After his performance of Worksong he noted that he was very glad to be playing before a Jamaican audience.
Along with playing his own original work such as Monty's Groove, which he created with Sly and Robbie, and River Rolls On for which Brian Thompson wrote the lyrics, Alexander also interpreted works by other musicians.
Among these were two musical giants of very different schools. He first sampled from Frank Sinatra, for whom he worked when he was much younger. Alexander's latest CD is a collection of works made popular by Sinatra. Bob Marley's music also underwent the reshaping of Alexander's dextrous fingers. He performed the poignant Redemption Song, which was smoothly followed by You Running Away. His performance of the two Marley songs were in line with his request for hope. Before introducing them to his piece Hope, Alexander noted that even in trying times 'We can all hope', the thought behind the song's composition.
He also performed with his wife Catarina, who lent her vocals to the performances of Summer and River Rolls On.
The most impressive work performed, however, was a Spanish concerto which included a blend of jazz and Flamenco rhythms.
Alexander was the second of two instrumental performers for the night. Courtney Pine, saxophonist, had given a very good start to the evening with his interesting and lively blend of reggae and jazz. He drew from performers as varied as Aswad and John Coltrane.
Pine had created quite a stir when he took his sax into the audience and gave semi-personal performances. It was his wonderful demonstration of breath control, where he sustained a single note for approximately five minutes, which had the audience showing him great appreciation.
