Monty Alexander - Rass! (1974) [Remastered 2014]

Oscar Peterson recommended Monty Alexander to his German friend and MPS label owner Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer. The 17-year-old Alexander had emigrated from Jamaica to the United States and immediately caused a furor as a piano wunderkind. Over the next years, he recorded several albums at MPSs Villingen studio. Alexander eventually returned home to play music with the kids he had grown up with. Out of this grew an album that combined soul and jazz with Caribbean folklore: Rass. With its origin in Kingston, the word is a Caribbean expletive used for emphasis in virtually any situation. Since there were three percussionists taking care of the necessary rhythmic needs, Alexander found it necessary to switch to a Fender-Rhodes electric piano. Guitarist Ernest Ranglin is also on hand for the Jamaican recording session.