Encompassing decades of Caribbean music styles, jazz and classic tunes from the Great American Songbook, Jamaican American pianist Monty Alexander’s “A Living History: Jamaica to Jazz” concert event is coming to Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater Jan. 24-25 at 7:30 p.m.
Alexander, 80, will perform alongside artists he’s worked with throughout his illustrious career, including Quentin Baxter, drums; T.K. Blue, alto saxophone; Jason Brown, drums; James Cammack, bass; Wayne Escoffery, tenor saxophone; Dominick Farinacci, trumpet; Andrae Murchison, trombone; guitarists Randy Napoleon, Justin Poindexter, and Joshua Thomas; and Victor Provost, steel drums.
The “Living History” concert features mento, ska, calypso, reggae, jazz, blues, gospel and other music genres that Alexander has performed for decades. Playing Caribbean sounds with Jamaica’s pioneering Studio One record label by the age of 14, Alexander later migrated to the U.S., sharpened his musical skills, and became a global jazz star.
“I seek modesty and humility, but I find myself now being called a living legend in the fact that many of the great musicians I played with have now passed,” said Alexander, who has performed with Jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, jazz bassist Ray Brown and many others.
“I, however, prefer not to think that way, but look forward to sharing this eight-decade history with the people.”
For tickets, visit jazz.org/monty or call CenterCharge at (212) 721-6500.
Fix the colonies issue
“I have a voice,” declared United States Virgin Islands Congressional Delegate Stacey Plaskett before the U.S. Congress on Jan. 3, bringing attention to the reality that representatives of U.S. territories and the District of Columbia aren’t allowed to vote for Speaker of the House and lack other rights given to members of Congress.
“This body and this nation has a territories and a colonies problem. What was supposed to be temporary has now, effectively, become permanent,” said Plaskett.
During Plaskett’s comments, made at the vote for Speaker of the House, Democrats stood and applauded, while Republicans sat silently.
In a press statement the following day, Plaskett said, “I raised a parliamentary inquiry to bring attention to the fact that the names of Representatives from American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands were not called for the Roll Call of the Speaker of the House.” She added that the nation’s “territories and colonies problem “ impacts the 4 million Americans who are residents of those places.
