MARCO MONTOYA
Pianist • Keyboardist • Producer
Marco is a seasoned pianist, keyboardist, and producer with over 30 years of experience performing Latin music throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the years, he has played with nearly every major Latin and salsa group in the region and has also shared the stage with legendary artists such as Oscar DeLeón, Pete Escovedo, Fruko y Sus Tesos, El Gran Combo, Hector Tricoche, Richard Bean (Malo), and Giovanni Hidalgo, among others.
While deeply rooted in Latin rhythms, Marco's musical influences are broad. Raised on a rich mix of R&B, freestyle, dance, hip hop, old school, pop, rock, and oldies, his musical journey took a pivotal turn at age 16 when he received a George Howard CD as a birthday gift. The smooth blend of saxophone and R&B left a lasting impression and inspired Marco’s exploration into contemporary jazz.
In 2016, Marco released his debut contemporary jazz album Been A Long Time Comin’ with longtime friend and guitarist Stan Evans under the project name Smooth Jazz Alley (SJA). The album received critical acclaim, was considered for the 59th Grammy Awards, and earned multiple placements on Billboard’s "Most Added" and other top smooth jazz charts.
Following Evans' departure in 2018, guitarist Joel Del Rosario stepped in to help complete a few tracks. Through Joel, Marco connected with drummer/producer Kevin G. Lewis, who joined the SJA team. Together, Marco and Kevin completed SJA’s second album, Let’s Ride, which was considered for the 63rd Grammy Awards and also charted across top contemporary jazz lists.
In 2020, the duo expanded their production efforts, producing the single No Shade for Grand Rapids saxophonist Isaac Norris. The track received strong radio play and charted across multiple smooth jazz platforms.
By 2021, the SJA family grew again with the addition of saxophonist Otoe Mori. Marco produced Otoe’s debut radio single Deep Into You, a track featuring writing by saxophonist Greg Chambers and a soulful guest performance by guitarist Blake Aaron (courtesy of Innervision Records).
Marco has also backed up Smooth Jazz artists Jessy J, Marcus Anderson and more while working on SJA's third full length album, Reflections. The first single "Come On!" is now at radio and releases on all streaming platforms June 13, 2025. Despite his focus on Smooth Jazz Alley, Marco still performs with his salsa group, Orquesta Borinquen, and other salsa bands as time permits.