Yard Movement

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Yard Movement
Studio album by
Monty Alexander
Released1996
Recorded1995
GenreJazz, reggae
LabelIsland Jamaica Jazz
Monty Alexander chronology
Many Rivers to Cross
(1995) 		Yard Movement
(1996) 		Echoes of Jilly's
(1996)

Yard Movement is an album by the Jamaican American musician Monty Alexander, released in 1996.[1][2] Alexander supported the album with a UK tour that included Ernest Ranglin; Alexander also undertook a North American tour.[3][4] With Ranglin's Below the Baseline, Yard Movement was the first album from Island Records' Island Jamaica Jazz label.[5] The album peaked at No. 25 on the Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart.[6] Alexander subsequently formed a band he named Yard Movement.[7]

Production

Three songs were recorded at the 1995 Montreux Jazz Festival.[8] "Exodus" is a combination of the "Theme of Exodus" with Bob Marley's "Exodus".[8] Lennox "Boogsie" Sharpe played steelpan on "Crying".[9] "Regulator" was inspired by Nat Adderley's "Work Song".[9] Ernest Ranglin played lead guitar on Yard Movement.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
The Guardian[11]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD[12]

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote that "a technical bravado and engaging emotionalism mark the eight compositions of Yard Movement, Alexander favoring ripening glissandos to achieve his notable effects."[13] The Guardian determined that Yard Movement "does capture much of the infectious appeal of his live shows, shows how effectively his improvising can avoid repetition when he's hot, and presents a crisp and energetic band."[11] The South Wales Evening Post noted that the album "demonstrates his early musical influences and social experiences."[14] The Houston Chronicle opined that Alexander "sounds like an herbally fortified cocktail pianist gone mad," and listed the album among the best of 1996.[15]

AllMusic wrote: "Essentially smooth bop laid in over heavy reggae basslines, the tracks on Yard Movement ... work surprisingly well, grooving and shifting directions with a deceptive ease, and Ranglin's bright, bubbly guitar is a continual delight throughout."[8]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Exodus"  
2."Regulator" 
3."Crying" 
4."Moonlight City" 
5."Love Notes" 
6."Momento" 
7."Strawberry Hill" 
8."Sneaky Steppers" 

References

  1. ^ Varga, George (8 Feb 1996). "Monty Alexander's music shows pride in his heritage". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 13.
  2. ^ Walker, Klive (2005). Dubwise: Reasoning from the Reggae Underground. Insomniac Press. p. 150.
  3. ^ Johnson, Phil (31 May 1996). "The man who invented reggae". Pop. The Independent. p. 13.
  4. ^ Scates, Darlene (Jun 20, 1996). "His jazz reveal Jamaica roots". South Bend Tribune. p. D8.
  5. ^ Shuster, Fred (21 June 1996). "Pop Beat". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L18.
  6. ^ "Monty Alexander". Official Charts. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  7. ^ Blumenthal, Bob (20 Mar 1998). "Monty Alexander's Roots Rhythm Party". The Boston Globe. p. C17.
  8. ^ a b c d "Yard Movement Review by Steve Leggett". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b Oumano, Elena (Jun 15, 1996). "Island label spotlights Jamaican jazz". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 24. p. 13.
  10. ^ Jackson, Michael (Mar 2001). "Playin' in the yard". DownBeat. Vol. 68, no. 3. pp. 52, 53.
  11. ^ a b Fordham, John (6 Sep 1996). "This week's Jazz CD releases". The Guardian. p. T19.
  12. ^ The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (7th ed.). Penguin Books. 2004. p. 22.
  13. ^ Kuelker, Michael (9 Jan 1997). "Monty Alexander Yard Movement". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 8.1.
  14. ^ Griffiths, David (Jun 14, 1996). "Now we can hear Monty on disc". Free Time. South Wales Evening Post. p. 2.
  15. ^ Mitchell, Rick (15 Dec 1996). "Year's Best CDs". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 8.
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