Monty Meets Sly & Robbie [Hybrid SACD]

Monty Meets Sly & Robbie [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B000060OMV

Track Listings

1. Chameleon

2. Monty's Groove

3. Soulful Strut

4. The In Crowd

5. Sidewinder

6. People Make The World Go 'Round

7. (Do The) Kool Step

8. Moanin'

9. Mercy, Mercy

10. Hot Milk

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
For much of his career, the Jamaican-born pianist Monty Alexander has been swinging jazz rhythms and dropping Jamaican "riddims." Monty Alexander Meets Sly and Robbie combines his Nat "King" Cole/Bill Doggett-influenced pianisms with longtime friends Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, whose signature drum machine programming, booming bass lines, and ambient sound effects provided the sonic signature of dancehall music--the forerunner of rap and hip-hop. Alexander and this dynamic duo, augmented by keyboardist Handel Tucker, "Jamaicanize" several soul-jazz classics--including Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder," Bobby Timmons's "Moanin'," and Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon"--into a unique worldbeat statement. The CD also features Alexander's own island-breezed compositions, "Monty's Groove," "Do the Kool Step," and "Hot Milk"--the lattermost highlighting the leader's plaintive melodic playing. The standout track on the recording, a moving rendition of the Stylistics' hit, "People Make the World Go Round," offers funky and folkloric proof that music from the English-speaking Caribbean has rich possibilities for jazz improvisation. --Eugene Holley Jr.

From Jazziz
Drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare - Sly & Robbie - have been hitting the reggae-loving world with their deep, telepathic grooves for decades. Now with Jamaican jazz pianist monty alexander, they are posed to make an impact on jazz fans, too. 'For the last few years, Sly and I have been saying, 'Man, it would be great to do something together,'' says Alexander, whose last recording, Stir It Up, was a tribute to Bob Marley. ''Let's pick some of the classic rhythm-and-blues, jazz-flavored tunes that have rhythms and grooves.' When the original artists did them, they too were looking for a groove and did it their way. We've blended my piano approach with what Sly & Robbie do - that street- level vibe.' The resulting album, Monty Meets Sly & Robbie, presents tunes such as Art Blakey's 'Moanin',' Ramsey Lewis' 'The In Crowd,' and the original 'Monty's Groove.' "

Tracks:

Chameleon
Monty's Groove
Soulful Strut
The In Crowd
Sidewinder
People Make The World Go 'Round
(Do The) Kool Step
Moanin'
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Hot Milk

Amazon.com

For much of his career, the Jamaican-born pianist Monty Alexander has been swinging jazz rhythms and dropping Jamaican "riddims." Monty Alexander Meets Sly and Robbie combines his Nat "King" Cole/Bill Doggett-influenced pianisms with longtime friends Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, whose signature drum machine programming, booming bass lines, and ambient sound effects provided the sonic signature of dancehall music--the forerunner of rap and hip-hop. Alexander and this dynamic duo, augmented by keyboardist Handel Tucker, "Jamaicanize" several soul-jazz classics--including Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder," Bobby Timmons's "Moanin'," and Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon"--into a unique worldbeat statement. The CD also features Alexander's own island-breezed compositions, "Monty's Groove," "Do the Kool Step," and "Hot Milk"--the lattermost highlighting the leader's plaintive melodic playing. The standout track on the recording, a moving rendition of the Stylistics' hit, "People Make the World Go Round," offers funky and folkloric proof that music from the English-speaking Caribbean has rich possibilities for jazz improvisation. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews:

great music.......2006-03-22

As a long time fan of all three excellent musicians then this was a must for my collection. Mercy, mercy his superbly done also hot milk which was previously composed by a Jamaican keyboardist Jackie Mittoo.

A great pianist plays to dull accompaniment .......2006-03-06

I don't understand that Monty Alexander has released this CD.

Monty's play is outstanding. The rhythm section, however, sounds like the auto-accompaniment feature of some run-of-the-mill keyboard.

I don't know any other Sly+Robbie recordings. Perhaps they are better elsewhere. On THIS CD, however, they are less than mediocre.

Mercy, Mercy is a good example for this.

5 stars to Monty's play.
zero stars to Sly+Robbie
Therefore, 2 stars to the CD overall.

Not The Best Of Monty.......2005-03-08

Monty has a lot more to offer than this. I have some of his other cds and they are much greater. Personally I am more for his jazz stuff. B-E-W-A-R-E, this cd is more oriented on Jamaican music, like his ivory and steel stuff. I do not recommend this cd for straight jazz listener. However, if you are into reggae, or Jamaican music, go right ahead. However it is repetitious. This is purely one of Monty's WORST cd's. Below are some cds I DO recommend:
1.Gotcha! (Ernest Ranglin (g) with other special guests) Not the typical reggae cd, this one is EXTRAODINARY! This even suits the tastes of a jazzer. He has a saxophonist, and rhythm section with him.
2. Straight Ahead (Ray Brown(b), Monty Alexander(p), Herb Ellis (g)) This is great, two cds included.
3. Last Session (Ray Brown (b), Monty Alexander (p), Russell Malone (g)) Extraodinary solos all around.
4. Summertime (Ray Brown (b), Geoff Keezer (p), Gregory Hutchinson (d), Ulf Wakenius (g) This is a great quartet.

P.S Please Check Out My Reviews On The Recommended CDs!

Woah, I've just woken up after listening to Monty & co.......2000-10-25

The first 30 lame seconds of the album is a ominous warning of whats to come on this mediocre album. I mean what a shockingly uninspired intro. At first I was going to totally slate it in my review, but to be fair a few tracks have a feel-good factor. There are definitely some nice keyboard touches ..... but that about sums it up - its pretty much a one trick act. 'Riddim Section Kings' Sly and Robbie are way-more legend than substance and you are lucky if you can pick out a live-drum sound apart from the occasional lazy (but nice) big rimshot, and the bass lines a 10 year old could play - I mean come on guys liven it up a bit and shove in a bit more effort for crisakes. Laid back - its positively horizontal. I bought this on the off chance - I had a feeling something wicked was in the offing - It ain't. In future I'll stick to the fusion boys offerings, like the The Billy Cobhams of this world.

Great Caribbean/Funk Music.......2000-09-28

Monty Alexander is one great pianist. Most of his music is jazz based with a hint of the islands. That all changed with his last release in which he covers some of Bob Marley's most popular songs. That CD is a great amalgamation of island and jazz music. It's a must just as "Monty Meets Sly and Robbie" is. It works on many levels. The rhythms are bouncy enough to clean the apartment to yet the depth of the piano solos make it perfect to sit down and really listen to. Great stuff!

Average customer rating:

great music
A great pianist plays to dull accompaniment
Not The Best Of Monty
Woah, I've just woken up after listening to Monty & co
Great Caribbean/Funk Music

Monty Meets Sly & Robbie
Monty Alexander , Sly Dunbar , and Robbie Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000060OMV
Release Date: 2002-02-26