Customer Reviews

Bumpin

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Stop and think that this was Wes' first outing at Verve, and also his first meeting with journeyman arrnger/conductor Don Sebesky (and Don's fine work over the years with just about anyone you can think of in the jazz business) and this album isn't a "sellout" as so many "jazz purists" called anything a solo artist on any instrument ever did with strings. (They started that with "Bird" when they bumrapped Charlie Parker for his strings albums in the 50's, go figure) The irony here is that Montgomery first sought out Sebesky and record producer Creed Taylor and asked them what THEY thought they should embark on. Ever the modest one, Montgomery was thrilled to do this album, only to become "rigid" during initial recording sessions, fearing he wasn't good enough to be in the studio with the orchestral greats in the band. Sebesky came up with the ingenious plan of recording the main tracks with Montgomery and the rhythm section ONLY, then came back and re-did all the charts around what they had in the can. The payoff is more than evident in the spectacular reading of the Broadway hit song "A QUIET THING", which comes off as a smoldering bit of beauty in the able hands of Wes, framed by a shimmering string chart courtesy of Sebesky. Two other well known tracks shine on this album, the bossa-nova feel of the Webster/Mandel penned evergreen THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE and the Burke/Van Heusen classic HERE'S THAT RAINY DAY. Not to be missed are the originals by Montgomery either, especially the opener and title track, BUMPIN'. Bonus tracks include a song written by Sebesky, MUSTY and a great reading of the old chestnut MY ONE AND ONLY LOVE, a particularly tough song to convey vocally or instrumentally. Many have tried, Wes succeeds sublimely. So what if it's jazz with strings...some of the best jazz albums are made that way, in my opinion. It may not be pure jazz, per se, but it's one of the music's finest interpreters, backed by a super group and a fine arranger / conductor in Sebesky (who also teamed up with Wes for the pop-influenced CALIFORNIA DREAMING album later on at Verve) An excellent reissue.

This is my favorite Wes Montgomery album (I have them all!), my favorite "jazz guitar" album (I also collect Johnny Smith, Herb Ellis, Tal Farlow, Barney Kessel, and others) -- and one of my favorite albums of all time (in a collection of over 2000 CD's and 2000 vinyl albums).

There are some who are too narrow-minded to appreciate the strings -- well, there are many orchestra-less guitar albums out there for that minority. I love the strings! They turn Wes's bare trio into something warmer and richer! The strings turn these old 'Sixties chestnuts into something transcendant. Don Sebesky's string arrangements are top-notch and I would like to buy up every album Sebesky ever did.

But the star is Wes! Such heartfelt guitar! Great choice of songs! I put on this album when I need a hug. It always warms my heart. It takes me to a place where there are no wars or religions or pollution. I may buy a second copy to keep in my car.

Contrary to the "two star" wonder this is Wes at his Bes.' You don't like strings? What about Miles and Gil Evans? Ben Webster did it. So did Coltrane. Just about every Jazz artist has. Relax. One has to consider the era in which this album was recorded; from the mid fifties to the sixties, popular music ruled the airwaves. All jazz artists at that time were trying to connect to a broader if younger audience. So get a grip!
On a personal note, this was one of the first jazz albums I bought at the tender age of twelve, and I played it right along with my Beatles, Stones, Supremes, Cream, Canned Heat, Hendrix and Byrds records. I don't see how anyone can piss and moan about a Van Gelder-Sebesky-Creed Taylor production.
The newer 20 bit transfer sounds better than the older transfer, and with the out-takes included, is great value for the money. This cd sounds GREAT on my vacumn tube system, 'though not as great as the remastered vinyl versions.
Still, the tune Bumpin' alone and by itself makes this a must have in my music collection any day.

I believe that we were deprived all too soon of the creative genius of Wes Montgomery. This was a self-taught musican, and his talent could not be denied. When I listen to his music, I am reminded of an exciting time in my life when so much was new to me. It was a time when I learned many new things, and in the process I discovered Wes Montgomery. His contributions to jazz guitar live on, and I believe his influence still lives today in young men like Norman Brown. I thank God for letting us have Wes for the short time he was among us, and I pray that many more people become acquainted with his talent.

This cd is Wes' best, because it is 110% pure improvised jazz, but with a Gil Evans style orchestration, that adds some occasioanl latin and bossa nova flare. The Shadow of Your Smile, is a cool jazz bossa nova, and many of the originals are borderline lounge/jazz, but that is why it's such a cool album, that you can play at parties, or for romantic candlelite dinners. This album has many moods and colors and variations. As an artist I can appreciate the colorful orchestrations, and they do not at all interfere with Wes' guitar grooves. I must admid it is better on lp, but this reissue is exellent, for the car!!!

This album has many wonderful flavors. It's romantic, it swings, it's technically brilliant, and it has great moments of classic hard-bop guitar that all fans of jazz will enjoy. "Tear It Down" is a highlight for me in that it's an up-tempo, hard-bop tune, but the title track, "Bumpin'," will get you in the mood for a romantic evening with the one you love, or simply for a relaxing moment with a glass of chardonnay as you pet the cat. Wes doesn't disappoint here.

I am shocked and amazed at the 'critics' giving this cd such a low review. It is hauntingly beautiful and complex. The arrangements with the strings paired with a relaxed and fluid Wes, it's going to be that cd you put on to win people over to Jazz. In generic terms, this cd is perfect from start to end.

Why doesn't someone in the industry put out a "Bumpin" CD minus the extra orchestration (just the original rhythm section with Wes)? They must have it since the arrangement was fleshed out later. In fact there must be gobs of great Wes stuff buried under all those those dated orchestral arrangement records he made. I love Wes Montgomery's playing but hate the fuddy-duddy arrangements. I have all his small combo stuff. It would be fantastic to hear some of his other stuff minus all the strings, etc.
What a concept!

Wes recorded with strings on a number of occasions, but Bumpin' is by far the most successful. It's mellow but still swings when it should, and Wes has never played with more feeling. Don Sebesky's arrangements are smart and allow the guitar to play off the orchestra instead of simply over it. This is the first Wes album I ever heard and I've been hooked ever since. It's elegant yet robust music. WOW, what a masterpiece!

I have to say that while I like this release, I don't know if the strings work for me. Other than that I don't have anything bad to say about the music, although I felt that sometimes a guy like Don Sebesky gets over ambitious and tries to reach for a little too much. Some of the tunes could have used a string treatment, but I think that the word "lounge" was beginning to creep in. If you don't mind the strings this is a good album, but for others there is better.