Monty Budwig


Monte Rex "Monty" Budwig was a West Coast jazz double bassist.

Early life

Budwig was born in Pender, Nebraska, on December 26, 1926. The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz gives his full name as Monte Rex 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 for three years.

Later life and career

In 1954 Budwig moved to Los Angeles and went on to record and perform with many jazz musicians, including Carmen McRae, Barney Kessel, Woody Herman, Red Norvo, and Shelly Manne. Budwig played with pianist Vince Guaraldi in the 1960s, including on the album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus. 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, Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin and Judy Garland. 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. He died at home in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, on March 9, 1992. He was married to Arlette, and had a son, Darin. Arlette McCoy Budwig was a pianist and teacher and died in 2013.<>

Discography

As leader

With Herb Alpert
With Toshiko Akiyoshi
With Chet Baker and Bud Shank
With Gary Burton
With Joe Pass
With Frank Butler
With Conte Candoli
  • Conte Candoli Quartet
  • Sweet Simon
With Betty Carter
With June Christy
With Rosemary Clooney
With Sonny Criss
With Herb Ellis
With Richie Kamuca & Bill Holman
With Bill Evans
With Stan Getz
With Vince Guaraldi
With Stan Kenton
With Lennie Niehaus
  • The Octet # 2 Vol. 3
With Barney Kessel
  • Kessel Plays Standards
  • Some Like It Hot
With Jimmy Knepper
  • Jimmy Knepper in L.A.
With Junior Mance
  • Straight Ahead!
With Shelly Manne
  • Concerto for Clarinet & Combo
  • The Gambit
  • Shelly Manne & His Men Play Peter Gunn
  • Son of Gunn!!
  • At the Black Hawk 1
  • At the Black Hawk 2
  • At the Black Hawk 3
  • At the Black Hawk 4
  • At the Black Hawk 5
  • My Son the Jazz Drummer!
  • My Fair Lady with the Un-original Cast
  • Manne–That's Gershwin!
  • Boss Sounds!
  • Jazz Gunn
  • Perk Up
With Stan Levey
  • Stan Levey Quintet
With Julie London
With Charles McPherson
With Spike Robinson
With Spike Robinson and Harry "Sweets" Edison
With Art Pepper
With Shorty Rogers
With Bola Sete
With Bud Shank
With Bob Cooper
With Zoot Sims
With Ira Sullivan
With Cal Tjader
With Sarah Vaughan
With Supersax