(Post-Bop, Reggae-Jazz) Monty Alexander - Harlem-Kingston Express Live! (at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, NYC) - 2011, MP3, 320 kbps

Harlem-Kingston Express finds the Jamaican jazz legend in rare form, rockin’ it with his jazz quartet and a powerhouse reggae posse in New York City, with additional tracks from dates in Jamaica and Europe. Powerful follow-up to Stir It Up, Alexander’s lauded Bob Marley tribute, which sold over 15,000 units. With a career spanning five decades of stellar recordings both as a bandleader and as a sideman with such greats as Frank Sinatra, Ray Brown, Bobby McFerrin, and Quincy Jones, Monty enjoys a reputation as one of the most beloved, funloving, and versatile legendary jazz pianists of his generation. Feature in the May issue of DownBeat focuses on his reggae-jazz connection, and will mention this release. Strong fan base; Monty has toured consistently for over five decades both as a leader and sideman of note.
“Monty Alexander presented his refined concept of groove with the recent Harlem-Kingston Express project, blending a jazz trio and a steaming reggae unit, weaving back and forth between the idioms with orchestral finesse.” — DownBeat
“Alexander himself is in excellent form, carefully walking the tightrope that bridges jazz improvisation and the rhythmic riffs of reggae.” — All About Jazz

Monty Alexander (piano); Robert Thomas (percussion); Obed Calvaire (drums); Hassan Shakur (bass); Karl Wright (drums); Hoova Simpson (bass); Andy Bassford (guitar); Yotam Silberstein (guitar)