WDR Big Band feat. Monty Alexander Trio – Jamaica To Jazz

Reggae or jazz – how fortunate that Jamaican pianist and composer Monty Alexander never had to choose.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1944, Alexander claims to have been directly involved in the development of ska, the precursor to reggae, in the late 1950s. Already a talented jazz pianist as a teenager, he played on the first ska productions at the legendary Studio 1 before moving to the United States with his family in 1961. In New York, he worked with stars such as Frank Sinatra and Milt Jackson, among others, and developed an energetic and rhythm-oriented piano style that combines jazz and Jamaican music: »I love Louis Armstrong just as much as I love Jamaican folk songs. That's my world.«  

On St. Nicholas' Eve, Monty Alexander will be performing with the WDR Big Band for the first time in over 35 years. He will be accompanied by his current trio and perform a wide range of pieces from his 60-year music career.