Yard Movement
| Yard Movement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Genre | Jazz, reggae | |||
| Label | Island Jamaica Jazz | |||
| Monty Alexander chronology | ||||
| ||||
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
[edit]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
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| 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
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Exodus"
| |
| 2. | "Regulator" | |
| 3. | "Crying" | |
| 4. | "Moonlight City" | |
| 5. | "Love Notes" | |
| 6. | "Momento" | |
| 7. | "Strawberry Hill" | |
| 8. | "Sneaky Steppers" |
References
[edit]- ^ Varga, George (8 Feb 1996). "Monty Alexander's music shows pride in his heritage". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 13.
- ^ Walker, Klive (2005). Dubwise: Reasoning from the Reggae Underground. Insomniac Press. p. 150.
- ^ Johnson, Phil (31 May 1996). "The man who invented reggae". Pop. The Independent. p. 13.
- ^ Scates, Darlene (Jun 20, 1996). "His jazz reveal Jamaica roots". South Bend Tribune. p. D8.
- ^ Shuster, Fred (21 June 1996). "Pop Beat". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L18.
- ^ "Monty Alexander". Official Charts. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Blumenthal, Bob (20 Mar 1998). "Monty Alexander's Roots Rhythm Party". The Boston Globe. p. C17.
- ^ a b c d "Yard Movement Review by Steve Leggett". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ a b Oumano, Elena (Jun 15, 1996). "Island label spotlights Jamaican jazz". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 24. p. 13.
- ^ Jackson, Michael (Mar 2001). "Playin' in the yard". DownBeat. Vol. 68, no. 3. pp. 52, 53.
- ^ a b Fordham, John (6 Sep 1996). "This week's Jazz CD releases". The Guardian. p. T19.
- ^ The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (7th ed.). Penguin Books. 2004. p. 22.
- ^ Kuelker, Michael (9 Jan 1997). "Monty Alexander Yard Movement". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 8.1.
- ^ Griffiths, David (Jun 14, 1996). "Now we can hear Monty on disc". Free Time. South Wales Evening Post. p. 2.
- ^ Mitchell, Rick (15 Dec 1996). "Year's Best CDs". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 8.