Customer Reviews

Jazz Round Midnight

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Wes Montgomery inspired a generation or two with his historic guitar playing. (George Benson is one of the many he inspired, hows that for prophetic?!) This collection is a great way to introduce yourself to jazz guitar (I wasn't much of a guitar fan until I heard Wes' California Dreaming album) Here is a mixed bag of Wes playing fine songs in a variety of settings. Some jazz purists say Wes was a sell-out by doing albums with big band/orchestral settings, I say they're wrong. Long time friend and fellow jazz artist genius Jimmy Smith helps Wes along on the touching, "late night" rendition of MAYBE SEPTEMBER. There's also the sparse backings on the Sinatra classic IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR that may remind one of wind chimes in a slow summer breeze. The version here is downright moody and dark, Wes is most reflective in this piece. We have a live track with plenty of re-verb on the great standard OH YOU CRAZY MOON (the studio version on the aforementioned California Dreaming album really hits the mark) and the great music just continues with well known tunes like PEOPLE and another favorite of mine, MY ONE AND ONLY LOVE. There are some really great moments here for people looking for something different in jazz music. Enjoy!

Thirty seven years after his death from a heart attack. Wes Montgomery still sounds so fresh, innovative and warmth. His arrangements allowed him to express his feelings with such originality and expression. Certainly you may establish analogies: Wes is in his jazz idiom, what Segovia meant to classical form and Hendrix t electric guitar.
His velvet tunes and pleasant melodies loaded of joy, sadness but above all perpetual commitment. It is notorious his influence on "musicians in process" or "musicians to come". Georges Benson, Pat Metheny, Peter White or Russell Malone still possess a huge debt with that legendary artist who left us in his forty five, when the world waited for more and more of this charismatic and talented guitarist.

A co-worker friend turned me onto this specific CD, its outstanding. We play it @ the office all the time, other people really like it. The bottom line Wes makes every note count in his playing, its too bad his carreer blossomed so late in life. One of the all time great jazz guitar players