Monty Alexander

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Image courtesy of El Molino.

Monty Alexander is an internationally renowned Jamaican pianist, known for his ability to merge jazz and traditional Jamaican rhythms with a unique energy and style. He began playing the piano at the age of four, and by the age of 14 he was already performing with rhythm and blues and calypso groups. This immersion in Jamaican popular music profoundly influenced his musical development and his vision of jazz. He discovered jazz through the records of Nat King Cole, who became his main reference and inspiration.

At seventeen, Alexander moved to Miami, where he began performing in jazz clubs. He quickly gained popularity and started performing at iconic places like the Play Boy Club in New York, the London House in Chicago and Shelly’s Manne Hole in Los Angeles. 

In the 1970s, his music began attracting both public and critical attention, earning him international recognition with performances at festivals and concerts in the U.S.A., Europe and Japan.

Monty Alexander has recorded nearly a hundred albums as a leader and has collaborated with legendary figures in music, such as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins and Quincy Jones. One of his highlights was his collaboration with Natalie Cole on the album Unforgettable, which won seven Grammys.

His piano style has been compared to masters like Oscar Peterson and Nat Cole, but Alexander has created his own sound that merges jazz with Jamaican rhythms, bringing great vitality to his music. With a career that has left a mark on the world of jazz, he remains one of the most influential figures in the genre.

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