The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery

Wes Montgomery

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Original Release Date: 1960
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B000000Y27
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,875 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This 1960 record solidified Montgomery's reputation as the most important jazz guitarist to emerge since Charlie Christian in the 1930s. His two most-distinguishing traits---the mellow thumb-picking approach and the soft and round use of octaves--are in full bloom here. Montgomery tackles two standards, one tune each from Sonny Rollins and Dave Brubeck, plus four originals, including the classics "West Coast Blues" and "Four on Six." His solos are remarkably fluid and melodic while still capturing the essence of the blues idiom. He achieves a near-perfect balance of technique and emotion. On "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," his approach is unhurried and delicate; on the original "Mr. Walker," he produces lengthy, bop-inspired runs without ever losing control. Tommy Flanagan's gracefully understated piano proves a perfect match. Rather than compete with horn players and their styles, Montgomery relished the distinct and unique qualities of the guitar. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description

Part of the 'Masters Of Jazz: The History Series 1949-1969'. 20 bit digitally remastered. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breakthrough recording, May 1, 2000

By	Tyler Smith (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As the very useful liner notes to this release point out, this 1960 recording was a bit of a coming-out party for Montgomery, arguably the best and most influential jazz guitarist of the last half century. The title is not hyperbole; the guitar playing here is indeed incredible, although Wes sets aside mere flash for meaningful swing.

The guitarist benefits from a crack band behind him: Al and Percy Heath on drums and bass, respectively, and the flawless Tommy Flanagan on piano. Flanagan had shortly before this date contributed mightily to Coltrane's "Giant Steps," and his ability to seamlessly slip in behind Montgomery on a date that couldn't be more different than Coltrane's is testimony to his taste and his chops.

Wes's startling chording will be a revelation to those who haven't heard him before, but even if you've listened to him a lot you'll still find his work on, for example, "Four on Six" and "West Coast Blues" immensely satisfying. On both these cuts, he flows endlessly between chords and octaves, creating a smooth river of sound. Beautiful.

Also of note is his treatment of "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," a chestnut that Wes turns into a lovely romance that sounds new and fresh. This is a great CD for the jazz guitar lover, who will realize immediately that it doesn't get much better than this.

32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Terrible sound, May 13, 2004

By	Blues Bro "bluesbro" (Lakewood, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

This is a great, great album. You need to buy this album if you are interested in jazz guitar or guitar at all. But the sound on this CD is just plain awful. Spend the extra bucks and get the Hybrid SACD version or at least the 24 bit remastering, its worth it.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wes Montgomery's best, November 14, 2005

By	Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

One of Wes Montgomery's best albums, if not THE best, and one of the best albums of the 1960s. Technically Wes was at the top of his game at this point, and he came into the recording studio at the end of January 1960, in very high spirits: his daughter Toni had just been born and he had just signed a deal with Fantasy where he'd be able to record with his brothers Monk and Buddy.

All of this is evident on this recording. And pianist Tommy Flanagan, whose mere presence almost assures a successful recording endeavor, is playing at peak form. Highlights include the initial recording of Wes's WEST COAST BLUES, which would quickly become a jazz standard; a superb version of GONE WITH THE WIND, which is an example of virtuoso guitar playing at it's finest; and D-NATURAL BLUES, with great down-home feeling, that some NYC jazz fans from the 60's might remember as never-to-be-surpassed jazz dj Ed Beach's background music. But everything on this CD works marvelously, and the album became the one against which all other Montgomery albums were measured. A gotta-have CD.