Monte Rex Budwig (December 26, 1929 – March 9, 1992) was a West Coast jazz double bassist, professionally known as Monty Budwig.

Early life

Monte Rex Budwig was born in

Pender, Nebraska Pender is a village in Thurston County, Nebraska, United States. On March 22, 2016, the United States Supreme Court resolved a disagreement as to whether Pender is located on the Omaha Indian Reservation, holding unanimously that "the disputed l ...

, on December 26, 1929.His full birthname was Monte Rex Budwig, although he performed and recorded as Monty Budwig. His parents were musical. He began playing bass during high school, and continued in military bands while he was enlisted in the

Air Force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...

for three years.

Later life and career

In 1954, Budwig moved to Los Angeles and performed and recorded under the name Monty Budwig with jazz musicians including

Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpre ...

, Barney Kessel,

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

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 ...

, and

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 ...

. Budwig played with pianist

Vince Guaraldi Vincent Anthony Guaraldi (; né Dellaglio, July 17, 1928 – February 6, 1976) was an American jazz pianist best known for composing music for animated television adaptations of the ''Peanuts'' comic strip. His compositions for this series includ ...

in the 1960s, including on the pianist's album ''

Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus ''Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus'' is the third album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi (credited to the Vince Guaraldi Trio), released in 1962 on Fantasy Records. It is considered Guaraldi's breakthrough album and made him a household ...

''. Budwig was part of Benny Goodman's band for performances in New York, and a tour of Japan in 1964. He also began his career as a studio musician in the 1960s, which encompassed film and television shows, with

Steve Allen Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was an American television personality, radio personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. In 1954, he achieved national fame as the co-cre ...

, Johnny Carson,

Merv Griffin Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 he hosted his own t ...

and

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in '' The ...

. Budwig taught jazz bassist Scott Colley, then a teenager. Budwig toured Australia with Goodman in 1973. He made another international tour in 1974, this time to South America with Carmen McRae. His one recording as a leader was ''Dig'', for

Concord Records Concord Records is an American record label owned by Concord and based in Los Angeles, California. Concord Records was launched in 1995 as an imprint designed to reach beyond the company's foundational Concord Jazz label. The label's artists have ...

. He died of liver cancer at home in

Eagle Rock, Los Angeles Eagle Rock is a neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles, abutting the San Rafael Hills in Los Angeles County, California. Eagle Rock is named after Eagle Rock (geographic point), Eagle Rock, a large boulder whose shadow resembles an eagle.http://ww ...

, on March 9, 1992. He had a son, Darin, with his first wife. He married his second wife, Arlette McCoy, in 1977. His stepson, Dean McCoy, is a teacher and drummer. Arlette McCoy Budwig, a jazz pianist and teacher, died in 2013.Gourse, Leslie, (1995), ''Madame Jazz: Contemporary Women Instrumentalists'', Oxford University Press, p. 242,

Discography

As leader

*''Dig'' (Dobre Records DR1057, 1978)

As sideman

With

Toshiko Akiyoshi is a Japanese–American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. Akiyoshi received fourteen Grammy Award nominations and was the first woman to win Best Arranger and Composer awards in '' Down Beat'' magazine's annual Readers' Poll. ...

*''

Finesse In contract bridge and similar games, a finesse is a type of card play technique which will enable a player to win an additional trick or tricks should there be a favorable position of one or more cards in the hands of the opponents. The player a ...

'' (Concord, 1978) With Chet Baker and

Bud Shank Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank Jr. (May 27, 1926 – April 2, 2009) was an American alto saxophonist and flautist. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s playing lead alto and flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra and thro ...

*'' Theme Music from "The James Dean Story"'' (World Pacific, 1956) With

Gary Burton Gary Burton (born January 23, 1943) is an American jazz vibraphonist, composer, and educator. Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the prevailing two-mallet technique. This approach caused him to be he ...

*''

3 in Jazz ''3 in Jazz'' is an album released on the RCA label which features tracks from three separate sessions by vibraphonist Gary Burton's Quartet, Sonny Rollins & Co. and the Clark Terry Quintet recorded in 1963.Herb Alpert Herb Alpert (born March 31, 1935) is an American trumpeter who led the band Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in the 1960s. During the same decade, he co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss. Alpert has recorded 28 albums that have landed on the ...

*''

Midnight Sun The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the summer months in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle, when the Sun remains visible at the local midnight. When the midnight sun is seen in the Arctic, ...

'' (A&M 1992) 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) *'' Wheelin' and Dealin''' (Xanadu, 1978) With

Conte Candoli Secondo "Conte" Candoli (July 12, 1927 – December 14, 2001) was an American jazz trumpeter based on the West Coast. He played in the big bands of Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, and Dizzy Gillespie, and in Doc Severinsen's NBC Orc ...

*'' Conte Candoli Quartet'' (Mode, 1957) *''Sweet Simon'' (Best Recordings 1992) With Betty Carter *'' 'Round Midnight'' (Atco, 1963) With June Christy *''

Do-Re-Mi "Do-Re-Mi" is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical ''The Sound of Music''. Each syllable of the musical solfège system appears in the song's lyrics, sung on the pitch it names. Rodgers was helped in its creation by long-time ...

'' (Capitol, 1961) – with Bob Cooper With Rosemary Clooney *'' Everything's Coming Up Rosie'' (Concord, 1977) *''

Rosie Sings Bing ''Rosie Sings Bing'' is a 1978 studio album by the American jazz singer Rosemary Clooney, recorded in tribute to Bing Crosby, who had died the previous year. The album was the second Clooney made for Concord Records. Clooney and Crosby recorded ...

'' (Concord, 1978) *'' Here's to My Lady'' (Concord, 1978) With

Bob Cooper (musician) Bob Cooper (December 6, 1925 – August 5, 1993) was a West Coast jazz musician known primarily for playing tenor saxophone, but also for being one of the first to play jazz solos on oboe. Career Cooper worked in Stan Kenton's band starting in 1 ...

*''For All We Know'' (Fresh Sound 1991) With

Sonny Criss William "Sonny" Criss (23 October 1927 – 19 November 1977) was an American jazz musician. An alto saxophonist of prominence during the bebop era of jazz, he was one of many players influenced by Charlie Parker. Biography William Criss wa ...

*''

I'll Catch the Sun! ''I'll Catch the Sun!'' is a jazz album by alto saxophonist Sonny Criss, recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Herb Ellis *'' Soft & Mellow'' (Concord, 1979) With Bill Evans *''

Empathy Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another's position. Definitions of empathy encompass a broad range of social, co ...

'' (Verve, 1962) – with

With Stan Getz *'' The Dolphin'' (Concord Jazz, 1981) *''

Spring Is Here "Spring is Here" is a 1938 popular song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the musical ''I Married an Angel'' (1938), where it was introduced by Dennis King and Vivienne Segal. Rodgers and Hart had previously written a so ...

'' (Concord Jazz, 1981

992 Year 992 ( CMXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Worldwide * Winter – A superflare from the sun causes an Aurora Borealis, with visibility as fa ...

With

*''

'' (Fantasy, 1962) *'' A Boy Named Charlie Brown'' (Fantasy, 1963) *'' Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown'' (Fantasy, 1964) *''

From All Sides ''From All Sides'' is a collaboration between pianist Vince Guaraldi and guitarist Bola Sete released in February 1965 by Fantasy Records. It was Guaraldi's seventh studio album and the second of three collaborations with Sete. Background Sever ...

'' (Fantasy, 1964) – with

Bola Sete Bola Sete (born Djalma de Andrade; July 16, 1923 – February 14, 1987) was a Brazilian guitarist who played jazz with Vince Guaraldi and Dizzy Gillespie. History Born Djama de Andrade in Rio de Janeiro, Sete was the only son of a family with ...

*'' A Charlie Brown Christmas'' (Fantasy, 1965) *'' It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: Music from the Soundtrack'' (Craft Recordings, 2018) With

Richie Kamuca Richie Kamuca (July 23, 1930 – July 22, 1977) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Musical career Kamuca was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and, like many players associated with West Coast jazz, grew up in the East befo ...

& Bill Holman * '' Jazz Erotica (West Coast Jazz in Hifi)'' (Fantasy 1959) With

Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

*'' Stan Kenton Plays for Today'' (Capitol, 1966) *'' The World We Know'' (Capitol, 1967) With Barney Kessel *''

Kessel Plays Standards ''Kessel Plays Standards'' (subtitled ''Barney Kessel Volume 2'') is an album by guitarist Barney Kessel released on the Contemporary label and featuring eight tracks originally released on the ''Barney Kessel Volume 2'' 10-inch album which were r ...

'' (Contemporary, 1954) *'' Some Like It Hot'' (Contemporary, 1959) With

Jimmy Knepper James Minter Knepper (November 22, 1927 – June 14, 2003) was an American jazz trombonist. In addition to his own recordings as leader, Knepper performed and recorded with Charlie Barnet, Woody Herman, Claude Thornhill, Stan Kenton, Benny Goo ...

*''

Jimmy Knepper in L.A. ''Jimmy Knepper in L.A.'' is an album led by trombonist Jimmy Knepper, recorded in 1977 and originally released in Japan on the Discomate label and in the United States on the Inner City label.Fitzgerald, MJimmy Knepper Leader Entryaccessed April ...

'' (Discomate, 1977) With Stan Levey *''Stan Levey Quintet'' (Vap 1957) With Julie London *'' All Through the Night: Julie London Sings the Choicest of Cole Porter'' (Liberty, 1965) With

Junior Mance Julian Clifford Mance, Jr. (October 10, 1928 – January 17, 2021), known as Junior Mance, was an American jazz pianist and composer. Biography Early life (1928–1947) Mance was born in Evanston, Illinois. When he was five years old, Mance st ...

*'' Straight Ahead!'' (Capitol, 1964) With

*'' Concerto for Clarinet & Combo'' (Contemporary, 1957) *''

The Gambit The Gambit is a recording Finnish musician, producer and composer. The Gambit debuted in Finland in 2005 with his single Move Gambit/Cos My Clique Is, which charted in the top 10 of the Finnish Singles Chart. As an artist composing, writing and ...

'' (Contemporary, 1958) *'' Shelly Manne & His Men Play Peter Gunn'' (Contemporary, 1959) *'' Son of Gunn!!'' (Contemporary, 1959) *'' At the Black Hawk 1'' (Contemporary, 1959) *''

At the Black Hawk 2 ''At the Black Hawk 2'' is a live album by drummer Shelly Manne's group Shelly Manne & His Men, recorded at the Black Hawk in San Francisco, California, in 1959 and released on the Contemporary label.At the Black Hawk 3'' (Contemporary, 1959) *'' At the Black Hawk 4'' (Contemporary, 1959) *'' At the Black Hawk 5'' (Contemporary, 1959 991 *'' My Son the Jazz Drummer!'' (Contemporary, 1962) *'' My Fair Lady with the Un-original Cast'' (Capitol, 1964) *''

Manne–That's Gershwin! ''Manne–That's Gershwin!'' is an album by drummer Shelly Manne featuring music by George Gershwin, recorded in 1965 and released on the Capitol label.

'' (Capitol, 1965) *''

Boss Sounds! ''Boss Sounds!'' (subtitled ''Shelly Manne & His Men at Shelly's Manne-Hole'') is a live album by drummer Shelly Manne recorded in 1966 and released on the Atlantic label.

'' (Atlantic, 1966) *''

Jazz Gunn ''Jazz Gunn'' (subtitled ''Shelly Manne & His Men Play Henry Mancini's music for the Film "Gunn"'') is an album by drummer Shelly Manne recorded in 1967, featuring music by Henry Mancini written for the motion picture '' Gunn'', and released on ...

'' (Atlantic, 1967) *''

Perk Up ''Perk Up'' is an album by the drummer Shelly Manne recorded in 1967, but not released until an issue on the Concord Jazz label in 1976.976 Year 976 ( CMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * January 10 – Emperor John I Tzimiskes dies at Constantinople, after re ...

With Charles McPherson *'' Free Bop!'' (Xanadu, 1978) With Lennie Niehaus * ''The Octet # 2 Vol. 3'' (Contemporary 1991) With Joe Pass *'' Live at Yoshi's'' (Pablo, 1992) *'' Nuages (Live at Yoshi's, vol. 2)'' (Pablo, 1997) With Art Pepper *'' Surf Ride'' (Savoy, 1952-1954 956 With Spike Robinson *''Reminiscin (Dedicated to Monty Budwig)'' (Capri 1992) With Spike Robinson and

Harry "Sweets" Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard bac ...

*''Jusa Bit 'O' Blues'' (Capri 1989) *''Jusa Bit 'O' Blues Vol. 2'' (Capri 1990) 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 ...

*'' Portrait of Shorty'' (RCA Victor, 1957) With

*'' The Incomparable Bola Sete'' (Fantasy, 1964) With

* '' California Concert'' (Contemporary, 1985) with

With

Zoot Sims John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 – March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor but also alto (and, later, soprano) saxophone. He first gained attention in the "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman's big ...

*'' Hawthorne Nights'' (Pablo, 1977) *''On The Korner'' (Pablo 1994) With Ira Sullivan * ''

Multimedia Multimedia is a form of communication that uses a combination of different content forms such as text, audio, images, animations, or video into a single interactive presentation, in contrast to tradit ...

'' (Galaxy Music, 1978

982 Year 982 ( CMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – Emperor Otto II (the Red) assembles an imperial expeditionary force at Tar ...

With

Supersax Supersax was an American jazz group, created in 1972 by saxophonist Med Flory and bassist Buddy Clark as a tribute to saxophonist Charlie Parker. The group's music consisted of harmonized arrangements of Parker's improvisations played by a saxoph ...

*''Supersax & L.A. Voices - The Complete Edition'' (CBS 1990) With

Cal Tjader Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. ( ; July 16, 1925 – May 5, 1982) was an American Latin Jazz musician, known as the most successful non-Latino Latin musician. He explored other jazz idioms, even as he continued to perform music of Afro-Jazz, ...

*'' Breathe Easy'' (Galaxy, 1977) With Sarah Vaughan *'' Sarah Vaughan with the Jimmy Rowles Quintet'' (Mainstream, 1974)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Budwig, Monty 1926 births 1992 deaths Cool jazz double-bassists American jazz double-bassists Male double-bassists West Coast jazz double-bassists People from Pender, Nebraska 20th-century American musicians Jazz musicians from Nebraska 20th-century double-bassists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians