Wikipedia

Yard Movement

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]

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)

Production

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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

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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

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

References

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  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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