Fantasy Suite by Bob Montgomery

Bob Montgomery’s illustrious career in Jazz and education has spanned over fifty years, and is still going strong.

After gaining his initial professional reputation by being named Teacher of the Year in 1970, Bob was just getting started. He would lead big bands, orchestras, classrooms, and festivals, all while playing trumpet as often as he possibly could, and all while constantly composing.

Fantasy Suite, composed in three movements, is one of his most popular pieces, first released after a recording was made at the 1974 Wichita Jazz Festival, featuring Clark Terry. This performance, also done in 1974 several months after the Wichita gig, was made in an auditorium, without an audience, specifically for this recording. It had been lost until now.

Displaying a fascinating part of his rise to fame, we hear his compositional style in the midst of his own education about who he was becoming as a composer. This was before he would tour the world with Clark Terry, having already begun to pen an incredible resume with such luminaries as Sammy Davis Jr., Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones, Nancy Wilson, Mel Torme, Chuck Mangione, and many more.

He has helped literally thousands of students become interested in careers as Jazz musicians, and has won more awards than anyone can count. Join him as he conducts an orchestra made up of his friends and respected peers, in a performance made just for you.

Starting at the age of 15, Dick played trombone for the Cliff Kyes Orchestra and Claude Thornhill. In 1963, he moved to Colorado and took up the bass, playing with such artists as Clark Terry, The Pointer Sisters, Johnny Smith, Peanuts Hucko, Jerry Lewis, Spike Robinson, Neil Bridge, Stew Jackson, Dean Bushnell, Bob Montgomery, Dave and Don Grusin, Claude Thornhill again on bass, and many others.