Customer Reviews

Wes Bound

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"I think - I hope - I've done justice to Wes without losing my own identity." ~ Lee Ritenour

I've had this CD since 1993 and love it. It was a gift to me along with tickets to watch Lee Ritenour's live concert at the Universal Amphitheatre in the nineties and after listening to the CD and watching the concert, I have included him in my list of favorite guitarists of all-time. This CD topped the Billboard Jazz Chart in 1993 and is a tribute to a great jazz legend, Wes Montgomery, who was the greatest influence Lee Ritenour's guitar playing. Mr. Ritenour's style has been impressively influenced by Brazilian music but retained his own distinctive sound.

This CD consists of ten marvelous tracks in which four are his very own compositions: "Wes Bound," "A Little Bumpin'," "A New Day" and "Ocean Ave." The rest of the tracks are all original compositions of the great Wes Montgomery. Track #5 "Waiting In Vain" was written by Bob Marley and the lead vocal was provided by Maxi Priest.

Some of the highlights for me are the initial/title track "Wes Bound" which has a very contemporary groove, followed by Montgomery's "Boss City" which Ritenour interpreted splendidly with a shuffle style. "Ocean Ave." is also one of the best tracks and has some of the finest musicians backing him up, an incomparable pianist, Alan Broadbent and a skilled drummer and percussionist, Harvey Mason, to name a few.

I especially love track # 4, his own composition "A Little Bumpin'" with my all-time favorite contemporary jazz artist whom I also watched in a live concert, Bob James on piano.

Following are notable quotes from Lee Ritenour about his great jazz legend idol, Mr. Wes Montgomery:

"Intoxicating" is a word Lee Ritenour keeps repeating when he discusses the music of Wes Montgomery, intoxicating to play, and intoxicating to hear."

"Like every guitar player who's arrived on the scene since the sixties, I owe a great debt to Wes Montgomery."

"Wes music is so captivating, it can almost make you forget who you are."

"It amazes me that so many of today's young musicians are not familiar with Wes. I think he should be right up there with Ellington, Armstrong and Miles. So if I can introduce him to some of the younger musicians - jazz, rock, whatever - who don't know who he is, I'll be real happy."

I must admit and I'm sure you'll agree with me that this is guitar playing at its very BEST! I highly recommend this CD to all guitar music enthusiasts.

This album was my first exposure to both Lee Ritenour and Wes Montgomery. Who could ask for anything more? Ritenour gives a stunning tribute to one of the greatest jazz guitarists ever to fret a chord. Montgomery always seemed to be playing effortlessly while always keeping the listener entertained by his rhythms and solos.

Ritenour splits the album by covering Montgomery for half the songs and spends the other half composing songs in the style of Montgomery. Ritenour's covers have a bit of artistic freedom as he colors the songs to his own style of playing. This album sounds more like a tribute to Ritenour's hero instead of someone flat out copying the songs note for note.

All of these songs are strictly instrumental (except for "Waiting In Vain", which really doesn't fit in with the other songs of the album). Ritenour's licks are fast, varied and entertaining. He has the classic L5 sound throughout the album that just screams jazz. The backing band gives the album more of a smooth jazz feeling, but Ritenour's playing stands out.

Having first been exposed to Lee Ritenour as an original member of the group "Fourplay," I now consider him among my favorite artists. Of his CDs, this Wes Montgomery tribute is my favorite. In describing Ritenour's feelings towards Montgomery's music, the liner notes open with the word "Intoxicating," and, in fact, that is the precise word I would use to describe this effort. It's been in my collection for about four years, and I can still listen to it for hours on end without tiring. The album has just the right touch of bluesy funk to complement the jazz, and has as much feel as it does sound. If you appreciate hard-hitting jazz guitar, you'll love Wes Bound.

As an aside, "Waiting in Vain" is quite off character in relation to the rest of the album and, therefore, could easily mislead those who recognize it from radio play. Do not let that song deter you.

This album shows that Wes Montgomery is one of Lee's idol. The track "A Little Bumpin"s very lively (also similar title to one of Wes Montgomery's song).

The rendition of Bob Marley's of "Waiting In Vain" is excellent. I have heard the original version and the instrument in this rendition is excellent.

The rendition of all Wes Montgomery's songs are also excellent.

The technical excellence of Ritenour and the unbelieveable quality of the recording makes this CD a must have for any jazz lover. This has to be one of the best sounding CDs to ever be released. The only low point has to be the 'soft' remake of "Waiting in Vain".

The most beautiful recent jazz issue.Great sensuality and tender music takes you in a different (better) world.Must-have for jazz colectors.

I have listened to Rit for years. I bought this CD when it first came out. Hard to believe that was almost 11 years ago. I pick tis CD up frequently. If you never knew who Wes Montgomery (I didn't before this CD) was, this CD is the best tribute done to date. With the excpetion of 1 vocal track, this is instrumental music at its finest. In recent years, Ritenour has done tribute music to genre as opposed to a single artist (Twist of Jobim is good too, another single artist).

What does it say about an artist who has recorded so much music, played the rock stuff and so many other styles and then spends the later part of his career paying tribute to the greats before him. This project is one of those efforts and a sign of maturity and security in one's ability. Enjoy!!!

From the early ninties comes possibly rit;s best effort has he pays tribute to one of the jazz guitar gods, Wes Montgomery. Half of the songs are written by Wes , the other by Rit. the fact that the songs he chose to write are played with complete Wes intonation is a marvel in the listening experience. The difference between the two artists is hardly discernible. I really like all of the tracks bu a few of my faves which I believe are the best are Wes's "Goi'n To Detroit,""Road Song" and "Boss City." Curiously enough he leaves out "Bumping on Sunset" but rather plays a very similar "Wes Bound" that is his own composition. Maybe there were some legal problems that didn't allow him to play one of Wes Montgomery's signature songs, "Bumping on Sunset?" In any case, it is unfortuante that that song is missing. The one addition that is out of place is probably one of the best songs even though it has vocals. I am talking about the Bob Marley classic "Waiting in Vain" Check it out, it is a nice version and still very fresh today. This smooth jazz album is one of Rit's best. If you are a guitar player that likes jazz this is for you. Also if you like jazz in general than this is the stuff.

This cd is awesome one of the best Jazz cd's I own, I never get tired of it. I own a few Wes cd's also this is a nice tribute to one of the best Jazz guitarists to ever live. If you like Jazz and Wes get the cd!

Brilliant guitar works such as Wes Montgomery are a treat to hear at the hands of Lee Rintour. What a fab combination!!!
Please tell me it is still available?