CCMusic.com

Vinyl LP pressing. 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! D-Day 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. *D-Day (Just Wait), Why (that's why), River of Peace... are Alexander's compositions inspired by the conflict and it's 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.