Record Reviews
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  | MONTY ALEXANDER ~ HERE COMES THE SUN
MPS 4029759124061 (Barcode: 4029759124061) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2017
This is a reissue of the debut album for the MPSFind albums on this label label by American (born in Jamaica) pianist / composer Monty AlexanderFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with legendary bassist Eugene WrightFind albums by this artist, drummer Duffy JacksonFind albums by this artist and percussionist Montego JoeFind albums by this artist. The quartet performs seven compositions, which include one original by Alexander and the rest are interpretations of popular songs, traditional songs or Jazz standards.
Influenced by the American mainstream piano Jazz giants, Alexander added Caribbean influences and created his own personal style, which gained him popularity and a long lasting career which continues to this very day. However in retrospect the flashy technical proficiency and the early Jazz-World Music exploration did not make a lasting statement and his playing remains unchanged during the last five decades.
Connoisseurs of classic Jazz piano trio music should find this album delightful, but certainly not innovative or searching. The dazzling technique is a bit arduous at times, but overall enjoyable. This music sounds today exactly as it did at the time of its recording and a nostalgic glance backwards adds a sparkling teardrop perspective. Considering the excellent sound quality, this is still a great listening experience today, when in mood for an easier, entertaining side of the Jazz spectrum.
Side Note
The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet.
In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker.
Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace.
In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically.
Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.
| | Updated: 28/05/2018Posted: 24/02/2018 | CD 1 Digisleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | MONTY ALEXANDER ~ MONTREUX ALEXANDER
MPS 4029759113454 (Barcode: 4029759113454) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2016
This is a reissue of an album by American (born in Jamaica) pianist Monty AlexanderFind albums by this artist, which was his seventh album for MPSFind albums on this label and the first live recording with his trio, captured as the title suggests at the Montreux Jazz Festival, which also included bassist John ClaytonFind albums by this artist and drummer Jeff HamiltonFind albums by this artist. The trio performs six pieces, five of which are standards and one is a traditional tune arranged by Alexander.
Alexander was influenced by the Giants of the American Jazz piano, like Oscar PetersonFind albums by this artist, Erroll GarnerFind albums by this artist and many others, and his technically brilliant playing mixed these influences with the Caribbean elements of his origins, creating a very attractive and immensely popular brand of piano trio Jazz, which brought him success in the US and in Europe. This album is considered to be the best effort of his very extensive recorded legacy and is often also included in the list of some of the best live piano trio albums.
In retrospect it still is a good piano trio album, but nothing which deserves to be considered a classic, as it presents nothing beyond standard interpretation of standard tunes, which of course was done repetitively over time, however skillful and "flashy" it might appear, without leaving a lasting influence on the Jazz idiom.
However, considering the brilliant sound quality of the live recording and the likeability of the music, this album is sure to bring plenty of joy to people who enjoy the lighter side of Jazz. As usual it´s great to have this album back in circulation!
Side Note
The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet.
In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker.
Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace.
In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically.
Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.
| | Updated: 28/05/2018Posted: 17/12/2016 | CD 1 Digisleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | MONTY ALEXANDER ~ RASS!
MPS 4029759097372 (Barcode: 4029759097372) ~ USA ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2014
This is a reissue of a little known album by American (born in Jamaica) pianist / composer Monty AlexanderFind albums by this artist, who started as a young prodigy and later on recorded many albums for the MPS label in the 1970s and early 1980s. This particular album is unusual since Alexander plays the Fender Rhodes rather than the acoustic piano, and is accompanied by Jamaican musicians. The other musicians playing on this album are guitarists Ernest RanglinFind albums by this artist and Clarence WearsFind albums by this artist, bassist Jackie JacksonFind albums by this artist, drummer Sparrow MarlinFind albums by this artist and percussionists Noel SealeFind albums by this artist and Denzil LaingFind albums by this artist. Together they perform six tunes, three of which are standards and three are traditional folk songs arranged by Alexander.
The music is an early Jazz-World Music Fusion, which uses Caribbean rhythms and melodies in addition to the standard Jazz phrasing, which was still pretty innovative at the time. In the very extensive recorded legacy created over the years by Alexander, this album still remains as one of the most interesting ones.
It is good to have this album back in circulation, as it remains interesting and fresh regardless of the passing time and is certainly a very pleasant listening experience also today.
Side Note
The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet.
In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker.
Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace.
In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically.
Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.
| | Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 12/10/2016 | CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | DI MEOLA / PONTY / CLARKE ~ LIVE AT MONTREUX 1994
MERCURY 602448000743 (Barcode: 602448000743) ~ USA ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1994 Released: 2022
This is a live album by a trio of Fusion geniuses: American guitarist / composer Al Di MeolaFind albums by this artist, French violinist / composer Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist and American bassist / composer Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents their mindboggling performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1994, which consists of ten lengthy tracks, including three solo tracks by each of the musicians and one quartet track with Jamaican pianist Monty AlexanderFind albums by this artist. The material includes tracks from their albums as leaders, as well as new material composed for this performance, which was later recorded for their only studio album “The Rite Of StringsFind albums with this title”, released in 1995. The album offers superb sound quality, as most live albums recorded at Montreux traditionally do.
The music is, as expected, absolutely breathtaking from start to finish, not only due to the concentration of the talent on one stage, but also due to the obvious camaraderie and mutual respect between these musicians. The entire affair is about music making together, not about showing off their individual skills, which by the time this album was recorded, were beyond obvious.
Although I have always regarded Fusion as a highly limited genre, which very quickly exhausted its possibilities, mostly due to the endless doodling which characterized the genre for years, following the brilliant initial period, however, this album, and most of the albums recorded by these three musicians over time, managed to avoid the fate of the genre in general.
Overall, this is, especially in retrospect, one of the best live Fusion albums of all time, which lost nothing of its power and beauty over time and is still highly recommended listening experience, which never ceases to amaze. An absolute must, not only for die-hard Fusion fans, but all lovers of great music.
| | Updated: 21/02/2026Posted: 30/08/2024 | CD 2 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
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