Monty Alexander

Monty Alexander
Alexander performing at Ronnie Scott's, London, in 2006
Alexander performing at Ronnie Scott's, London, in 2006
Background information
Birth nameMontgomery Bernard Alexander
Born (1944-06-06) 6 June 1944 (age 80)
Kingston, Jamaica
GenresJazz, reggae, hard bop, straight-ahead jazz
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Piano, melodica, vocals
Years active1958–present
LabelsPacific Jazz, RCA, Verve, MPS, Motéma Music
Websitemontyalexander.com

Montgomery Bernard "Monty" Alexander OJ CD (born 6 June 1944) is a Jamaican American jazz pianist. His playing has a Caribbean influence and bright swinging feeling, with a strong vocabulary of bebop jazz and blues rooted melodies.[1] He was influenced by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Erroll Garner, Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, Les McCann, and Frank Sinatra. Alexander also sings and plays the melodica. He is known for his surprising musical twists, bright rhythmic sense, and intense dramatic musical climaxes. His recording career has covered many of the well-known American songbook standards, jazz standards, pop hits, and Jamaican songs from his original homeland. Alexander has resided in New York City for many years and performs frequently throughout the world at jazz festivals and clubs.

  1. ^ Cook, Richard (2005). Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia. London: Penguin Books. p. 7. ISBN 0-141-00646-3.