Preview/ Monty Alexander at NCPA Jazz Fest

On the eve of Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander's performance at the NCPA International Jazz Festival, NARENDRA KUSNUR reviews two of his recent album releases

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From November 25 to 27, jazz fans will be heading to the Tata Theatre, Nariman Point, for the NCPA International Jazz Festival. The programme on the respective days comprises the Mingus Big Band, Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander and German pianist Thilo Wolf's Jazz Quartett featuring Johanna Iser.

This writer has been checking out the music of Monty, simply because two contrasting albums have been released over the past few months. The 78-year-old has been recording since 1964, blending jazz standards and bebop with the blues and Caribbean music. Besides a series of studio and live albums, he has recorded tributes to Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Miles Davis and Bob Marley.

Monty's repertoire has a wide variety, as is evident in the two recent releases. The first, Love Notes, contains his vocal interpretation of standards. Only the title track is based on an instrumental composed by him, with fresh lyrics by Brian Jobson. It's the first time he has sung on an album. The other release is part of The Montreux Years series, containing live recordings of songs he played at the famous Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland between 1993 and 1996.

For the NCPA gig on Saturday, Monty will be accompanied by Dennis Rollins on trombone, Joshua Thomas on electric bass and guitar, Luke Sellick on acoustic bass, and Jason Brown on drums. The show is titled 'From Jamaica to Jazz', and besides tunes from the new records, one expects him to play a good chunk from his older discography.

Let's get back to the recent releases. Love Notes is  brilliant adaptation of standards, with Nat King Cole represented well. Monty has had a desire to record a vocal album since the late 1970s, when vocalist Carmen McCrae praised him after he sang a small bit at a concert. However, the right moment came only now.

The album begins with a rendition of Johnny Mercer's 'Day In Day Out', recorded by both Nat and Frank Sinatra. 'These Love Notes', composed by Monty himself, features stellar guests in guitarist George Benson, pianist Ramsey Lewis and keyboardist Joe Sample.

While both these tracks set the mood, there's an absolute beauty in Hoagy Carmichael's 'The Nearness Of You'. Though many musicians have recorded this number, Monty's version stands out with its reggae flavour and the marvellous trumpet fill-ins of Roy Hargrove, now deceased.

The collection contains two movie tracks, and both feature trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, who displays different tones on 'As Time Goes By' (from Casablanca) and 'Moon River' (from Breakfast At Tiffany's). Interestingly, the latter was covered beautifully by singer James Taylor two years ago.

Harry Belafonte's 'Island In The Sun' and Nat King Cole's 'Straighten Up And Fly Right' are treated beautifully, the latter being from a concert recording. All through, Monty's voice texture has a certain uniqueness, and his deft piano-playing adds to the charm. There are certain surprises too, like the bursts of melodica on 'For Sentimental Reasons'.

In contrast to Love Notes, The Montreux Years is a a pure piano jazz delight. This isn't the first recording of Monty's shows at the famed Swiss venue - in 1976, he had released the album Montreux Alexander. Yet, this is a pretty diverse set, with a good mix of originals and interpretations.

Monty has three sets of accompanists - his Trio, the Jamaican Project and the Harlem Kingston Express. Originals include 'The Serpent' and the thematic 'Hurricane Come And Gone', describing a hurricane in Jamaica. Ahmad Jamal's 'Night Mist Blues' and Quincy Jones' 'The Pawnbroker' get a Monty touch.

For a local flavour, Trinidad composer Len Boogsie Sharpe's 'Crying' is dedicated to less-fortunate people. It's a soulful tune played expressively. A medley of 'No Woman No Cry' and 'Get Up Stand Up', and the piece 'A Nod To Bob', pay tribute to the legendary Bob Marley. 

There's also a huge treat in 'Linstead Market', an instrumental Jamaican folk tune that reminds you of Belafonte. If it isn't late to make a request for his set, this one should be included at all costs.

All the three acts at the NCPA International Jazz Festival should be great. There should be a good balance of traditional and contemporary, besides a mix of American, Jamaican and German streams. Mumbai's very own Brian Tellis will host the event. Bask in the jazzle dazzle.