D-DAY (Ref. PW1013)

Une expérience inouïe de liberté
Le 6 juin 2024, le débarquement de Normandie et Monty Alexander célèbreront leurs 80 ans.
Une concordance historique très symbolique dont le grand musicien se saisit naturellement en se souvenant aussi que le nom qu'on lui a donné (Montgomery) est un hommage au fameux général libérateur.
Enregistré principalement au Studio Sextan en octobre 2023, D-Day rassemble la quintessence de deux séances fleuves. On y entend un Monty Alexander plus introspectif qu'à l'habitude, sûr du temps à prendre pour atteindre la note juste, celle qui arrive seulement avec le sentiment de l'assurance.
Avec les jeunes et brillants Luke Sellick et Jason Brown, sa rythmique actuelle, il trouve des partenaires à l'unisson de ses digressions harmoniques et rythmiques, en fusion totale, et toujours transpercés par le beat entêtant du reggae et le balancement contagieux du swing.
Plus que jamais, Monty Alexander joue «à l'oreille », spontanément. Et c'est bien là le privilège de certaines grandes oreilles de pouvoir accéder à une liberté d'expression totale.

An Incredible Experience of Freedom
June 6, 2024, will mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings. It's also the day Monty Alexander turns 80. A highly symbolic historical concordance which the great musician naturally embraces, since the name he was given pays homage to General Montgomery, the famous liberator.
The album D-Day is the fruit of intertwining friendships and artistic collusion often observed between Monty Alexander, the French touring agency V.O Music, and the label PeeWee!
It contains a number of iconic compositions written in wartime and original tracks:
*I'll Never Smile Again, written in 1939, a Frank Sinatra hit throughout the Second World War.
*Smile, written by Charlie Chaplin for his film Modern Times in 1936: "Smile, though your heart is aching, Smile, even though it's breaking, When there are clouds in the sky, You'll get by."
*D-Day (Just Wait), Why (that's why), River of Peace, Restoration... are Alexander's compositions inspired by the conflict and its extraordinary ending. On them he explores feelings triggered by this unique period, the heroism of the combatants, hope for a fresh beginning, renewed trust in other people and the sense of sacrifice.
Recorded for the most part at Studio Sextan in October 2023, D-Day captures the quintessence of two long sessions. We hear an Alexander more introspective than usual, sure of the time needed to reach the right note, the one that only comes with a feeling of self-assurance.
With the brilliant young Luke Sellick and Jason Brown, his current rhythm section, he has found partners in unison, in total fusion, with his harmonic and rhythmic digressions, always spiked with the intoxicating beat of reggae and the contagious sway of swing.
More than ever before, Monty Alexander plays spontaneously "by ear"; and that is truly the privilege of certain great ears who are able to attain a total freedom of expression.