Monty Alexander in Villingen!
In December 2025, our non-profit association celebrated its anniversary around the listed MPS Studio celebrated its third anniversary with an extraordinary concert featuring the world-famous pianist Monty Alexander, accompanied by Luke Sellick on the double bass and Jason Brown on the drums.
Monty Alexander has a very special significance for Villingen. From the beginning of the 1970s, he took part in the Hans-Georg Brunner-Schwer numerous important albums for MPS Records on. He is therefore inextricably linked to the history of jazz in the Black Forest.
Monty Alexander: In 1976, he played a house concert at the Villa Brunner-Schwer with Jeff Hamilton (drums) and John Clayton (bass). He also performed with this line-up at the Montreux Festival. Photo: ©MPS-Studio e.V. / German Hasenfratz.
His visit thus became an emotional journey to the roots of his great career. Already on 12.12.2025 Monty Alexander visited the MPS studio and signed the guest book. Together with readers of the Südkurier he visited the listed studio and the association's archive rooms.
A look back at the roots of his career: Monty Alexander visiting the MPS studio, December 2025. Photos: MPS-Studio e.V.
In the archive rooms, we showed Monty sketches of record covers, photos, guest book entries and other museum items. Visibly moved to be part of this great story, the exceptional pianist took a lot of time for the visitors in the studio. Afterwards, his path led him to our neighbors: at the company REVOX, who supported us as a sponsor for this event, high-quality master tapes with titles by Monty Alexander will be produced.
A look back at the roots of his career: Monty Alexander visiting the MPS studio, December 2025. photos: © Hans Jürgen Götz
On Saturday, 13.12.2025, The time had come: guests from near and far made a pilgrimage to this special event in the packed New sound hall Villingen.
In the lounge of the Neue Tonhalle Rainer Trüby (Compost Records), DJ Miche (Mr. Bongo / London) and DJ Climbleather (Verve Club / Grains Berlin) before and after the concert with selected vinyl treasures for the right atmosphere.
How can this evening be described? Beautiful, atmospheric, emotional - and captivating.
The Südkurier wrote:
„And of course the evening was also a celebration of the MPS label and its musical heritage ... How was it all received by the audience? Helga Dengler says: ‚I haven't experienced anything this brilliant in Villingen for a very long time. And she was delighted that all age groups were represented in the audience. What a terrific jazz evening.“
We have nothing to add to this.
Monty Alexander in the Neue Villinger Tonhalle, December 2025. photos lounge: Sophia Schiller/Studio 29, photos concert: MPS-Studio e.V.