Tete Montoliu

He recorded with Lionel Hampton in 1956 and played with saxophonist Roland Kirk in 1963. He also worked with leading American jazz musicians who toured in, or relocated to Europe including Kenny Dorham, Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster, Lucky Thompson, and Anthony Braxton. Montoliu recorded two albums in the US, and recorded for Enja, SteepleChase Records, and Soul Note in Europe.

Montoliu was born blind, in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Spain, and died in the same city. He was the only son of Vicenç Montoliu (a professional musician) and Àngela Massana, a jazz enthusiast, who encouraged her son to study piano. Montoliu's earliest piano teaching took place under the tutelage of Enric Mas at the private school for blind children he attended from 1939 to 1944. In 1944, Montoliu's mother arranged for Petri Palou to provide him with formal piano lessons. From 1946 to 1953, Montoliu studied music at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu in Barcelona, where he also met jazz musicians and became familiar with the idiom in jam sessions. During the early stages of his career, Montoliu was particularly influenced by the music of U.S. jazz pianist Art Tatum, although he soon developed his own style. (Coincidentally, Tatum was also impaired with extremely limited vision). Montoliu began playing professionally at pubs in Barcelona, where he was noticed by Lionel Hampton on 13 March 1956. Montoliu toured with Hampton through Spain and France and recorded Jazz Flamenco. In 1967, Montoliu performed in New York City with bassist Richard Davis and drummer Elvin Jones. Two concerts at the Village Gate in April were recorded for the Impulse! label, but an album was never released. He frequently appeared in Madrid during the 1960s at the Whiskey Jazz Club with musicians Pedro Iturralde and singer Donna Hightower. During the 1970s, Montoliu travelled extensively throughout Europe. During the 1980s, he performed in concerts with musicians such as Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, George Coleman, Joe Henderson, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Hank Jones, Roy Hargrove, Idris Muhammad, Herbie Lewis and Jesse Davis, among others. In 1996, shortly before his death a year later, Spain paid public tribute to Montoliu for his 50-year career in jazz. He died in August 1997 from lung cancer, at the age of 64.

With Anthony Braxton • In the Tradition (SteepleChase, 1974) • In the Tradition Volume 2 (SteepleChase, 1974 [1977]) With Núria Feliu • Núria Feliu with Booker Ervin (Edigsa, 1965) with Booker Ervin With Dexter Gordon • Cheese Cake (SteepleChase, 1964 [1979]) • King Neptune (SteepleChase, 1964 [1979]) • I Want More (SteepleChase, 1964 [1980]) • Love for Sale (SteepleChase, 1964 [1981]) • It's You or No One (SteepleChase, 1964 [1983]) • Billie's Bounce (SteepleChase, 1964 [1983]) • Bouncin' with Dex (SteepleChase, 1976) With Eddie Harris • Steps Up (SteepleChase, 1981) With Rahsaan Roland Kirk • Kirk in Copenhagen (Mercury, 1963) • Dog Years in the Fourth Ring (32 Jazz, 1997) – appears on one track only With Charlie Mariano • It's Standard Time Volume 1 (Fresh Sound) • It's Standard Time Volume 2 (Fresh Sound) With Jordi Sabatés • Tot l'Enyor de Dema (Edigsa, 1976) With Archie Shepp and Lars Gullin • The House I Live In (SteepleChase, 1963 [1980]) With Buddy Tate • Tate a Tete (Storyville, 1975) • With Lucky Thompson • Soul's Nite Out (Ensayo, 1969) With Ben Webster • Ben Webster Meets Don Byas (MPS, 1968) with Don Byas • Live at The Haarlemse Jazz Clib (Timeless, 1972) • Ben Webster in Hot House (Hot House, 1972 [1979]) • Gentle Ben (Ensayo, 1972) With Barney Wilen • Barney Wilen Quartet - Live in Grenoble 1988 With Jerome Richardson • Groovin' High In Barcelona (Fresh Sound, 1988)

• Tete Telerin is given the name of a boy from Familia Telerín created by Jose Luis Moro.

• Tete Montoliu Discography at www.JazzDiscography.com