Jack Montrose (December 30, 1928 – February 7, 2006) was a

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

tenor saxophonist and arranger. After attending college in Los Angeles, he worked with

Jerry Gray Jerry Don Gray (born December 16, 1962) is an American football coach and former player who is the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). Gray played college footbal ...

and then Art Pepper. Montrose also did arrangements for Clifford Brown. He became known for

cool jazz Cool jazz is a style of modern jazz music that arose in the United States after World War II. It is characterized by relaxed tempos and lighter tone, in contrast to the fast and complex bebop style. Cool jazz often employs formal arrangements an ...

and/or

West coast jazz West Coast jazz refers to styles of jazz that developed in Los Angeles and San Francisco during the 1950s. West Coast jazz is often seen as a subgenre of cool jazz, which consisted of a calmer style than bebop or hard bop. The music relied rela ...

. Montrose was born in Detroit. Beginning in the mid-1950s Montrose's heroin addiction became a liability and by the time he had overcome it his style of jazz was no longer popular. This led him to play in strip joints for a time until he relocated to

Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

where he worked in casinos. Montrose returned to recording in 1977 and in 1986 had some success in collaboration with

Pete Jolly Pete Jolly (born Peter A. Ceragioli Jr., June 5, 1932 – November 6, 2004) was a two-time Grammy-nominated American West Coast jazz pianist and accordionist. He is known for his performance of television themes and movie soundtracks. Biogr ...

All Music AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

/ref> Jack Montrose (West Coast Jack) is not to be confused with tenorist J.R. Monterose (East Coast Jake) who played on Charles Mingus's album '' Pithecanthropus Erectus''. He died in Las Vegas.

Discography

As leader

*''

Arranged by Montrose ''Jack Montrose Sextet'' is an album by saxophonist Jack Montrose recorded in 1954 for the Pacific Jazz label.Bob Gordon Quartet / Clifford Brown Ensemble *''

Arranged/Played/Composed by Jack Montrose ''Arranged/Played/Composed by Jack Montrose'' is an album by saxophonist Jack Montrose recorded in 1955 for the Atlantic label.

'' (Atlantic, 1955) with Bob Gordon *''

Jack Montrose Sextet ''Jack Montrose Sextet'' is an album by saxophonist Jack Montrose, recorded in 1955 for the Pacific Jazz label.Blues and Vanilla'' (RCA Victor, 1956) with

Red Norvo Red Norvo (born Kenneth Norville; March 31, 1908 – April 6, 1999) was an American musician, one of jazz's early vibraphonists, known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone as jazz instruments. His reco ...

*'' The Horn's Full'' (RCA Victor, 1957) *'' Spread a Little Joy'' (Slingshot, 1987) - The Jack Montrose &

Quartet *'' Live at Capozzoli's'' (Hindsight, 1999) - The Jack Montrose Quintet with Ron Stout, Ross Tompkins, Richard Simon, Paul Kreibich

As sideman

With Chet Baker *'' Grey December'' (Pacific Jazz, 1953

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*'' The Trumpet Artistry of Chet Baker'' (Pacific Jazz, 1953–54) *''

Chet Baker & Strings ''Chet Baker & Strings'' is an album by jazz trumpeter Chet Baker recorded in late 1953 and early 1954 and released on the Columbia label.Elmer Bernstein *"

The Man with the Golden Arm ''The Man with the Golden Arm'' is a 1955 American drama film with elements of film noir directed by Otto Preminger, based on the novel of the same name by Nelson Algren. Starring Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak, Arnold Stang and ...

" (Decca, 1956) With Frank Butler *''

The Stepper ''The Stepper'' is an album by drummer Frank Butler which was recorded in 1977 and released on the Xanadu label.Fitzgerald, M.Frank Butler discography accessed May 2, 2014 Reception The Allmusic review recommended the album awarding it album 4 ...

'' (Xanadu, 1977) With

Shelly Manne Sheldon "Shelly" Manne (June 11, 1920 – September 26, 1984) was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, sw ...

*''

Concerto for Clarinet & Combo ''Concerto for Clarinet & Combo'' (full title ''Premiere Recording of Concerto for Clarinet & Combo by Bill Smith, with the Composer on Clarinet, & Bags' Groove, Sophisticated Rabbit, My Old Flame'') is an album by drummer Shelly Manne's group She ...

'' (Contemporary, 1957) With Art Pepper *'' Surf Ride'' (Savoy, 1952-1954 956 With

Shorty Rogers Milton "Shorty" Rogers (born Milton Rajonsky; April 14, 1924 – November 7, 1994) was an American jazz musician, one of the principal creators of West Coast jazz. He played trumpet and flugelhorn and was in demand for his skills as an arrang ...

*'' Shorty Rogers Plays Richard Rodgers'' (RCA Victor, 1957) *''

Portrait of Shorty ''Portrait of Shorty'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter composer and arranger Shorty Rogers which was released on the RCA Victor label in 1958. Reception Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars. On All About Jazz Jack Bowers stated "there’s p ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1957) With

Mel Torme Mel, Mels or MEL may refer to: Biology * Mouse erythroleukemia cell line (MEL) * National Herbarium of Victoria, a herbarium with the Index Herbariorum code MEL People * Mel (given name), the abbreviated version of several given names (including ...

*'' Mel Torme Sings Fred Astaire'' (Bethlehem, 1956)

References

1928 births 2006 deaths Musicians from Detroit Cool jazz saxophonists Cool jazz arrangers Jazz tenor saxophonists American music arrangers 20th-century American saxophonists Jazz musicians from Michigan American jazz saxophonists {{US-jazz-saxophonist-stub ja:J.R.モンテローズ