Monty Alexander The Montreux Years Out Now

MONTY ALEXANDER THE MONTREUX YEARS – OUT TODAY

THE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL & BMG RELEASE THE NEXT ALBUM IN THE MONTREUX YEARS SERIES

FEATURES THE LEGENDARY JAZZ PIANIST’S PERFORMANCES AT MONTREUX FROM 1993 – 2016

PRE-ORDER MONTY ALEXANDER: THE MONTREUX YEARS HERE

Montreux Jazz Festival and BMG today release the next instalment in The Montreux Years series with Monty Alexander: The Montreux Years. The album will be available in multi-format configurations, including superior audiophile heavy weight double vinyl, CD and on streaming services, in superlative HD MQA audio. An exclusive track, Linstead Market will be available to stream from 11 October and a further track, The Serpentis also released with a brand new visualiser here.

Monty Alexander: The Montreux Years is a showcase of jazz piano virtuoso Monty Alexander’s iconic Montreux Jazz Festival live performances, spanning three decades of his career from 1993 to 2016. The Grammy-nominated, pianist performed some of his finest shows in the Swiss town and this release captures him at his best, bringing his laid-back, Caribbean vibes to the shores of Lake Geneva.

In a career spanning six decades, Monty Alexander has built a reputation exploring and bridging the worlds of American jazz, popular song, and the music of his native Jamaica, finding in each a sincere spirit of musical expression. Monty has always been proud of his roots and effortlessly merges his iconic piano playing with other musical influences including that of his fellow countryman, Bob Marley on the sublime No Woman No Cry, the live version of which appears on this release.

Throughout his long and distinguished career, Monty has performed and recorded with artists from every corner of the musical universe and entertainment world: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Barbara Hendricks, Bobby McFerrin, Sly Dunbar, and Robbie Shakespeare, among others.

By the time Monty first played Montreux (in 1976), he was already an incredibly accomplished performer but playing there nonetheless marked a similarly significant career step-up. “Montreux was like going to the Olympics. Up to then, I was going about my business as a jazz performer, playing in real down-home clubs all over the US. The people there weren’t too interested in what you might call intellectual content, they just wanted the music swinging. So, to go to Montreux, which was so auspicious, playing alongside all these incredible musicians in this beautiful place surrounded by mountains, and with such a smart, passionate audience…I was delighted. In fact, I had to keep my ego in check. It was a very long way from my upbringing in Kingston, Jamaica, which was another world altogether.”

The audio has been expertly restored and remastered in superlative HD audio; The Montreux Years is released on superior audiophile heavy weight vinyl, MQA quality CD and in HD digital.

Monty Alexander: The Montreux Years is available to buy here.

Monty Alexander: the Montreux Years Vinyl Tracklist:
A1) The Serpent (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1995) 05:48
A2) The Work Song (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2016) 07:53
A3) Hurricane Come and Gone (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2016) 09:49
B1) Night Mist Blues (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2014) 08:14
B2) Linstead Market (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) 08:34
B3) Crying (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1995) 07:45
C1) No Woman No Cry / Get Up Stand Up (Medley) (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2014) 08:14
C2) Renewal (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) 09:46
D1) Pawnbroker (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1993)* 07:13
D2) A Nod to Bob (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1995) 11:58
*LP & Digital only track
CD Tracklist:

  1. The Serpent (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1995) 05:48
  2. The Work Song (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2016) 07:53
  3. Hurricane Come and Gone (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2016) 09:49
  4. Night Mist Blues (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2014) 08:14
  5. Linstead Market (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) 08:34
  6. Crying (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1995) 07:45
  7. No Woman No Cry / Get Up Stand Up (Medley) (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2014) 08:14
  8. Renewal (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) 09:46
  9. A Nod to Bob (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1995) 11:58