Nigel Hamilton Monty

Pianist Monty Alexander had first appeared on a Milt Jackson record in 1969. Eight years later the great vibraphonist used Alexander's trio (which included bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, future big-band co-leaders) for this spirited Pablo session that was subsequently reissued on CD through Original Jazz Classics. Much of the material is obscure (including Jackson's three originals), with Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" being the only standard. The music, however, is as straight-ahead as one would expect from these fine musicians, and can easily be recommended to their fans.

Milt Jackson and The Monty Alexander Trio - Soul Fusion (1977) {Pablo Japan VICJ-60864, 20bit K2 Mini LP rel 2001}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 301 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 113 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 24 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1977, 2001 Pablo / Victor Japan | VICJ-60864
Jazz / Bop / Post Bop / Mainstream Jazz / Vibes / Piano

Pianist Monty Alexander had first appeared on a Milt Jackson record in 1969. Eight years later the great vibraphonist used Alexander's trio (which included bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, future big-band co-leaders) for this spirited Pablo session that was subsequently reissued on CD through Original Jazz Classics. Much of the material is obscure (including Jackson's three originals), with Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" being the only standard. The music, however, is as straight-ahead as one would expect from these fine musicians, and can easily be recommended to their fans.

Monty Alexander - Uplift 2 (2013) {Jazz Legacy JLP 1201020}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 411 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 153 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 32 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2013 Jazz Legacy Productions | JLP 1201020
Jazz / Post Bop / Piano

While critics and listeners enthusiastically focused on Monty Alexander's excellent reggae-fied Harlem-Kingston Express Live in 2011 (which was nominated for a Grammy), he was riding the global radio charts simultaneously with Uplift, a second album cut with his acoustic jazz trio. This follow-up date features the great pianist and a number of his now standard numbers with two different trios.

This blazing CD is the official follow-up to the splendid Uplift, which in 2011 was one of the first releases from John Lee's fledgling label, Jazz Legacy Productions. Blending Alexander's past and present compadres—referred to here as "two timeless trios"—Higher features seven tracks with the peerless John Clayton on bass and Jeff Hamilton on drums, and four with the excellent Hassan (JJ Wiggins) Shakur and Frits Landesbergen in those respective roles.