Bags Meets Wes (Hybr) [Hybrid SACD - DSD]

Wes Montgomery, Milt Jackson, Milt Jackson And Wes Montgomery | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 30, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD
• Label: Riverside
• ASIN: B00067RF5U
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,977 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. S.K.J.

2. Stablemates

3. Stairway to the Stars [Take 6]

4. Stairway to the Stars [Take 2][*]

5. Blue Roz

6. Sam Sack

7. Jingles [Take 9]

8. Jingles [Take 8][*]

9. Delilah [Take 4]

10. Delilah [Take 3][*]

Editorial Reviews

1961 release featuring vibist Milt Jackson and guitarist Wes Montgomery with pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Minds Think and Play Alike, December 3, 2004

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bags Meets Wes! (20 Bit Mastering) (Audio CD)

A warped vinyl copy finally prompted replacement. Though a purchase of necessity for me, the bonus tracks and judiciously remastered sound of the CD reissue make it an attractive pick-up even for an owner of a vintage LP copy.

To state that Bags makes a more satisfying complement to Wes' musical voice than to Coltrane's (which is not to say that the Jackson-Coltrane session is without its own merits) may be obvious, given their mutual love of that common ground of blues and basic, pretty melodies that, for lack of a better term, was synonymous with "soul jazz" in the late 50's/early 60's. Small wonder that even the normally unfailingly hip, often "in-a-hurry" Philly Joe can't resist providing a big back-beat to the no-holds-barred funk of the three lead soloists (once he settles in behind Wyn Kelly on "Blue Roz," you wish they'd keep it going for another couple of rounds). And listen to Wes comping behind Bags on "Sam Sack," supplying not just chords but infectious riffs.

It's fascinating to hear how this particular rhythm section meshes. Paul Chambers was the paragon of bass players, but listening to Sam Jones' gritty, more focused tone and more unforgiving pulse reminds me that he wasn't far behind the master. And whereas Paul could occasionally lose concentration, going along with the speed-up pulse of Philly Joe or the occasionally yielding one of Jimmy Cobb, Sam keeps Philly Joe in the pocket through all of the musical proceedings here.

Finally, Riverside did admirably by players like these (not to mention Bill Evans and the Adderley brothers). The drums and cymbals may not be as "forward" and the bass and piano as blatantly present as on a Blue Note-Van Gelder date. But the important sonorities have been captured, allowing for a "truer" sound from all of the principals, perhaps most notably Kelley's deft piano touch. The music stays in over-drive, not for an instant wearing out its welcome.

The fact that the bonus tracks are barely distinguishable from the masters hardly matters: more of the same is plenty good enough. (Either take is superior to all other versions--including Clifford's--of Victor Young's "Delilah.")

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you like guitar and vibes..., December 14, 2002

By 

Jonathan M. Mason "jm_1951" (Punta Gorda, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bags Meets Wes! (20 Bit Mastering) (Audio CD)

... as I do, then you cannot pass this album by. It is just lovely playing by two wonderfully fluent soloists. My only quibble is with the extra takes on some of the numbers that have been inserted to make the original album a bit longer. They are good takes, but it would be better if the repeat takes were all placed at the end. Yes, I know you can rerecord the CD yourself and put the tracks in the order that you want...

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two of the finest soloists of their era on a solid disc., August 24, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Richmond, VA.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bags Meets Wes (Audio CD)

Good ensemble players and two super-stars of 20th century jazz make this one a keeper. The repeated takes are rather redundant, but the inventive, controlled soloing on this album makes for rewarding listening. Personal favorite -- Delilah. For a vastly different take on SKJ (this record's first track) check out MJ's "Sunflower" album.