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An Incredible Experience of Freedom

June 6, 2024, will mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings. It's also the day the Grammy©​ nominated pianist Monty Alexander turns 80. A highly symbolic historical concordance which the great musician naturally embraces, since the name he was given pays homage to General Montgomery, the famous liberator.

The album D-Day is the fruit of intertwining friendships and artistic collusion often observed between Monty Alexander, the French touring agency V.O Music, and the label PeeWee!

It contains a number of iconic compositions written in wartime and original tracks:

*I'll Never Smile Again, written in 1939, a Frank Sinatra hit throughout the Second World War.

*Smile, written by Charlie Chaplin for his film Modern Times in 1936: "Smile, though your heart is aching, Smile, even though it's breaking, When there are clouds in the sky, You'll get by."

*D-Day (Just Wait), Why (that's why), River of Peace, Restoration... are Alexander's compositions inspired by the conflict and its extraordinary ending. On them he explores feelings triggered by this unique period, the heroism of the combatants, hope for a fresh beginning, renewed trust in other people and the sense of sacrifice.

Recorded for the most part at Studio Sextan in October 2023, D-Day captures the quintessence of two long sessions. We hear an Alexander more introspective than usual, sure of the time needed to reach the right note, the one that only comes with a feeling of self-assurance. With the brilliant young Luke Sellick and Jason Brown, his current rhythm section, he has found partners in unison, in total fusion, with his harmonic and rhythmic digressions, always spiked with the intoxicating beat of reggae and the contagious sway of swing.

The vinyl version of this recording will be released on June 7, 2024.
PW-1013V - 3760338540384

Track Listing

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Press Quotes

He is a bebop virtuoso who apprenticed with the originators of the form, a stalwart champion of the great American songbook, and the world's foremost avatar of Jamaican jazz.

     —Will Friedwald, New York Sun (1/2/2023)

Audiences find Monty Alexander's music instantly accessible, exciting and exhilarating, and they quickly warm to it and respond to it.

     —Mike Hennessey, Jazz writer/critic, Billboard

...As a musical statement, a tone poem about war and peace, what better way to end D-Day than with a living example of how the world can be when people gather together to, paraphrasing that old '60s chestnut, make love not war.

     —Marilyn Lester, The New York City Jazz Record

Alexander, like film-maker Alfred Hitchock, thrives on suspense and surprise, forever challenging the listener to anticipate his next move, whether a mid-stream shift in key, rhythm, tempo, texture, chord progression, or even song form.

     —AllaboutJazz