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Chris Montgomery

Chris Montgomery, a contemporary jazz guitarist has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious festival stages. Influenced by Pat Metheny, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Pat Martino, George Benson, the genius of Wes Montgomery, and Oscar Peterson, Chris fuses classic jazz with contemporary sensibilities. He is also heavily influenced by classical composers, Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Bach, Debussy, Ravel, and Astor Piazzolla.

musical experiences

Guitarist Chris Montgomery has performed internationally, including: the world famous Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, the DuMaurier Jazz Festival, Omni La Costa Resort, the Escondido Performing Arts Center, The California Center for the Arts, Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad. He has worked with such music luminaries as Joe Pass, Oscar Peterson, Phil Nimmons, Taj Mahal, Eric Marienthal, Willie Murillo, Becky Martin, Wayne Bergeron, Sammy Nestico and Rob McConnell. For many years Chris performed and directed the Coastal Cities Jazz Band and performed and directed the award winning Coastal Communities Concert Band.

the art

Chris has worked with many prominent stars including Sir Simon Rattle, Angela Gheorghiu, Joyce DiDonato, Yundi, Sarah Chang, Gabriela Montero, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, Ben Heppner and Alison Balsom. He was also responsible for EMI and RCA’s iconic catalogue of recordings, a collection that includes Maria Callas, Pablo Casals, Maurice Andrée, Sir Thomas Beecham, Andrée Previn, Herbert von Karajan Arthur Fiedler, Jascha Heifetz and Artur Rubinstein.

Chris has produced box-set anthologies including: 70 years of RCA Jazz, Julian Bream Collection and An Evening with the Boston Pops. He has received numerous industry awards including a Canadian Juno Nomination and Gold Records for recording that include: 2010 Vancouver Olympics Soundtrack, Ben Heppner’s “Great Tenor Arias” and Heppner “Sings Lohengrin”, The Chieftains and Yanni.

…most importantly, Chris loves music!

Awards

Artist Bio

February 13, 2020
IMA Nominee - Best Blues Song, "Shuffle Blues"
IMA Nominee - Best Jazz Instrumental Song, "With Love"
Best Jazz Producer - Chris Montgomery and David Whitman for "Soul Flow" David Whitman"

March 31, 2018 -
IMA Winner - Best Jazz Instrumental for David Whitman's "Oh, Clara!"
IMA Nominee - Best Jazz Producer

Gear

1967 Gibson Barney Kessel, D'Angelicos, Ibanez GB10, G&L Custom Tele, Henricksen Amp, Mesa Boogie Lone Star 2x12, Polytone Fusion

David Whitman: Ode To Joe

Read "Ode To Joe" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
October 10, 2023

While West Coast drummer David Whitman's Ode to Joe [Henderson] is a rather brief one at less than thirty-three minutes, it is otherwise admirable for what is enclosed within its concise parameters. Whitman leads a well-schooled septet whose makeup is freshened by rotating tenor saxophonists Bob Sheppard and Rob Lockart and guitarists Bruce Forman and Chris Montgomery. Whitman and trumpeter Andrew Neesley share composer credits, and Neesley handles the arrangements, awakening warm memories of the Golden Age ...

Album Review

David Whitman: Ode To Joe

Read "Ode To Joe" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
September 17, 2023

Dipping into this fine recording is, to mix metaphors a bit, like opening a time capsule. That capsule is called One For All (A&M, 1990), perhaps the final studio recording of Art Blakey with The Jazz Messengers. It was not a perfect outing, but it was a memorable one. The lines got into the head and stayed there, just waiting for a chance to be reawakened. Well, now is the time with Ode to Joe. A convenient link between the ...

Joe Pipino - "beautiful work!"

Randy Stahla: Animations & Soundscapes Producer - "Awesome music and arranging!"

Jersey Johnny Flora - "Greetings from the Jersey Shore, Montgomery plays Montgomery, Lovin' your sweet tone, Cariba is fabulous, I'll be back for more."