Monty and Ernie - Musical brothers reunite for the children

With over six decades of countless shows, multiple albums, and a great friendship between them, pianist Monty Alexander and guitarist Ernie Ranglin will combine their musical prowess in a charity concert organised by the McCam Child Care and Development Centre.

Under the patronage of former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, businessman Glen Christian, and Earl Jarrett, general manager of Jamaica National, the concert takes place at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on July 1.

According to Executive Director of the McCam Child Care and Development Centre Dr Pauline Watson Campbell, "Having both artistes together on the same stage is indeed a rare treat, and we are, of course, thrilled to be able to present this fantastic concert to the Jamaican people but even happier that this will support the excellent and vital programme at the McCam Centre."

Alexander was last in Jamaica in 2016, headlining a special homecoming benefit show in aid of the University of the West Indies Global Giving Initiative. Ranglin, who turns 86 this year, has cut back on his performing and touring obligations but remains a vital and revered force in the industry. His last studio album, Bless Up, was released in 2014.

With more than 70 albums to his credit, Alexander has traversed a wide array of musical terrain, making the world smaller through music. He has also amassed an enviable list of friends and collaborators, having performed with some of the major figures in jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Sonny Rollins, Milt Jackson, Quincy Jones, Bobby McFerrin, and, of course, his long time friend and compatriot, Ranglin. Alexander's Harlem-Kingston Express Vol1 album, released in 2011, was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Reggae Album category, hailed for its blend of jazz and contemporary reggae strains.

Born into a musical family in Manchester, Ranglin took to the guitar from an early age and became more proficient once he heard the recordings of jazz guitar legends Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt.

TOURING THE CARIBBEAN

Moving to Kingston, he was lured by the then burgeoning dance-band scene of the day, joining first the Val Bennett Orchestra, before moving to the Eric Deans Orchestra touring around the Caribbean and as far north as The Bahamas, where he met the legendary Les Paul.

Ranglin made good use of those experiences to elevate his own career as a bandleader, leading his own quartets on the north coast where he impressed, among others, Chris Blackwell. That led to in-house work with Island Records and placed Ranglin in the front row of all Jamaica's significant pop music developments - from ska to reggae - including Millie Small's smash hit cover of My Boy Lollipop. Ranglin later served as musical director for Jimmy Cliff.

The McCam Centre, located in the quiet Hope Estate area of Papine, opened its doors some 30 years ago to provide an environment conducive to learning where children with special needs and those without can work and play together in an inclusive surrounding, allowing them to become aware of and sensitive to each other's needs.