The key man
Pianist Monty Alexander to headline Oregon Coast Jazz Party
By Gretchen Ammerman
Oregon Coast TODAY
Monty Alexander makes people smile. Whether it’s listening to the lovely lilt of his soft Jamaican accent as he spins one of his well-told tales or to the music he creates playing piano with the same joy he still has after 50 years at the keys, his happiness is infectious.
Alexander is this year’s headliner at the 18th annual Oregon Coast Jazz Party taking place at the Newport Performing Arts Center on Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1.
“I like to say my music is to lift the spirit,” he said. “We’re here to share our gifts with people and hopefully spread some joy.”
This is not Alexander’s first time at the party.
“I’m looking forward to seeing some of the familiar faces,” he said. “I love the sea, but it was mostly the word ‘party’ where jazz is the focal point that really got me.”
The fact that he is back for the second time as a performer is a good sign for first-time guests.
“I’m lucky that at this point in my career I can pick and choose where I go next,” said the very busy musician. “If I can’t have fun, I find a way to get out of it.”
A Grammy winner, Alexander was also recently awarded his birth-country’s national honor, the Order of Jamaica.
“Growing up where and when I did and being interested in music was like being a kid in a candy store,” he said. “I didn’t go to music school, I just learned by listening and trying to play the things I liked hearing.”
When he was 17, he moved with his family to Florida, and it wasn’t long before a chance encounter changed his life.
“I was getting gigs in the bars and the clubs and one night, Frank Sinatra saw me play and he liked what he heard enough that he invited me to go back with him to New York. I really liked it there and ended up getting gigs all over the place. I was the kid around all these older musicians — now I’m the older musician around younger kids, but I’m still having just as much fun.”
Alexander’s repertoire spans a broad range of musical expression: the American songbook and the blues, gospel and bebop, calypso and even reggae.
Encouraged by a friend, Alexander dipped a toe into a new musical pool, which ended up in his latest album, “Love Notes.”
“I’ve made over 70 albums but this is the first time I’ve embarked on the singing road,” he said before admitting that, though the reviews were good, he’ll likely stick to the piano. “Unless it’s an established singer, people would rather just hear the instrument.”
Regardless of how he is creating music, it’s a good thing for his audiences.
“Most of the time when I play people start smiling,” he said. “I can’t explain why. Music is a natural healing force; it changes your mood for the better. I’ve always been a practitioner of that, and I’m still having a ball doing it.”
Joining Alexander at this year’s party are a roster of artists from near and far and with a variety of musical backgrounds.
Ken Peplowski will be the master of mixing and matching 17 jazz stars to make the on-stage magic happen. He will also be joining the party with his clarinet and saxophone.
Jazz party musicians also include local favorites like classically trained flutist Holly Hofmann, who became the event’s music director in 2007.
The Central Coast Jazz Alliance, with John Bringetto on trumpet, local brew-master Matt White on the sax, Greg Berton on bass and Dr. Sandy Schaefer on percussion, will proudly represent Lincoln County.
From Portland, Steinway artist Randy Porter, a Northwest jazz performer and instructor at Lewis and Clark College, will be playing piano.
Performing musicians traveling to Newport from the current New York jazz scene include drummer Jason Brown, bassist Luke Sellick, saxophonist Roxy Coss and renowned trumpeter and educator Terell Stafford.
Along with up-and-coming artists, audiences will be treated to venerable jazz masters. Pianist Mike Wofford got his start in the 1960s LA jazz scene and has performed with Quincy Jones, Chet Baker and Sergio Mendez. And long-time event favorite Lewis Nash returns on the drums. Joining on bass will be Grammy-winning performer, composer, arranger, educator and producer John Clayton, who has played with Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight and Queen Latifah.
Critically acclaimed singer Karla Harris will grace the stage with her nuanced and elegant sound, influenced by contemporary jazz, Latin, swing and the blues.
Each performance will feature five sets, plus a bonus set on Saturday night in which the entire line-up of musicians will play together.
Performances are Friday, Sept. 30, at 7 pm and Saturday, Oct. 1, at 2 pm and 7 pm. Individual tickets are $51.50 to $61.50 and VIP passes for all performances are $174. The Newport Performing Arts Center is located at 777 W. Olive Street. For more information and tickets, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-2787.