Chris Montague is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most distinctive guitarists. A founding member of the genre-defying trio Troyka, he gained international recognition for his maverick approach to the guitar and has been widely acclaimed for his contributions to contemporary music across jazz, experimental and improvised scenes.

Chris has recently recorded a new quartet album with UK jazz guitarist Ant Law, a duo album with acclaimed Anglo-American singer-songwriter Sarah Gillespie, and has a forthcoming duo release with ECM pianist Kit Downes.

Chris is also an in-demand producer and has helped to shape many recordings for other artists, particularly on the Pastiche records label alongside his co-writer/producer Sarah Gillespie.

Born in Gateshead (UK), Montague began playing guitar at an early age and has since worked with an extraordinary range of artists including Squarepusher, Dave Douglas, Benny Greb, Janek Gwizdala, Trish Clowes 'My Iris', Charlie Watts, Django Bates, Shinya Fukumori, the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, among many others. He is also a Spitfire Audio and Native Instruments recording artist.

As a composer, Chris has received commissions from organisations such as the Royal Academy of Music Big Band, Threads Orchestra, the EFG London Jazz Festival, and for large-scale guitar ensembles at the Hull and London Jazz Festivals. In 2017, he was selected as a finalist and prize-winner in the Arts Foundation Jazz Composer Awards.

Chris was awarded Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in 2013 in recognition of his contribution to the music profession. He is currently Professor of Jazz Guitar at the Royal Academy of Music and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and also offers private mentoring to musicians looking to develop sustainable, future-focused careers.

“Montague’s Warmer Than Blood (Whirlwind), on which the leader’s densely wrought originals absorbingly stretch his classy trio with pianist Kit Downes and bassist Ruth Goller." John Fordham -The Guardian

“Montague, I suppose the UK’s greatest jazz guitarist since John Mclaughlin down the years... proves himself more than ever as a composer."- Marlbank.net - March 2020

Troyka’s album Ornithobia is “amazing… absolutely banging”. Flea - Red Hot Chili Peppers