Buddy Montgomery

Among the three Montgomery brothers, Buddy ranked as the youngest and built a career as a steady yet underrecognized performer on vibraphone and piano. He turned professional in 1948, then spent the next year on the road with Big Joe Turner. After accompanying Slide Hampton on piano in his hometown of Indianapolis, IN, he fulfilled an Army enlistment before joining the popular Mastersounds on vibes alongside bassist brother Monk. In 1960 he appeared briefly with Miles Davis, again on vibes, and during the 1960s he regularly worked with both Wes and Monk under the guitarist’s direction. Relocating to Milwaukee, WI, in 1969, he became a steady presence on the local scene and took up teaching. Early in the 1980s Montgomery settled in Oakland, CA, where he recorded for Orrin Keepnews on the Landmark label and performed with the Riverside Reunion Band. His first sessions as a leader appeared on World Pacific in 1957, followed by dates for Fantasy, Riverside, Milestone, and Impulse! in 1969. Later releases from the 1990s and 2000s comprised Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol. 15 (1991, Concord Jazz), Icebreaker (2001, Staalplaat), A Love Affair in Paris (2002, Space Time), and the Japanese album Remembering Wes (2006, Pony Canyon). He survived both siblings and passed away on May 14, 2009, at the age of 79.