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Buddy Montgomery

An Amazingly Talented Muscian, Arranger and Composer- His music has been described as, Lyrical and fluid, with a warmth and grace that's hard to resist. Composer and arranger, pianist and vibraphonist, Buddy Montgomery's musical career has spanned nearly half a century. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Buddy was the youngest in a family of musical siblings. He was motivated to pursue a musical career by his older brothers, Thomas, Monk and Wes. But it was his sister Lena's piano playing that inspired Buddy to play the piano. Thomas, who died in his teens, was a drummer; Monk, a bassist; and Wes, a guitarist.

By the age of 18, Buddy was on the road with Big Joe Turner, a well-known blues singer. Upon returning home, he continued to work with his brothers and other Indianapolis musicians. Indianapolis was a hotbed of musical talent at that time and Buddy's biggest inspiration was a pianist by the name of Erroll Grandy.

In 1951, Buddy was drafted and served two years in the Army. Because he didn't read music, he was not allowed in the Army band. After his discharge, Buddy joined the Hampton Family band and worked at the Cotton Club in Cincinnati. He then returned to Indianapolis to join his brothers Monk and Wes, and two other musicians, Robert (Sonny) Johnson and Alonzo (Pookie) Johnson, forming the Montgomery Johnson Quintet.

Buddy has appeared with, recorded with, or arranged musical scores for most of the jazz greats, including George Shearing, Cannonball Adderly, Johnny Griffin, Ron Carter, John Coltrane and Wynton Kelly. He joined the Miles Davis Sextet in 1960. His stay with Miles was short because Buddy's fear of flying caused him to leave the band and his luggage just as their airplane started to taxi down the runway for a European tour. Throughout the 60's, Wes, Monk and Buddy, worked together whenever they could. They were on the road together in 1968 when Wes died of a heart attack at the early age of 45.

After that Buddy moved to Milwaukee, where he lived and worked for the next 12 years. He worked at two of Milwaukee's prestigious hotels, the Marc Plaza (now Hilton) in the Bombay Bicycle room and the Pfister Hotel. He formed the "Buddy Montgomery Trio" and because of his extraordinary ear for detecting talent he enlisted bassist Jeff Chambers and Sam Belton. Later Buddy expanded his trio to quartet to include new drummer "Killer" Ray Appleton and Duma Saafir on percussions. At times this group was expanded even further to a sextet.

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Album Review

Harold Land: Westward Bound!

Read "Westward Bound!" reviewed by Peter J. Hoetjes


One can't help but wonder how large the stage may have been for tenor saxophonist Harold Land had he not tethered himself to the west coast for the majority of his career. In 1954 Land moved from Santa Monica to Los Angeles and quickly earned himself a place in the immensely popular Clifford Brown/Max Roach band, beginning with the aptly named Jam Session (EmArcy, 1954). Called back to Los Angeles in 1956 by the responsibilities of being a ...

10
Album Review

Harold Land: Westward Bound!

Read "Westward Bound!" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


Until 1954 Harold Land was a relatively unknown tenor saxophonist. He experienced a surge in his standing with the release of Clifford Brown & Max Roach (Emarcy 1954) when he was part of this high-profile, but short lived, bebop quintet (1954-56). A decade later, this hard-bop player was recognized for his engaging ideas and robust tone and is the center of Westward Bound! a Reel To Real Limited Edition 180 gram 2LP gatefold release produced by Cory Weeds and Zev ...

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Music and the Creative Spirit

Buddy Montgomery Jazz Legacy Project Benefit & Concert

Read "Buddy Montgomery Jazz Legacy Project Benefit & Concert" reviewed by Walter Atkins


Buddy Montgomery Jazz Legacy Project Benefit & Concert Hillside Club Berkeley California September 10, 2016 The sold out first annual Buddy Montgomery Jazz Legacy Project Awards Benefit and Concert (BMJLP) was an exquisite evening that fulfilled the long held vision of Charles “Buddy" Montgomery. It recognized well deserving Bay Area veteran artists like Jeff Chambers and John Santos, and also championed rising young jazz talent. The high lights included the BMJLP award presentations ...

158
Album Review

Buddy Montgomery: Here Again

Read "Here Again" reviewed by Joel Roberts


Buddy Montgomery, the youngest and sole surviving Montgomery brother, is a musician ripe for rediscovery. Since achieving major success in the 1960s with the Montgomery Brothers band, and (along with brother Monk on bass) backing brother Wes on some of the guitar great's most popular albums, Buddy has been heard from only occasionally. His new trio album on Sharp Nine Records, Here Again, shows him still in fine form both as a composer and gently swinging pianist.

Montgomery is from ...

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228

Obituary

Buddy Montgomery Jazz Pianist and Vibraphonist Dies

Buddy Montgomery Jazz Pianist and Vibraphonist Dies

Source: Michael Ricci

Buddy Montgomery, a jazz pianist and vibraphonist best known for his work with the guitarist Wes Montgomery, his older brother, died on May 14 at his home in Palmdale, Calif. He was 79.

The cause was a heart attack, said his granddaughter Mykah Montgomery.

Mr. Montgomery and another brother, the bassist Monk Montgomery, were members of Wes Montgomerys quartet on and off during the 1960s. They first worked with him when he was critically acclaimed but little known outside the ...

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Obituary

Buddy Montgomery is Gone

Buddy Montgomery is Gone

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

We did not intend Rifftides to be an obituary service. It would be simpler to avoid its seeming like one if treasured musicians would stick around. We cannot ignore their passing.

The latest loss is Buddy Montgomery, who died today at the age of 79. The youngest of the Montgomery brothers, he outlived guitarist Wes and bassist Monk by many years. Admired among musicians for his creativity as a pianist and vibraharpist, his example affected a number of younger players. ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Westward Bound!

Reel to Real
2021

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Here Again

Sharp Nine Records
1997

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Live at Maybeck...

Bizarre Planet Entertainment
1992

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