Michael Isvara “Ish” Montgomery is an acoustic and electric bassist, synthesist, sound designer, and composer based in Brooklyn, NY. Michael has been a touring member of, among others, Durand Jones and the Indications, African-Psych outfit Sinkane, and has additionally performed with David Byrne, Pharaoh Sanders, Yola, Aaron Frazer, Charles Lloyd, David Murray, Joshua Redman, Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip, Jamie Lidell, Adam Green, and Eli Paperboy Reed among others.
Television performances include NPR’s Tiny Desk, BBC, Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, Late Night w/ Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien, Later with Jools Holland. Composition credits include Moderna/Spikevax, Barnes Aerospace, Samsung, Chanel, Skysports, Tyler Perry’s Best Man Holiday, Daddy’s Home (1 and 2), and Piranha 3D.
An open-minded and open-eared musician, Michael is steeped in varied traditions, and works to bring heart, soul, and an improvisational spirit to all situations.
Prior to relocating to New York, he furthered his musical foundations in Boston, MA, completing studies in composition and performance at the Berklee College of Music, being particularly influenced by studies with Joe Lovano, Joanne Brackeen, Hal Crook, and private studies with pianist Ran Blake.
Additionally, Michael furthered his compositional, arranging, and orchestration studies through study of the EIS system of composition developed by Lyle “Spud” Murphy, with Emmy Award-winning composer Glenn Jordan, was composer-in-residence at the Blue Mountain Center, and is skilled on multiple instruments, as well as Ableton (among other DAW’s), and Sibelius notation software.