Jazz pianist, Monty Alexander
Respected jazz pianist, Monty Alexander, has paid homage to reggae superstar Bob Marley with his latest album, Concrete Jungle.
The album was released in the United States last Tuesday by the Ohio-based Telarc Records.
Work on Concrete Jungle started in the United States late last year and fittingly completed in December at Marley's Tuff Gong studio. Local musicians including guitarist Wayne Armond, bassist Glen Browne and saxophonist Dean Fraser recorded with Alexander. The album contains 12 songs including jazzy interpretations of Trench Town, War, Africa Unite, Three Little Birds, Babylon System and Forever Lovin' Jah.
Produced by Elaine Martone, who is also a publicist at Telarc, Concrete Jungle is the second album of Marley covers by Alexander, the Kingston-born musician who is rated highly in the haughty world of straight jazz.
His first Marley collection, Stir It Up: The Music of Bob Marley, was released in 1993, also by Telarc.
Although Alexander is best known for his massive jazz catalogue, he has experimented with reggae in recent years, working with the renown drum and bass team of Sly and Robbie on the Monty Meets Sly and Robbie album.
