The Montgomery Brothers

Buddy and Monk Montgomery, along with their more celebrated brother Wes, rivaled the Heath family as jazz's most prolific family act. Pianist/vibraphonist Buddy (1930-2009), bassist Monk (1921-1982), and guitarist Wes (1923-1968) played together in two well-known and other lesser-known groups. Monk was the first jazz musician to specialize on and record with the electric bass, which he began playing in the early '50s on tour with Lionel Hampton's big band. Buddy was a soulful, underrated pianist and vibist, effective in bebop, hard bop, blues, or soul-jazz situations. The thre...