Ridiculous talent, such a privilege to witness!
by MTBstreetbiker on 10/13/14U.S. Cellular Stage at the Bijou Theatre - KnoxvilleRating: 5 out of 5The Monty Alexander B-day concert was absolutely incredible. I totally underestimated the level these guys play at, and that's coming from a very musically active person. It was awesome to have the Jamaican reggae guys come along and contribute to the "Jamaican riddim" that was often heard. I especially liked the dual song "River + Hurricane" which contained both flowy soft sections and intense complex ones. The reggae bassist had a little debut where he sang "No Woman No Cry" (originally by Bob Marley) and I was extremely impressed with his voice and overall vocal range. In addition, being a drummer myself, I enjoyed watching both drummers (from the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, and Monty's reggae drummer) especially when playing complex riffs.You could see moments throughout the concert where Monty really was living his music, super focused and entranced in the rhythms he was producing, hands flying around all over the keys. No wonder he was named in the top 5 of the Greatest Jazz Pianists of All Time. It was a privilege to experience for sure. This performance was easily a 10/10 stars.
