2000-2010

COMMANDER

Monty, Sly & Robbie

Tuff Gong studios

...and a Swinging Christmas with TONY BENNETT

Commander of Distinction

In August 2000, the Jamaican government designated Monty Alexander Commander in the Order of Distinction for outstanding services to Jamaica as a worldwide music ambassador.

THROUGH THE DECADES

In 2000 he also received the Gold Musgrave from the Institute of Jamaica for excellence in the field of music

In 2005 Monty and the Telarc records crew traveled to Kingston to record a collection of Bob Marley's songs arranged with Monty's unmistakable taste and touch. The resulting record was Concrete Jungle and featured several stellar session players and Jamaican singing star Luciano as a special guest..

Here are the Tuff Gong Studios session photos...

Go ahead and shuffle through too see all images

Tuff Gong Studio photography by Peter Rickards

Monty was the featured pianist on the 2008 Tony Bennett Christmas album, which also featured the Count Basie Big Band. Tony specifically asked Monty to fill in the chair of legendary big band leader, Count Basie for this one of a kind recording and assignment.

He also had to hold this turkey during the photo shoot for the cover...

And Monty said it was a real turkey!

Tony Bennet A Swingin Christmas cover CD

From "Concrete Jungle"...

to "Lords of the West Indies"

In 2008 Monty was commissioned by Jazz at Lincoln Center to create a musical show centered on his Jamaican heritage and "Lords of the West Indies" was born.

Monty_Alexander_Lords of the West Indies

Monty's NBC morning show promo for "Lords of the West Indies" at Jazz at Lincoln Center (2008)-featuring Etienne Charles and David Williams. Turned out they had no piano in the studio so Monty resorted to playing his melodica

Grand finale of Lord of the West Indies on stage at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Monty at the piano with Herlin Riley and Desi Jones on drums, JJ Shakur and David Williams on bass, trumpet player Etienne Charles playing the steel drums, Cedric IM Brooks and Dean Fraser on saxophone, the Jamaican mento ensemble men: Carlton James, Joseph Bennett, Albert Morgan, calypso singer Keith Prescott a.k.a. Designer, and Pluto Shervington on guitar. (photo by Frank Stewart)

Sly and Monty (Photo P. Rickards)

In 2002 the Album

"Monty meets Sly and Robbie" comes out on Telarc records... This is one of their several collaborations.

Recorded in this decade at Sly's studios Mixing Lab in Kingston.

Friends through the decades

pictorial album 2000-2010

Monty + Sly + Robbie

Marian McPartland's guest in 2003. Known for his rhythmic approach and melodic and harmonic inventiveness, Alexander solos in his original "Look Up" and teams up with McPartland for an unusual duet.

Festival des 5 Continents - Marseille, France