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Karlene Phillips sits at her piano with some of the Monty Alexander albums she has accumu­ lated over the years. She also has a large collection of jazz cassettes. The Oakville pianist is Alexander's friend as well as an avid fan of his, and she is looking forward to his concert at the Oakville Jazz Festival on Saturday night in Towne Square. After the concert, which begins at 9 p.m., Phillips plans to party with the Jamaican-born jazz musician, his family and more of his Canadian friends. Photo by Barrie Erskine Saturday will be more than a night o f great music for one local resident M onty A lexander's O akville concert on Saturday is tid ed S tir It Up, a tribu te to Rob M ariey. H is m usic features a com bination o f origin als and o b t favourites a s w ed as a blend o f reggae an d jazz. By Carol Baldwin ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Jazz with a Caribbean flavour - unusual. But then that's what jazz is all about - individual interpretation. And Monty Alexander is known for his unconventional approach to music. He was never one to follow the rules, according to his longtime friend and Oakville resident Karlene Phillips. "He was trained the same way as I was, only I followed what my teacher taught me. He didn't," says Phillips. "He couldn't stay with the rigid style. I was taught to go by the book, and up to this day, I go by the book." Alexander and Phillips, both Jamaican born, have met in various nightclubs over the years - the former as a performer, the latter as a fan. And before long she was clipping out newspaper articles about the young musician, and creating a scrapbook. "He started his own band in Jamaica at age 13. Then he moved to Miami, and at 17 he had his own band in Miami. And at 18, he was employing the big musicians in New York. This guy's a real genius. He can do anything," says the 69-year- old Phillips with genuine admiration and adding that she would always go to see him play when she was visiting her adult children in Miami. "He was the cousin to my best friend here in Toronto...I ran into him in Jamaica too, when he was there...I definitely made a point of going to see him." So, due to her relationship with Alexander's cousin, the Oakville resi­ dent developed a personal relation­ ship with the Jamaican-born jazz pianist, diligently following his career and making sure she caught his act any time they were in the same area. "We're Jamaicans and every time Jamaicans see one another, they get together and chat," she explains with a broad smile. "We have a lot in com­ mon because he knows people that I know." They also have their love of music in common, jazz in particular. And they both tickle the ivories. Only Phillips says she only plays as a hobby, practising on a daily basis and playing the piano at seniors' functions and the organ at church, on occasion. "I always took (piano) lessons, but I listened to the teacher. He (Alexan­ der) was classically trained but he'd jazz up everything that he did. I know his mother was very upset about it." Mom has probably for­ given her son by now, a son who has worked with such greats as Natalie Cole, Clint Eastwood, and Quincy Jones. In 1993, Alexander performed at Carnegie Hall in a tribute to jazz pianist Erroll Garner, and he currently has over 50 CDs to his credit. "His playing has the emphatic beat of Jamaica's native musical styles and much of its extrovert vitality," says Phillips, noting his blend of original tunes with old favourites as well as the unique combination of reggae with the improvisation of jazz. "His work is, in a sense, a history of jazz piano." Alexander's unique jazz-reggae sound can be heard in his S t ir I t U p performance at the Oakville Jazz Fes­ tival on Saturday (July 10th) begin­ ning at 9 p.m. in Towne Square. Phillips, along with Alexander's relatives and friends from Toronto and Ajax, are planning to attend this performance, which is a tribute to Bob Mariey, and then party with him afterwards. asaInstrum ent The colourful picture of musical instruments that grace the front of this year's Oakville Jazz Festi­ val program was designed Paulette West. In fact, the Oakville artist says that much of her focus in painting has been music related. Through close observations, she has learned to appreciate the close, personal relationship between the musician and the musical instrument - one the extension of the other, and incomplete without the other. West says she chooses the instrument as a metaphor because its rep­ resentation is more objec­ tive and allows for greater freedom and interpretation of art work. For West, the adventure into visual arts began as a v metaphor in art docent/education program of Oakville Galleries, complemented by studies in the Fine Art Fundamen­ tals program at Sheridan College. And the Oakville artist continues to take workshops and seminars, which she feels are neces­ sary to the vitality and development of her work. Her art work has been exhibited in group shows in Oakville, Etobicoke and Burlington, and she is currently part of Oakville Galleries' Art Rental and Sales collection. In recent juried compe­ tition, one of her musical works was selected to be included in a Mississauga Symphony project. West says that being able to contribute to Oakville's Jazz Festival e true. The NEW Coliseum IMAM Theatre/ ' i i i u i i L i v ; u u i i « ) ( j u m i m t t f i i i i c a m ' MISSISSAUGA'S FIRST IMAM 3-D EXPERIENCE!/ ' ' s . _ ;J. \ * \ * I* • V .* " I IMTHiTHlC 3IMBCBWJ . V -- ---- rr. \ A G IA N T 3-D FILM EXPERIENCE \ ✓ " ...a wild ride of a movie..." " ...eye-popping effects from Terminator 2:3D, Dino Island..." *>\ayers 0 ------------------- "...has all the stuff kids go for..." r-REX BACK TO THE CRETACEOUS AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE FAMOUS PLAYERS I M A X T H E A T R I S - CALI NOW TOR TICKETS ~ The Coliseum Mississauga 309 Rathburn Road West - Square One IMAX' Advance Ticket Sales: [90S] 275-4748 ---------------www.famousplayers.com---------------- wm BHittAASiili H 8 full y Songs Sinatra Taught Me Saturday, July 10 at 2:00 p.m. For anyone who is a fan of "Old Blue Eyes", this show is not to be missed! Starring Tommy Ambrose singing classics such as "New York, New York", "Strangers in the Night" and many more! Presented in association with d lW 0 1250 Jesse Cook Saturday, August 7 at 8:00 p.m. | Don't miss this virtuoso guitarist whose I "fusion flamenco " style wows audiences from I coast to coast! Presented in association with r s b P OX*& V isit the b o x o ffice , 1 3 0 N o v y S tre e t (a t L o k e s h o re ), M o n d a y to F rid a y , n oo n to 5 p .m .; S a tu rd a y 2 to 5 p .m .; o r tw o h o u rs b e fo re sho w tim e . F o r m o re in fo rm a tio n on u p c o m in g show s e x p lo re o u r w e b site at by Affirmative Communications. ..... Tartan Terrors presents the 3rd Annual Ceilidh '99 (That's "Kay-Lee" for you English!) August 20 at 8:00 p.m. August 21 at 2:00 p.m & 8:00 p.m. Show includes Scottish Comedy, Pipes, Dance & Sword Play, with special guests The Rogues o f Scotland; Comedy Gravedigger, Barry Croaker; "Mr. Bones" Rowan Corbett; Sundance Studios and more! Become a B ig T icket M ember and $ave! For Just $30, you get: • savings of 20% on shows of your choice • first chance at best seats • special offers from local restaurants and retaUers Ask about our new BIG TICKET PLUS membership! T h e O a k v ille B ea v er ■ i WRmRmtm THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, July 7, 1999 fit to remember http://www.famousplayers.com By Carol Baldwin asa Instrument metaphor in art ' MISSISSAUGA'S FIRST IMAM 3-D EXPERIENCE! . V------ rr. \ "...a wild ride of a movie..." "...eye-popping effects from Terminator 2:3D, Dino Island..." "...has all the stuff kids go for..." r-REX BACK TO THE CRETACEOUS AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE IMAX Jesse Cook fit to remember