Customer Reviews

Jazz Icons: Wes Montgomery Live in '65

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Where do I start..? first... I have been playing the guitar for more than 40-years as a pro..and last 15-years as a jazz guitarist. This DVD has three parts..the second part was available in portions under the Ginus of Jazz guitar Vol 1 and 2.

However...this DVD has cleaned and restored the picture and sound to a level that it is just amazing from T.V. shows recording back in 60's.

Now about the content. The minute I started watching Wes in the first concert talking to the piano player and the band and teaching them a new tune by just casualy speaking and smoking ....my god..Wes Montgomery was alive and well speaking about music right in my living room.

I would say the way he plays the guitar and plays all his ideas one after another with such ease and smile..makes you cry...

Confession...the last three days I have been going home make myself a drink and playing this DVD and sit there and weep.

See ...I grew up listening and envy this guy..now I can actualy see him play....


I have seen many many jazz guitar artists play live and on screen...to me nothing beats Wes.

There are and they were lots of guitar players that as far as instrument technique have been superior ...but NOBODY had the SOUL and the GROOVE of the WES...when he gets going..the whole band is riding on his tale..as if by god I can't beleive this. he had a incredable GROOVE and sense of SWING that made the drummers happy as a kid in a candy store....

Ask any jazz guitar player what kind of guitar sound are they after ...I bet more than 90% will say I like my guitar to sound like Wes..and in the DVD you see what he is using..the Wes Montgomery Model Gibson L-5 (one pick-up only) and Standler tube amp which were being made since 1953...they still make them around $4000.00.

Now...this DVD is a must for anybody who likes jazz, anybody who playes the guitar, anybody who likes incredable visual music experience..and more...

Last...in my opinion the reason Wes elevated the Jazz guitar to another level was...he played it as a guitar not trying to emulate piano or horn lines as lots of guitar playes did or still do ( he used lots of bluesy runs and double stops and block chords)...anothewords...the way he plays ..it can only be reproduced on the guitar...not on any other instrument..and that my friends... will stay forever...!! enough already..by the DVD...make it number one on Amazon..he deserves it....!!

Finally, this DVD makes available a 78 minute collection of 3 European TV videos of the Jazz guitar master Wes Montgomery w/ 3 different trios backing him in mostly his compositions... the music is an inspiration & watching the many camera angles of Wes playing guitar is a revelation to anyone who admires this legendary innovator [who stands with gypsy Django Reinhardt & Les Paul as the 3 most influential Jazz guitarists of this past century]... Montgomery's right hand thumb strumming & picking is uniquely innovative to his sound & in this video, you can marvel at this amazing technique again & again as he is breezin' thru his chord soloing & octave melodies... i especially enjoy the 2nd set in Belgium as Wes really swings w/ an all black jazz musician's trio behind him burnin' thru "Impressions" & "Jingles" as well as 3 other tunes... this DVD is an "Instant Classic" that belongs in any serious jazz-influenced guitarist's collection !!! the liner notes by Pat Metheny are very detailed & great to read in addition to watching Wes finally in a full length DVD... this amazing video has reinspired my love of Wes Montgomery like the Grappelli 2 DVD set does for my love Django's playing = Buy It if you love virtuoso Jazz Guitar !

Amazingly clear footage with great shots in a relaxed atmosphere that captures Wes' character, relaxed approach and technique to his awesome playing style. The dialogue between Wes and the piano player in working out a tune gives a glimpse into their chord knowledge and experience. I've been playing for over 40 years and was influenced by Wes and Kenny Burrell in my beginning years. I recommend this video for any serious jazz guitarist.

I never realized Wes was this good.

Move over Jimi, Mahavishnu and the human race, Wes is the man.

This music flows from his heart with simplicity and power, as well as with complexity and surrender.

I have been playing guitar for 45 years. I had no idea how good Wes was live. I'm truly amazed at this video. I don't think anyone plays that well. This had to be his best performances ever recorded.

This new release is better than anything I've seen previously. Let's face it, anything (audio-visual) produced back in the sixties lacked the technology that exists today. Most of the footage looks like it was shot on a TV soundstage. But, if you have never seen this man perform, this documentation is well worth the $20 price tag. There are closeups of his hands playing and enhanced AV, that make this more revealing than the Legends of Jazz Guitar series. Anyone who is a student of this instrument, will benefit from this disc.

I feel that this is a must own for any jazz guitar player or fan of Wes Montgomery. It is comprised of three sessions with Wes playing with various groups. The first section with the band in Holland is superb. It's nice to hear Wes talk and teach a tune to the band. The second section is great, but has been previously released on Legends of Jazz Guitar Vol.1 which I already own. The third section in England is okay. At the very least, it's nice to have.

Overall, a great DVD and learning tool for a guitar student or a great piece of music and history for lovers of Wes.

As I have mentioned on more than one other occasion in reviewing various musical genres, what goes around comes around. On the basis of doing a review of the legendary and ground-breaking Texas blues guitarist T-Bone Walker a friend sent me a this DVD of jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. Well, although jazz is not my main area of interest (except where it intersects, as it does in many places, the blues) of course I knew the name, if not the specific work, of Wes Montgomery.

What we have here is very lovingly done tribute to Brother Montgomery, as part of a jazz icon series, by showcasing a set of three European performances in 1965 done during the prime of his jazz powers. Look, I know folk guitar and many of its virtuoso players backward and forward. I know rock guitar and many of its virtuoso performers as well. I know blues guitar and its virtuoso performers, like the above-mentioned T-Bone Walker, backward, forward and side way. I cannot same the same for the jazz guitar. I can say, though, off viewing this series of performances that Mr. Wes Montgomery fits very comfortably in that virtuoso category.

It is well known that Wes Montgomery is the greatest of all Jazz guitarists. Indeed, who can we compare to him? When waching these performances I am struck by the sheer control Wes exercised over his instrument. His capacity to create the most interesting and inventive octave, block chord, and single-note lines are not only without paralel among jazz guitarists, but I dare say that he stands with only a handful of the greatest Jazz musicians on any instrument. We are very lucky to have these video performances of Wes, which feature examples of some of his finest work. The quartet here that featured Harold Maeburn is also one of the best Wes ever had. Never has a Jazz musician been better portrayed on video.

This DVD is part of a series of European concert and studio footage of great jazz musicians. The segments on this DVD are well recorded and excellent performances of Wes Montgomery. Informative booklet is included.