* En anglais uniquement
The youngest of the three
Montgomery brothers,
Buddy Montgomery was a reliable, if underrated, vibraphonist and pianist. He became a professional in 1948 and the following year toured with
Big Joe Turner. He played piano with
Slide Hampton in his native Indianapolis, IN, served in the Army, and then was a member (on vibes) of the popular
Mastersounds with his bassist brother
Monk.
Buddy had a brief stint with
Miles Davis (playing vibes) in 1960 and frequently played with brothers
Wes and
Monk (under the leadership of guitarist
Wes) in the 1960s. He moved to Milwaukee, WI in 1969, becoming a local fixture and an educator. In the early '80s,
Montgomery moved to Oakland, CA, where he recorded for producer
Orrin Keepnews on Landmark and with the Riverside Reunion Band.
Montgomery's earliest dates as a leader were for World Pacific (1957), Fantasy,
Riverside, Milestone, and Impulse! (1969). His recordings during the ‘90s and 2000s included
Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol. 15 (1991, Concord Jazz), Icebreaker (2001, Staalplaat),
A Love Affair in Paris (2002, Space Time), and the Japanese release Remembering Wes (2006, Pony Canyon).
Buddy Montgomery outlived both his brothers; he died on May 14, 2009 at the age of 79. ~ Scott Yanow