Yard Movement
1996 studio album by Monty Alexander
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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 | ||||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Genre | Jazz, reggae | |||
| Label | Island Jamaica Jazz | |||
| Monty Alexander chronology | ||||
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Production
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
| 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
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Exodus"
| |
| 2. | "Regulator" | |
| 3. | "Crying" | |
| 4. | "Moonlight City" | |
| 5. | "Love Notes" | |
| 6. | "Momento" | |
| 7. | "Strawberry Hill" | |
| 8. | "Sneaky Steppers" |