About Monte

Voice, Vibraphone, Keyboards, Guitar, Chromatic Harmonica, Drums, Bass. Specializing in Creative American Music, known as Straight-Ahead Jazz, and Rhythm & Blues.

Known as “The Soulful One,” I have played guitar, bass, and keys with The Average White Band. I’m a featured vocalist, guitarist, and vibraphonist with the current Rolling Stones, and original David Letterman Show, drummer Steve Jordan - backing Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Ray Parker Jr., and Bruce Willis, to name a few. I worked for many years at Ashford and Simpson’s Sugar Bar as featured singer, keyboard, and chromatic harmonica player - it wasn’t unusual to pop in and hear me duet with Valerie Simpson.

On the jazz scene, I’ve played vibes with Branford and Wynton Marsalis, and played chromatic harmonica on the movie soundtrack “Rustin” (2023) composed by Branford; played vibes on film soundtracks composed by Terence Blanchard; played piano, vibes, and chromatic harmonica with vocalist Cassandra Wilson. I’m prominently featured on jazz legend, saxophonist Jimmy Heath’s final album, and trumpeter Nicholas Payton’s first. I’m a mainstay, on vocals and vibes, with ubiquitous drummer Brian Blade, and my own groups featuring legends like drummer Lenny White.

I am an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music, teaching vibraphone, mallet labs, and ensemble.

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