Monty Alexander • Uplift

 

Review by Ken Dryden
During his long career, pianist Monty Alexander excelled in trio settings, and he's primarily heard in this collection of live performances at various venues with two different groups, with these recordings all coming from his personal archives. Kicking off with an inspired, upbeat "Come Fly with Me" (forever associated with vocalist Frank Sinatra), Alexander seems in a jovial mood throughout most of the CD. He has a lot of fun with "Sweet Georgia Brown," opening with a bit of stride before shifting into a wild ride incorporating some Thelonious Monk-like dissonance, but in the typical uptempo setting favored by Oscar Peterson. His interpretation of John Lewis' "Django" retains its standard dramatic introduction; then he subtly swings it with a brief detour into "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," adding a bluesy air to it. At times, he inserts licks from a number of different songs à la Art Tatum or Dorothy Donegan, especially in the unusually hilarious setting of "Body and Soul." The closing medley begins with Alexander's sentimental ballad "Home," then segues into a lively, calypso-flavored performance of Blue Mitchell's "Fungii Mama." Alexander's Uplift is well-named, as these live recordings represent some of his best work from his half-century as a professional jazz pianist.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/uplift-mw0002099457

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Reseña de Ken Dryden
Durante su larga carrera, el pianista Monty Alexander se destacó en escenarios de trío, y se le escucha principalmente en esta colección de presentaciones en vivo en varios lugares con dos grupos diferentes, y todas estas grabaciones provienen de sus archivos personales. Comenzando con un inspirado y optimista "Come Fly with Me" (asociado para siempre con el vocalista Frank Sinatra), Alexander parece estar de humor jovial durante la mayor parte del CD. Se divierte mucho con "Sweet Georgia Brown", abriendo con un poco de zancada antes de pasar a un viaje salvaje que incorpora una disonancia Thelonious Monk, pero en el típico escenario uptempo favorecido por Oscar Peterson. Su interpretación de "Django" de John Lewis conserva su introducción dramática estándar; luego la cambia sutilmente con un breve desvío a" Suavemente, como en un Amanecer Matutino", agregándole un aire blues. A veces, inserta lame de varias canciones diferentes al estilo de Art Tatum o Dorothy Donegan, especialmente en el escenario inusualmente hilarante de " Body and Soul."El popurrí de cierre comienza con la balada sentimental de Alexander "Home", luego pasa a una actuación animada con sabor a calipso de "Fungii Mama" de Blue Mitchell."La elevación de Alexander tiene un buen nombre, ya que estas grabaciones en vivo representan algunos de sus mejores trabajos de su medio siglo como pianista profesional de jazz.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/uplift-mw0002099457

www.montyalexander.com ...

Tracks:
01 - Come Fly With Me
02 - One Mint Julep
03 - Renewal
04 - Sweet Georgia Brown
05 - I Just Cant See For Lookin’
06 - Django
07 - Body and Soul
08 - Hope
09 - Home
10 - Fungii Mama


Credits:
Monty Alexander (Piano);
Hassan Shakur (Acoustic bass);
Herlin Riley (Drums);
Frits Landesbergen (Drums: 1,5,6).

2011

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