Monte Montgomery
Monte Montgomery
visit Monte's website
also on myspace
also available on amazon
This is a disc that will hopefully bring this guitarist/songwriter to the publics attention that he so deserves. On first listen the thing that might standout most is this is one of the most fluid, and virtuosity guitarist you have ever heard; who is clearly influenced by not only Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn but also Guy Clark and Bert Jansch. He is equally adept on both acoustic and electric guitar and his wizardry on both is astonishing. He was raised mostly in Texas by his folk singer mother, Maggie Montgomery, and in the late 90’s moved to Austin and by 2001 had won his 4th consecutive award as best acoustic guitarist at the Austin Music Awards at SXSW Festival.
On this disc he plays in a trio format with David Piggott on bass and Phil Bass on drums, and here again we have been bombarded with power trios, however this is power that is also tempered with taste and discretion and comes across entirely differently. His songwriting is almost overshadowed by his nimble fingers on the guitar and his use of the power at his command. However when you stop being amazed by his deftness and dexterity on guitar enough to listen to
the songs you will realize that he has also gathered to him that tradition of the Texas sing/songwriter storyteller. The tradition of building a song like Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and Robert Earl Keen and to have it coalesce into a touching story, be it about a friend losing it or love gone bad, the songs spin the tale so that it is poignant.
Be amazed by the agility and adroitness of his guitar playing and the tones and sounds he manages to bring forth from his instruments, but also take the time to listen to the stories he tells. This is an artist that should be heard and this is the vehicle that should take him to the wider acceptance and new audiences. This is a talent to be reckoned with and that deserves that wider audience.