*** MONTY ALEXANDER’S IVORY & STEEL, “To the Ends of the Earth,” Concord

This is the third recording from Alexander’s Ivory & Steel combination, which juxtaposes the pianist’s Oscar Peterson-like fast fingers against the steel drums of Derek Dicenzo. The Jamaican-born Alexander, 52, has labored for decades in Peterson’s shadow, but he actually has a powerful musical personality of his own, rooted in sunny Caribbean rhythms and intensified by a talent for inventing flowing, melody-rich improvisations.

The fun tracks here are a funky rendering of Bob Marley’s reggae classic “One Love” and a bouncy romp through Benny Golson’s “Killer Joe” (complete with opening narrative). But the unusual timbral sound of the piano-steel drums interaction is also gently romantic on “September Song,” “Body and Soul” and “When I Fall in Love,” and more upbeat and outgoing in the rhythms of “Island Ray” and “Mangorengue.”

In addition to Alexander’s consistently provocative playing, there is ebullient soloing from alto saxophonist Antonio Hart and trombonist Steve Turre (who is curiously uncredited). Nothing complicated here, but overflowing with plenty of easygoing, foot-tapping tropical jazz sounds.

*

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