For Immediate Release:
Contact: David Kuehn, Executive Director
Cotuit Center for the Arts
Phone: (508) 428-0669
Email: David@cotuitcenterforthearts.org
Website: ArtsOnTheCape.org
Blues Duo Montgomery and Marshall at Cotuit Center for the Arts
Cotuit Center for the Arts presents Montgomery and Marshall in concert on Saturday, January 24, at
7:30 PM. Mark T. Small will open the show.
Celebrating their 20th year as a duo, James Montgomery and Bruce Marshall are known for their
blues originals, R&B, soul, and pre-war blues. They met sharing stages with their respective bands in
the late 1970s and later formed Montgomery and Marshall.
Montgomery is known as the Master Blaster of the blues harp with his trademark attack and classic
riffs, and Marshall lays down rhythm, bass and lead guitar parts and plays bottleneck on the dobro.
“We’re psyched about celebrating our 20th anniversary,” said Marshall. “I love the chemistry that
James and I have on stage. People always comment on how friendly and warm we are. That’s
because we genuinely like each other, which is not always the case in a band. I like the way our show
flows. Montgomery is definitely the front man, but I’m his foil and will throw in a quip or a joke.
“Musically, what I love about James is that he is a very rhythmic harmonica player. When he gets on
stage and plays harp, it’s pedal to the metal. His attack, his phrasing, his tone, it’s just so there.
There’s nothing tentative about it. He puts his heart and soul into every performance.
“Montgomery likes a lot of low end, a lot of bass notes, even when it is just me on the guitar, no bass
player. So I play a lot of low end, and use a rhythm style that incorporates some walking bass line.
Sometimes I take a guitar solo, which is unusual without a rhythm guitar, and James does these
rhythmic scats behind me, almost like a horn section.”
The duo does not use a drum machine, loopers, or backing tracks, but its creative use of rhythm
techniques leads people to comment, “You guys sound like a full band,” said Marshall.
Montgomery and Marshall joined forces in 1994 to expand their playing opportunities. Though each
had his own successful band, each of which was booked every weekend, they both wanted to play
more during the week. Their first gig together was at the Strand Theater in Providence, Rhode Island.
“We’d only rehearsed together the day of the gig, but it really clicked,” remembers Marshall.
From there, the duo went on to do national openers, sharing the stage with BB King, George
Thorogood, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, J. Geils, Steven Tyler, Edgar Winger, Rick Derringer, Brad
Whitford, and more, as well as headlining their own shows at blues festivals, theaters, concert clubs,
and resorts. As James Montgomery and Friends, they also play full-electric shows at high-profile
benefits for various causes, with a rotating cast of well-known musicians.
The duo has released two CDs, both recorded live at openers they did for BB King. They also play full
electric shows
This will be Marshall’s first performance at Cotuit Center for the Arts. Montgomery has performed at
sold-out shows at the center several times, with his own band, with J. Geils, with Siobhan Magnus,
and others.
Montgomery grew up in Detroit, learning first-hand from the masters—James Cotton, John Lee
Hooker, and Junior Wells at the legendary Chessmate. He attended Boston University, where he
formed the James Montgomery Band in 1970. Within two years, the band, featuring his energetic
harmonic playing, were one of the hottest acts in Boston, and Capricorn Records signed him to a
multi-album deal.
“In those days, he was opening for Aerosmith,” said Marshall.
Montgomery has toured with many artists, including Areosmith, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, the
Allman Brothers, Steve Miller, and many others. He has released eight albums, the latest of which is
“Detroit to Delta.” Montgomery and Marshall co-wrote “I Don’t Want to Have a Heart” for that
album.
Marshall has had his own band, the Bruce Marshall Group, for 22 years. Among the members is
guitarist Dave Cournoyer, who has been with him for 20 of those years. Before that he worked with
Toy Caldwell, the founder of the Marshall Tucker Group.
Like Montgomery, Marshall has been a full-time musician all his life.
“I’m in my 40th years of playing music full-time,” he said. “James is in his 45th year. We’ve never take
more than two weeks off at a time. We’re road warriors, no question about it.”
The Bruce Marshall Group has recorded six CDs, and performs throughout New England, playing
Marshall’s original compositions, R&B, blues, and some pre-war blues, including old bottleneck blues.
Opening for Montgomery and Marshall is Mark T. Small, winner of the Best Acoustic Blues Album
2014 award from Blues Blast Magazine.
Small has been playing music for over 40 years, combining lightning fast bluegrass flatpicking
techniques and slide guitar with soulful blues. He plays traditional Delta blues with a Chicago blues
slant.
Hatti Barrett, president of the Down Home Blues Society of Boston, described his sound as “Lightnin’
Hopkins, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, and Howlin’ Wolf, all rolled into one.”
Tickets are $25, $22 for seniors, and $20 for members. Cotuit Center for the Arts is at 4404 Route 28,
in Cotuit. For more information, visit artsonthecape.org, or call 508-428-0669.
# # #
What:
Montgomery and Marshall
Where:
Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Route 28, Cotuit
When:
Saturday, January 24, 7:30 PM
Admission:
$25, $22 for seniors, $20 for members
END