Montreux Jazz Festival and BMG today announce the next instalment in The Montreux Years series with Monty Alexander: The Montreux Years. Available Friday 4 November 2022, 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 Serpent will accompany the album release with a brand new visualiser.
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.
Brand new liner notes based on an interview with Monty will be available with this release, which also includes rare photos and memories from his Montreux shows.
Monty has also just released a brand new album Love Notes, his first album to feature his own vocals. Thoughtfully curated, the eleven tracks on “Love Notes” are some of Monty’s favourite songs crafted and arranged in a totally unique, romantic setting. With the exception of “These Love Notes” (Monty’s original composition with lyrics by Brian Jobson), all of the songs have a direct connection to his childhood — the first songs he ever heard and loved — and they bring back the scent and romanticism of the Jasmine flowers Monty used to smell as a child in Montego Bay. Guest artists on the album include George Benson, the Late Roy Hargrove, Ramsey Lewis, Joe Sample, Arturo Sandoval and More.
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:
- The Serpent (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1995) 05:48
- The Work Song (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2016) 07:53
- Hurricane Come and Gone (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2016) 09:49
- Night Mist Blues (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2014) 08:14
- Linstead Market (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) 08:34
- Crying (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1995) 07:45
- No Woman No Cry / Get Up Stand Up (Medley) (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2014) 08:14
- Renewal (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) 09:46
- A Nod to Bob (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1995) 11:58
PRE-ORDER MONTY ALEXANDER: THE MONTREUX YEARS HERE
ABOUT MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL
Montreux Jazz Festival is a renowned music festival created by Claude Nobs and held annually in Montreux, Switzerland across two weeks in July. Now in its 55th year, the festival draws 250,000 music lovers from all across the world to the Lake Geneva shoreline. Montreux Jazz Festival celebrates the industry’s emerging and contemporary acts, whilst paying homage to music’s legendary acts. Originally a pure jazz festival since inception in 1967, Montreux began showcasing other styles of music throughout the decades and today presents artists from across every genre imaginable. Artists that have graced the stage of Montreux include Etta James, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Ms Lauren Hill, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, James Brown, Kendrick Lamar, Leonard Cohen, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, Nina Simone and many more. Mathieu Jaton serves as CEO of Montreux Jazz
ABOUT BMG
BMG is the new model music company founded by Bertelsmann in 2008 as a direct response to the challenges of music’s digital revolution. Key to its innovative approach is the fact it represents the traditionally separate music publishing and recording rights off the same state-of-the-art platform internationally. BMG is already the world’s fourth biggest music publisher and the first new global player in the recordings business in decades. BMG’s pitch is unique – a relentless focus on fairness and transparency and service to its artist and songwriter clients. BMG’s 19 offices across 12 core music markets now represent over 3m songs and recordings, including the catalogues of Chrysalis, Bug, Virgin, Mute, Sanctuary, Primary Wave and Talpa Music, as well as literally thousands of artists and songwriters attracted by its fresh approach. BMG is owned by international media, services and education company Bertelsmann, which also includes the broadcaster RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House, the magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr, the service provider Arvato, the Bertelsmann Printing Group, the Bertelsmann Education Group, and Bertelsmann Investments, an international network of funds. With its multi-platform perspective, integrated technology platform and commitment to help artists maximize their income, BMG aims to be the best company in music to do business with. www.bmg.com
ABOUT MQA
Using pioneering scientific research into how people hear, MQA captures the sound of the original performance. The MQA file is fully authenticated, backward compatible, and small enough to stream, so you can play MQA on any device. MQA powers award-winning products and services worldwide with unmatched efficiency, which also makes it the most sustainable solution for the entertainment industry. Partnerships span recorded music, video, radio, broadcast and livestreaming. Wherever there is audio, MQA delivers the best sound. MQA is a UK-based private company.
For more information visit www.mqa.co.uk
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