Wes Montgomery

[Finger Poppin']

It was Wes' birthday the other day. He was taken too early. He had such a great smooth sound. Hopping one day, the urban legend of a existing recording of him with John Coltrane does surface regardless of the quality.

[vibes]

GREAT guitarist. I have some of his Verve and CTI stuff, but I don't think it really compares to his Riverside work. I picked up the Riverside box during the recent Tower sale, and I've been spending a lot of time listening to it, particularly "Bags and Wes" (with Milt Jackson). I highly recommend the box to anyone who doesn't have it. Wes had such a great sound, and the playing is always tasteful. It's unfortunate that he got pushed into more commercial outings during his later years.

[WestCoast Ghost]

You can't go wrong with the Riverside box. Nat Adderley and Harold Land dates show up on that one as well, and it's true that Wes never sounded quite as jazzy again, but--as was stated in a thread on that late, great board that shall go nameless, IMPRESSIONS: THE VERVE JAZZ SIDES is a fantastic collection of Montgomery's work for that label, including all of the SMOKIN' AT THE HALF NOTE material.

[BFrank]

Anyone wanting to research his Riverside work can download any of those sessions (including the 'box' set) from EMusic. From what I can tell, they could have done a better job with the MP3's quality-wise, but it's still a great source.

[Leeway]

I recently picked up a nice vinyl copy of "Grooveyard." It sounds great on my TT . Man, I love that LP!:D

[AfricaBrass]

My first Wes Montgomery album was Full House. It's still one of my favorites.

A couple years ago, Guitar Player magazine had an article about one of Wes' guitars (The one with the heart pendant attached to the lower horn). This guitar had been almost destroyed by a fire. Well, it was restored by the company who made it. They had great pictures of it. To get to the point, I think I spent hours looking at that guitar thinking about Wes and all the music that came from it. I love playing Wes Montgomery style on my guitar.

He was a great.

[WestCoast Ghost]

Just testing the image function:

http://www.doubletimejazz.com/Duncan_4.jpg

[vibes]

Cool photo!

[Jazzmoose]

Maybe a bit large...;)

[J.A.W.]

His albums with Milt Jackson (Bags Meets Wes - Riverside) and Wynton Kelly (Smokin' at the Half Note - Verve) are awesome. I keep playing these gems.

[Pharaohrock]

John Coltrane is more intense, but I would have to say that both Joe Hen and Wayne were more subtle than Coltrane, as far as modernist saxoph. go.

[David H]

Regarding Wes, don't forget the two Pacific Jazz collections Fingerpickin' and Far Wes two marvellous examples of his early work with Buddy and Monk, not forgetting both CDs are excellent features for Freddie Hubbard, Harold Land and (the much neglected) Pony Poindexter.

[sheldonm]

aaaahhh, nice photo West Coast Ghost, made by the great Duncan Schiedt!:D

[PDEE]

Originally posted by sheldonm
aaaahhh, nice photo West Coast Ghost, made by the great Duncan Schiedt!:D

Seconded, never seen that one before

as to the Topic Smokin' at the Half Note.. Wynton.. the good one's, date... as nice as the photo.

[horacesilver#1]

http://www.gololo.com/jazzman21/wes1.jpg http://www.gololo.com/jazzman21/Wes.jpg

[clifton]

"Incredible Jazz Guitar" and "Full House" are my favorites.

[BFrank]

Just now listening to an Affinity album I have called "Impressions" that's a really smokin' live set from 1965.