J. R. Monterose

J. R. Monterose (January 19, 1927 – September 16, 1993), born Frank Anthony Peter Vincent Monterose, Jr., was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor and occasionally soprano.

Monterose played in the bebop and hard bop styles and had early successes in the late 1950's playing with leading jazz figures in New York City such as Charles Mingus (whom he disliked), and Kenny Dorham (whom he admired). Monterose left New York in the early 1960's determined to follow his own artistic path in jazz rather than doing session work or shifting to rock or pop music. To make a living as an independent jazz artist, he played long engagements often for months at small jazz clubs away from major cities. Monterose was highly regarded both by jazz club owners and by musicians such as David Sanborn who dropped out of music school at Northwestern University to play and study with Monterose. Despite his reputation in the jazz community, Monterose's preference for small-group work in out of the way places would shape much of his subsequent career, contributing to the musical growth but relegating him to obscurity.

Monterose is not to be confused with tenor saxophonist Jack Montrose.

Early life Born in Detroit, Michigan, United States,

In New York City in the mid- to late 1950s, Monterose was a featured soloist with Claude Thornhill's orchestra, He also recorded two sessions as leader: J. R. Monterose (Blue Note, 1956), produced by Alfred Lion with liner notes by Leonard Feather, and The Message (JARO, 1959), produced by Manny Albam, with Nat Hentoff providing commentary.

The record of Monterose's life thereafter, however, is one of sparsely documented itinerancy, pursuing his evolving craft in small-time U.S. venues and during extended stays (late 1960s through the mid-1970s) in Belgium, and Denmark, with occasional low-profile recordings (In Action, Body and Soul) recorded in such places as Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Wageningen, The Netherlands.

The last decade and a half of Monterose's life was spent at upstate New York venues, including the Lark Tavern in Albany. Live recordings at the Lark and other upstate New York venues, such as Opus 40, have been released by Croscrane Records. His visit to play Copenhagen's Jazzhuz in 1988, recorded by Danish Broadcasting, has been released by Storyville under the title T.T.T. Other live recordings from his final years, when he was in less than robust health, are available on the Croscrane specialty label.

Influence and legacy While Monterose considered himself an underground artist, his work, both as player and composer, remains esteemed by musicians, critics and aficionados of classic jazz. He never denied having been influenced by Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, but refused to be pigeonholed in any particular style. "I've tried all my life to avoid copying. If I can't be myself, there's no point being in jazz." It was this uncompromising insistence on going his own way, both musically and geographically, that moved jazz historian and writer David Brent Johnson to describe Monterose as "The Best Tenor You Never Heard".

Discography As leader 1956: J. R. Monterose (Blue Note) 1959: The Message (JARO, re-issued also as Straight Ahead) with Tommy Flanagan 1963: Live at the Tender Trap, (Fresh Sound) with Al Jarreau 1969: J.R. Monterose is Alive in Amsterdam Paradiso (Heavy Soul Records) 1970: Body and Soul (Munich) 1980: Live In Albany, (Uptown Records) 1981: ...And a Little Pleasure (Uptown Records) with Tommy Flanagan 1988: T. T. T. (Storyville)

As sideman With Kenny Burrell Kenny Burrell (Blue Note, 1956), on one track from the Kenny Dorham Café Bohemia recording With Eddie Bert Encore (Savoy, 1955) Montage (Savoy, 1955) With Teddy Charles Teddy Charles N. D. Quartet Introducing J. R. Montrose (New Jazz, 1955, reissued as Evolution in 1957) The Teddy Charles Tentet (Atlantic, 1956) With Freddie Deronde Spontaneous Effort (Igloo, 1990), with Philip Catherine and Michel Herr With Kenny Dorham Kenny Dorham and the Jazz Prophets, Vol. 1 (ABC-Paramount, 1956) 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 1–3 10 inch, Vol 1-2 12 inch (Blue Note, 1956) With Jon Eardley Hey There (Prestige, 1955) With Charles Mingus Pithecanthropus Erectus (1956) With the René Thomas Quintet Guitar Groove (Jazzland, 1960) With the George Wallington Quintet The Prestidigitator (East-West, 1958)