About Montreux
It's a new month, so let's begin this month with a band from San Francisco, California called Montreux.
Now Montreux, in which their name came from the jazz festival in Switzerland, was an American fusion band, specializing in the blend of jazz and bluegrass, with jam elements. The band was active from 1982 to 1990 and they recorded on (you guessed it) Windham Hill Records.
The Band Members:
Darol Anger - Violins
Barbara Higbie - pianos, synthesizers and voice
Mike Marshall - mandolins and guitars
Michael Manring - Fretless bass, synthesizers and voice
Todd Philips - Bass
Andy Narell - steel drums
Tom Miller - percussion
Will Kennedy - percussion
The 1970s-1982: Darol Anger and Barbara Higbie met each other in Paris, France in the 1970s and wrote and performed music together. Shortly after, Anger met David Balakrishnan through David Grisman and with Mike Marshall, and in 1980 they all formed the band Saheeb, which lasted until 1983. Anger met Will Ackerman in 1980 and Ackerman himself was so impressed by Anger's fiddling on the solo record, Fiddlesticks that he asked him to record an album for his label. In 1982, Darol Anger and Barbara Higbie released their debut album, Tideline in 1982. The record was a success.
1984-1985: After the album was released, Anger invited Mike Marshall and Todd Philips to join he and Higbie, then Andy Narell. Soon they became the unique solo-styled jazz band known as Montreux. Unfortunately not long did Balakrishnan leave the band to study composition and Anger had to be the violinist full time to take his place. In 1984, Montreux, excluding Balakrishnan, performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival and their recording there led to their second album. By 1985, Anger and Marshall worked on a separate project for their bluegrass roots called "Chiaroscuro". To add to the rest of the group, Anger brought in already Windham Hill artist Michael Manring to record with them. The chemistry worked well between them and Manring became a full-time member of Montreux. With that being said, Philips left the band to work on solo projects.
1987: In 1987 after so much touring, the band wrote and recorded another album called "Sign Language". They were then recognized as the All Star band of the Windham Hill label. Their style became distinctive and unique and by the late 1980s, they adopted their band name. They also picked up Anne-Marie Martins as their agent and manager. She led them to become one of the most successful Windham Hill bands live.
1989-1990: After touring some more, the band went into the studio for the last time (together) and recorded songs for the album, Let Them Say in 1989. In 1990, the band broke up.
Now Montreux, in which their name came from the jazz festival in Switzerland, was an American fusion band, specializing in the blend of jazz and bluegrass, with jam elements. The band was active from 1982 to 1990 and they recorded on (you guessed it) Windham Hill Records.
The Band Members:
Darol Anger - Violins
Barbara Higbie - pianos, synthesizers and voice
Mike Marshall - mandolins and guitars
Michael Manring - Fretless bass, synthesizers and voice
Todd Philips - Bass
Andy Narell - steel drums
Tom Miller - percussion
Will Kennedy - percussion
The 1970s-1982: Darol Anger and Barbara Higbie met each other in Paris, France in the 1970s and wrote and performed music together. Shortly after, Anger met David Balakrishnan through David Grisman and with Mike Marshall, and in 1980 they all formed the band Saheeb, which lasted until 1983. Anger met Will Ackerman in 1980 and Ackerman himself was so impressed by Anger's fiddling on the solo record, Fiddlesticks that he asked him to record an album for his label. In 1982, Darol Anger and Barbara Higbie released their debut album, Tideline in 1982. The record was a success.
1984-1985: After the album was released, Anger invited Mike Marshall and Todd Philips to join he and Higbie, then Andy Narell. Soon they became the unique solo-styled jazz band known as Montreux. Unfortunately not long did Balakrishnan leave the band to study composition and Anger had to be the violinist full time to take his place. In 1984, Montreux, excluding Balakrishnan, performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival and their recording there led to their second album. By 1985, Anger and Marshall worked on a separate project for their bluegrass roots called "Chiaroscuro". To add to the rest of the group, Anger brought in already Windham Hill artist Michael Manring to record with them. The chemistry worked well between them and Manring became a full-time member of Montreux. With that being said, Philips left the band to work on solo projects.
1987: In 1987 after so much touring, the band wrote and recorded another album called "Sign Language". They were then recognized as the All Star band of the Windham Hill label. Their style became distinctive and unique and by the late 1980s, they adopted their band name. They also picked up Anne-Marie Martins as their agent and manager. She led them to become one of the most successful Windham Hill bands live.
1989-1990: After touring some more, the band went into the studio for the last time (together) and recorded songs for the album, Let Them Say in 1989. In 1990, the band broke up.
- Marshall went off to form the "Modern Mondolin Quartet", and recorded albums still on Windham Hill.
- Anger, who formed the Turtle Island String Quartet back in 1985 with David Balakrishnan, returned to the group full time.
- Manring released a few solo albums on Windham Hill.
- Higbie released one Windham Hill album called "Signs of Life".
2006-Present: In 2006, the band reunited to perform at the Windham Hill Records reunion concert in Saratoga, California. Even though they haven't reunited since their 1990 break up, Anger and Marshall still collaborate and Higbie and Manring occasionally record with Marshall and/or Anger.
Information courtesy of Wikipedia. Any suggestions for other websites to look up Windham Hill artist or band info, please feel free to post a comment on where to look or send me an email at ericariley42@gmail.com. (I shouldn't give out personal information like that, but I'm too lazy to look up the information myself from various other sites.)
Next week I will cover the album, Tideline from 1982. Take care.
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