Home » Jazz Musicians » Barbara Montgomery

Barbara Montgomery

Barbara Montgomery has been making a life and a living in the entertainment field as a jazz vocalist, music industry executive, music producer and publisher, as well as working in production for film and television as a director/producer, film editor, camera operator, lighting director, property master and stage manager. She began performing as a jazz vocalist but took a detour in her music career by joining the NBC/Westinghouse television station that produced the “Mike Douglas Show”, working for that program and others. During this time she also freelanced, working on the seminal PBS series, “The Constitution: That Delicate Balance”, as well as touring as a lighting designer for international popular music groups. She was also the managing director of a major recording studio servicing the music, television, advertising and film businesses. After a twenty-year break to raise her children, she returned to her other passion, performing and recording as a jazz musician. Her relationship with Chick Corea and Neville Potter led to her third CD “Dakini Land” and was a springboard for the original songs on her fourth CD “Little Sunflower”. This endeavour blessed her with the gift of friendship, performance, and collaboration with the great jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. She has produced six CDs of her own, arranging and writing original material for four of them in collaboration with Steve Giordano (“Ask Me Now”), Barry Sames (“Dakini Land” and “Little Sunflower”) and Aaron Graves (“Trinity”). Her 2005 release, “Trinity” was co-produced with pianist Aaron Graves, whose short list includes work with Stanley Turrentine, Cassandra Wilson, Dakota Staton, the legendary Jimmy Scott, and Oscar Brown, Jr. Both “Little Sunflower” and “Trinity” were honored with the Blue Chip Award for Best Jazz Vocals by Dr. Herb Wong of the International Association of Jazz Educators. Her holiday CD, “Noel-One From the Heart”, a duet with pianist Tom Lawton, originator of Monkadelphia, was heralded as “a must for your holiday collection.” She was honored to co-produce the first solo CD for the great jazz bassist Lee Smith—“Sittin On A Secret”. This CD reached #13 on the National jazz charts, as well as making the Jazz Week Top 100 list for 2012. Ms. Montgomery has been Music Director for Richard Simmons since 1986. This has given her the opportunity to produce the music for over 25 exercise videos ranging from oldies to disco to Broadway to Latin music, working in studios from New York to Los Angeles with hundreds of world class studio musicians.

Read more

Tags

115
Album Review

Barbara Montgomery: Noel: One from the Heart

Read "Noel: One from the Heart" reviewed by Jim Santella


Barbara Montgomery sings this slow and somber program of Christmas songs with piano accompaniment in a manner suited to the spiritual meaning of this holiday season. It's a time for reflection, for giving, for sharing, and for being there when our loved ones need us. Her prayerful interpretations leave us with humble tidings that weigh heavily on the holiday mood. Forget about jingling bells, Santa Claus, and visions of sugar plums. Consider instead the responsibility that we all bear at ...

185
Album Review

Barbara Montgomery: Trinity

Read "Trinity" reviewed by George Harris


Along with the maternal instincts of Nnenna Freelon and Carmen Lundy, add Barbara Montgomery, who delayed a singing career to raise a family. Chalk one up for motherhood, as this CD of originals and '70s compositions reflects a woman with something to offer.

Equipped with a husky voice (think Benny Carter's alto with lyrics), Montgomery simmers through a set of moody, reflective, and serious pieces. Evoking emotions similar to Branford Marsalis' Eternity, Trinity is more a tone poem ...

150
Album Review

Barbara Montgomery: Trinity

Read "Trinity" reviewed by Stephen Latessa


Trinity is an ambitious affair. It definitely takes some gumption to fashion an album from five originals and works by Leonard Cohen, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, and Cahn/Styne and hope that it will all hold together. Oh, and did I mention there is a song in French, too?

Surprisingly, Philadelphia-based vocalist Barbara Montgomery and her main collaborator, Aaron Graves, do a fine job of making such a disparate group of sources sound like they are all of a ...

119
Album Review

Barbara Montgomery: Trinity

Read "Trinity" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


Trinity is a very dramatic and theatrical effort that thematically strives to present all aspects of the human spirit, both positive and negative. Singer Barbara Montgomery has a dramatic and theatrical presentation, and her smoky voice is a fine way to deliver her messages on many of these mournful songs. One can easily describe her as being a chanteuse who would most likely be performing in a cabaret setting. On the album's sole standard, “I Fall In Love Too Easily," ...

144
Album Review

Barbara Montgomery: Little Sunflower

Read "Little Sunflower" reviewed by Dave Nathan


With just two exceptions, Barbara Montgomery's new album relies entirely on her own compositions, many of which she collaborated on with her long time accompanist Barry Sames. The two exceptions are carry overs from her previous album Dakini Land which paid tribute to the compositions of Chick Corea and Neville Potter. The purpose of this album is one of providing therapy from the terrible events of September 11 and its aftermath. Consequently, the material on this session is very serious ...

202
Album Review

Barbara Montgomery: Dakini Land

Read "Dakini Land" reviewed by Dave Nathan


Barbara Montgomery, who has embraced Buddhism, takes the music and words of Chick Corea written mostly with Corea's long time collaborator Neville Potter, as well as her originals, and turns them into not only a tribute to Corea, but an exultation of a place in the Buddhist tradition, Dakini Land, a place in time that celebrates the female spirit. Montgomery and cohorts present musical themes designed to create images of possible experiences in this celestial place. There's happiness with a ...

142
Album Review

Barbara Montgomery: Dakini Land

Read "Dakini Land" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Barbara Montgomery’s recordings may not be retailed in vast quantities, and thus they may not be immediately available to listeners who enjoy enlightening jazz singing. But her latest recording, Dakini Land, is worth seeking. Perhaps suffering the ironic plight of Diana Krall--that is, that her physical appeal distracts from the perception of her inherent vocal talent--Montgomery leaves no doubt about the depth of her insight or commitment in this album, which focuses on the often overlooked vocal potential of Chick ...

Read more articles
1

Performance / Tour

Vocalist Barbara Montgomery In Collingswood NJ Thurs. May 2nd!

Vocalist Barbara Montgomery In Collingswood NJ Thurs. May 2nd!

Source: Jim Miller

Appearing at the Collingswood Community Center, 30 Collings Avenue in Collingswood, New Jersey on Thursday, May 2nd is singer Barbara Montgomery. Tickets are $10, $5 for students, and are available only at the door. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Information: 215-517-8337. Barbara Montgomery has been in the entertainment field for over 30 years as a music industry executive, publisher, producer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, and television producer. After working in a production capacity for the Mike Douglas Show, and later ...

103

Performance / Tour

Jazz Bridge Presents Barbara Montgomery in a New Series on October 5th (Kennett Square, PA)

Jazz Bridge Presents Barbara Montgomery in a New Series on October 5th (Kennett Square, PA)

Source: Suzanne Cloud

Opening the first season of a Jazz Bridge Neighborhood Concerts series on Wednesday, October 5th at the Kennett Flash, 102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, PA will be singer Barbara Montgomery with pianist Aaron Graves, bassist Lee Smith, and drummer Craig McIver. Barbara has been singing in the Philly area for many years, but her voice has taken her to many far flung places, playing festivals and concerts around the world. Her CDs have been critically acclaimed, e.g. Playboy's Guide to ...

78

Performance / Tour

Barbara Montgomery at Iridium Thursday October 27th 7pm

Barbara Montgomery at Iridium Thursday October 27th 7pm

Source: All About Jazz

October 25, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] Barbara Montgomery at Iridium Jazz Club Thursday October 27, 2005 at 7pm featuring Barbara Montgomery - vocals Tom Lawton - piano Steve Beskrone - bass Dan Monaghan - drums Barbara Montgomery website www.bjazz.com Thursday October 27 @ 7pm $20 Cover $15 Food/Beverage Min. Room opens at 6pm for Dinner for reservations call 212-582-2121 Iridium Jazz Club 1650 Broadway (W 51st) “...the ice crean blonde with the ...

80

Performance / Tour

Barbara Montgomery at Iridium Thursday October 27th 7pm

Barbara Montgomery at Iridium Thursday October 27th 7pm

Source: All About Jazz

October 4, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] Barbara Montgomery at Iridium Jazz Club Thursday October 27, 2005 at 7pm featuring Barbara Montgomery - vocals Tom Lawton - piano Steve Beskrone - bass Dan Monaghan - drums Barbara Montgomery website www.bjazz.com Thursday October 27 @ 7pm $20 Cover $15 Food/Beverage Min. Room opens at 6pm for Dinner for reservations call 212-582-2121 Iridium Jazz Club 1650 Broadway (W 51st) “...the ice crean blonde with the ...

62

Recording

Barbara Montgomery CD Release Event June 2nd 8PM at The Point Bryn Mawr, PA

Barbara Montgomery CD Release Event June 2nd 8PM  at The Point Bryn Mawr, PA

Source: All About Jazz

May 31, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] BARBARA MONTGOMERY CD Release Event Thursday, June 2, 8 PM The Point 880 W. Lancaster Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 www.atthepoint.com/ Celebrating The Release Of Her New CD TRINITY featuring Barbara Montgomery, vocals Aaron Graves, piano, Lee Smith, bass, Dan Monaghan, drums, Monette Sudler, guitar “Barbara Montgomery is a special sort of jazz singer—her unassuming musical intelligence, her emotional honesty, her refined taste in songs, are ...

79

Recording

Barbara Montgomery Returns To The Spotlight With Her New CD, "Little Sunflower"

Barbara Montgomery Returns To The Spotlight With Her New CD, "Little Sunflower"

Source: All About Jazz

With her compelling new CD, Little Sunflower, acclaimed jazz vocalist Barbara Montgomery continues an extraordinary and impassioned musical voyage of discovery toward the intrinsic connection of art and soul. Conceived as a therapeutic place, she says, “to put an avalanche of emotions," her new release celebrates courage, love and compassion with the same plenitude of elegance and enchantment that has long marked her performances and recordings, thus elevating her in the past few years to the top echelon of singer-songwriters ...

160

Music Industry

JAZZ VOCALIST BARBARA MONTGOMERY DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM CHICK COREA ON HER NEW CD, DAKINI LAND

JAZZ VOCALIST BARBARA MONTGOMERY DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM CHICK COREA ON HER NEW CD, DAKINI LAND

Source: All About Jazz

Described once as an “ice cream blond with a black coffee jazz voice," resplendent vocalist Barbara Montgomery announces the release of her most accomplished and spirited CD yet--Dakini Land, a 10-song collection centered on the evocative compositions of keyboard master Chick Corea. Produced by Montgomery along with her pianist and frequent collaborator, Barry Sames, Dakini Land features contributions from a host of stellar musicians, including trumpet-flugelhorn ace Terrell Stafford and violinist John Blake. Both Dakini Land and Montgomery's acclaimed 1999 ...

“Barbara Montgomery is a special sort of jazz singer—her unassuming musical intelligence, her emotional honesty, and her refined taste in songs...” - Frank John-Hadley, jazz critic, DownBeat/Jazziz “...think Benny Carter’s alto with lyrics...evoking emotions similar to Branford Marsalis’ Eternity...” - George Harris, All About Jazz "Find it, buy it, treasure it." —Chris Loudon , referring to Little Sunflower Noel, One From the Heart—"The perfect present for Christmas, this Christmas all the Christmases to follow. Barbara Montgomery's voice is like the sound of a 10 carats diamond gently touching the face a dreamy river..

Read more

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Trinity

Mr. Bean & Bumpy Music
2005

buy

Noel: One from the...

Mr. Bean & Bumpy Music
2005

buy

Little Sunflower

Mr. Bean & Bumpy Music
2002

buy

Dakini Land

Mr. Bean & Bumpy Music
2001

buy

Ask Me Now

Mr. Bean & Bumpy Music
2000

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.