Customer Reviews

So Much Guitar

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was originally released on the Riverside label (RLP-9382), and has been reissued in compact disc form as part of Fantasy Records OJC series. This reissue features the original 8 tracks, no bonus tracks, and clocks in at just under 40 minutes of music.

I have a few other Montgomery discs, and was never especially impressed with them. They seemed to be mostly loungy covers of classics, with no real bite. A reviewer in the Tower Records house organ "Pulse!" mentioned that Montgomery recorded both some very excellent discs, as well as some real slop. Figuring I'd bought the wrong discs before, I took his sug- gestion and picked up this disc. (His first suggestion, "Far Wes" was out of stock, as was his third, "The Incredible Jazz Guitar".)

And he was absolutely right. The tracks on this disc are only a faint reminder of the mushy cocktail jazz I heard on the other discs. The upbeat tracks like Montgomery's original "Twisted Blues" and his version of Duke Ellington's "Cotton Tail" really move (with the help of the rhythms of Ron Carter/bass, Lex Humphries/drums and Ray Barreto/congas), and Montgomery's solo playing is quite impressive. Hank Jones piano adds an excellent overall flavor. Slower tracks such as "I Wish I Knew" have a relaxed, bluesy sound, without becoming background music.

"So Much Guitar!" gives us the great breadth of Wes's range- from smooth and soulful to quick and sleek. The other players on the CD are also notables. "One for My Baby" is done very nicely, as is "I Wish I Knew". You will also be surprised to find a hidden gem in here- one of the songs is a pure unaccompanied solo, warm and pure to the touch- very clean.

While I am very happy that some of these old jazz albums are now being remastered onto CD, I gave this one four stars instead of five because it fully employs the split-speaker recording tactic that was popular in the sixties. Through a stereo system that's a plus because it sounds like the band has set up in front of you- Wes on the right, the kit in the middle, etc. The problem is that I like to listen to music on my walkman, and my right ear gets blasted with straight guitar! Not so much a complaint, but more of an unusual situation. Anyway, if you like good jazz and especially great electric jazz guitar, buy this CD!

Asked who was the best musician he'd ever played with Ray Brown shook his head and expressed frustration with the question. Pressed, he said something like 'the two most naturally musical people I've played with are Bird and Wes'. This man swings in a way all his own. This is not quite his best album, but its up there.

We have all heard Wes Montgomery, either from the great man himself or referenced by Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, who did a good approximation of Montgomery's signature octave picking.
Of course, that's not all Wes could do. This session, recorded in a few days time, is precise, mindblowing and represents some of guitar oriented bebop's finest moments.
"Twisted Blues" starts off with a friendly jump, and "Cotton Tail" follows with a nearly incomprehensible rhythm pattern that no novice should ever attempt without a safety net.
The album is smooth and shows us what a well rounded guitarist could do for the instrument. Perhaps Montgomery's only real contemporary competition was Chet Atkins. Like Atkins, the chord knowledge and voicing is encyclopedic. No guitar player should be without this CD as a lesson for great rhythm work (not to mention lead work, too), and no fan of be-bop should neglect to have this gem in his or her collection, either.

Given the fact that Wes Montgomery died at age 43, you almost want to finish this title with the words "so little time", but Wes packed a whole 'nuther career into the time between this LPs release and his death. While this is not my absolute favorite single Wes CD, one of my favorite Wes 'Riverside era' tunes is on it. 'While We're Young' is, as far as I know, the only solo tune that Wes ever wrote and recorded. It is the sweetest, most honest, closest thing to heaven I've ever heard come out of a man's soul through an electrified wooden six string instrument. There - is that enough accolade for one less than 2 minute tune?! The rest of this original LP is great with some really superb piano playing by Hank Jones, smokin' bass lines by Ron Carter, beat-bumping from Ray Barretto on congas and drummer Lex Humphries. 'Twisted Blues' is superb, as are all the tunes. The only reason that this is not included in my all-time Wes "5-star" line-up is because I do miss Jimmy Cobb on drums, and because at times ("Cottontail") the tempo is pushed almost to the uncomfortable point. However, it is still Wes at his very best...and if "Cottontail" drops to "4-star" status, then "While We're Young" with its "10 stars" more than makes up for it. If you love Wes, this is a 'must-have' CD.

great renditions of one for my baby and lucky so and so-aswell the whole cd really swings-great to hear him with hank jones

I'm a jazz guitarist and huge Wes Montgomery fan. I felt compelled to write a review of this one, to offer a comparison with his other Riverside recordings. I have all of Wes' Riverside albums, and maybe it's just me, but this is my least favorite of the bunch. Mind you, it is Wes, so that automatically raises it above the ranks of most other jazz guitar albums. Somehow, it always felt like this one didn't hit the same high mark that his other Riverside (and Pacific Jazz) albums had. Maybe he didn't feel as invested, to me, or dug-in to these tracks, I'm not sure. Mind you, I'm comparing Wes to Wes, and that's an extremely high, gold standard. So, if you are on a campaign to fill out your Wes collection, by all means, buy it. If you are seeking a first, second,third, or fourth album by Wes Montgomery, I'd purchase: "Smokin' At the Halfnote", "Incredible Jazz Guitar", "Full House", "Boss Guitar", "Grooveyard", "Further Adventures of Jimmy and Wes" (Verve), etc, first, and then consider this one. I'm rating it "2 Stars" compared to the rest of Wes' library. If this were a jazz guitar album by any other mortal, I'd go 3 or 4 stars. Wes, I love you, man.

This is the type of setting that allows the great ones to "swing", and on this date Wes is accompanied by Ray Barretto, Hank Jones, Lex Humphries, and Ron Carter. No string arrangements here, just straight ahead with Wes feeling at ease and at the helm. His band seems just fine with the tempo and are right at home. A great CD of excellent music.

Wes Montgomery always had an easily recognizable sound. His use of the thumb instead of a pick generated a distinctive attack. In some recordings his sound may have been a little more overdriven than he wished: I'm less sentimental about vintage amps than some.

But in this album, it's just right. The acoustic sound of his big archtop guitar comes through, with just a hint of crunch from his amplifier. "I Wish I Knew" exemplifies this sound with one of the best ballads he ever recorded. Although (as another reviewer indicated) the style of mixing is a little dated, the band plays well. You can easily hear past any inadequacies in the mix.

Overall, the album is a nice mix of ballad and up-tempo. It's not as market-focused as some of his later recordings, so you get a good taste of what this sensitive player could do.

Below, in a previous review, I stated that "While We're Young" was written by Wes. It was not. It was written by Alec Wilder. It is still the most precious tune that Wes ever recorded...