Monty Alexander Brings Jamaican Jazz to Hillside on Nov. 22

Monty Alexander, the Jamaican jazz pianist now in his 80s, brings his legendary artistry to Enlow Recital Hall in Hillside on Sunday, November 22, 2026, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. The concert showcases decades of musical innovation and introduces emerging talent to Union County audiences.

Alexander's career has been built on a groundbreaking fusion of jazz's complexities with ancestral Caribbean music. Working with guitarist Ernest Ranglin, Alexander and Ranglin made recordings over many decades that introduced the world to the Jamaican Ska movement—a sound that traveled throughout the Caribbean and beyond. Their work profoundly influenced artists including Bob Marley and Toots & the Maytals, shaping the trajectory of Caribbean popular music.

The November 22 concert features Hidalgo, a 17-year-old guitarist from New Jersey whom Alexander discovered. Hidalgo is heavily influenced by Ernest Ranglin and has already made a guest appearance with Alexander at the Blue Note in New York. Both Ranglin and Alexander have proclaimed Hidalgo "the new torchbearer of Jamaican Jazz," positioning the young musician as the next generation of this vital musical tradition.

Enlow Recital Hall is located at 215 North Avenue in Hillside. For tickets, email ticket@kean.edu or visit keanstage.com. Kean Stage can also be found on Facebook and Instagram at @keanstage.

FAQ

Q: Who is Monty Alexander?

A: Monty Alexander is a legendary Jamaican jazz pianist now in his 80s who has spent decades creating music that fuses jazz complexity with ancestral Caribbean musical traditions. Working with guitarist Ernest Ranglin, he helped introduce the Jamaican Ska movement to the world.

Q: What is the cultural significance of Monty Alexander's music?

A: Alexander's fusion of jazz with Caribbean music profoundly influenced major artists including Bob Marley and Toots & the Maytals. His collaborations with Ernest Ranglin shaped the trajectory of Caribbean popular music and established Jamaican Ska as a globally recognized sound.

Q: When is Monty Alexander performing in Hillside?

A: Alexander performs on Sunday, November 22, 2026, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Q: Where is the concert?

A: The concert is at Enlow Recital Hall, located at 215 North Avenue in Hillside, New Jersey.

Q: Who else is performing?

A: Hidalgo, a 17-year-old guitarist from New Jersey, is the featured guest. Hidalgo is heavily influenced by Ernest Ranglin and has performed with Alexander at the Blue Note in New York.

Q: Who is Hidalgo?

A: Hidalgo is a 17-year-old guitarist from New Jersey discovered by Monty Alexander. Heavily influenced by Ernest Ranglin's style, Hidalgo has already performed as a guest with Alexander at the Blue Note in New York and has been proclaimed by both Ranglin and Alexander as "the new torchbearer of Jamaican Jazz."

Q: What is "the new torchbearer of Jamaican Jazz"?

A: This phrase, used by both Monty Alexander and Ernest Ranglin, refers to Hidalgo as the emerging representative of the Jamaican Jazz musical tradition, positioning the young musician as the next generation carrying forward this vital musical legacy.

Q: How do I get tickets?

A: Tickets can be purchased by emailing ticket@kean.edu or visiting keanstage.com.

Q: Where can I find more information?

A: Kean Stage can be found on Facebook and Instagram at @keanstage for additional information and updates.

Q: What is the Jamaican Ska movement?

A: The Jamaican Ska movement is a musical tradition that blends jazz complexity with ancestral Caribbean music. Monty Alexander and Ernest Ranglin helped introduce this sound to the world through their recordings, and it profoundly influenced major artists and spread throughout the Caribbean and globally.