JAZZ AS SMOOTH AS YOU CAN GET IT!
STEVEN D. MCPHERSON | Cedar knolls, NJ United States | 03/21/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"THIS IS A GREAT CD! I RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE WHO ENJOYS GOOD JAZZ. LISTEN TO THE SOULFUL MELODIES OF GRADY TATE'S VOICE,AND AS SMOOTH AS YOU CAN GET MONTY ALEXANDER PLAYING THE KEYS. AND HONORABLE MENTION OF NEILS HENNING ORSTED PEDERSON ON BASS GUITAR. TAKE IT FROM ME, WHO'S BEEN LISTENING TO JAZZ SINCE I WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD. THIS IS GREAT MUSIC AND TALENTED MUSICIANS WHO TRULY BRING THEIR GIFTS FORWARD. FOR JAZZ LOVERS AND FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. PICK IT UP AT AMAZON.COM PEACE,"
Staying on the path
Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 11/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having met and talked with Monty, I know that he's exceptionally humble when anyone attempts to compare him with Oscar Peterson. Yet he invites such comparisons by recording with the same drummers (Bobby Durham) and bassists (Ray Brown) as those favored by the Mighty Swinger, Oscar himself. Or maybe they seek Monty out because they know that of all those following after Oscar (including Benny Green), Monty comes closest.
On this occasion, it's the late bassist (and frequent member of Oscar's trio) Nils Orsted Pedersen, and Monty makes the most of his presence, turning in another swinging performance that deserves to be a big seller (if the leaden public knew swing) instead of a nearly extinct recording. This is not necessarily a 5-star Monty date, but relative to the musical universe we now live in, anything by Alexander is 5 if not 500 stars. Grady Tate sings O.K. (so for that matter does Monty), but frankly I'd rather hear what the pianist does with the melody of Victor Young's "Weaver of Dreams" than hear it sung by the drummer-vocalist."
Track Listings (6) - Disc #1