Jazz Articles about Monk Montgomery

About Monk Montgomery

Album Review

Cal Tjader: Catch The Groove: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1967

Read "Catch The Groove: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1967" reviewed by Stefano Merighi

by Stefano Merighi
February 5, 2025

Ancora registrazioni inedite dal Penthouse di Seattle, ancora un impeccabile documento editoriale a cura di Zev Feldman, che recupera smaglianti esibizioni del vibrafonista Cal Tjader, datate 1963-1967. Tjader è figura anomala del panorama jazzistico, scomparso anzitempo nei primi anni '80, testimone di una rara versatilità stilistica, considerato un caposaldo da maestri come Terry Gibbs e Gary Burton (le loro note sono parte del consueto elegante libretto interno). Oltre ad avere buona padronanza del linguaggio swing e ...

Album Review

Cal Tjader: Catch The Groove: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1967

Read "Catch The Groove: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1967" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
November 17, 2023

It would be unusual to hear vibraphonist Cal Tjader mentioned alongside the all-time greats on his instrument. He is not remembered for being a fearless improviser like Bobby Hutcherson, or as deeply soulful as Milt Jackson, or as hard-swinging a presence as Lionel Hampton. Moreover, one will search in vain in his biography for the hard-fought personal struggles that have typically been the bread and butter of jazz legend: no tortured tales of substance abuse, or bouts with poverty or ...

Album Review

Harold Land: Westward Bound!

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

by Peter J. Hoetjes
July 24, 2021

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 ...

Album Review

Harold Land: Westward Bound!

Read "Westward Bound!" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
June 17, 2021

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 ...