The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery

wonderful, wonderful album

Good album. Highly recomended.

Great album

The prompt for this review suggests that I am the first contributor for this album for Amazon. I find this hard to believe.This album is widely regarded as the best single compilation and recording by Wes Montgomery. Ironically he subsequently suffered a fall in his reputation when his talent was recognised more widely and several albums were produced with string backings which this author would urge you to listen to but avoid purchasing before taking a few minutes to check them out.In fact if his recordings circa 1964/66 produced by Creed Taylor including covers of California Dreamin' etc are what you know and like about Wes then you will find this album hard to enjoy but even so you should try.You will find many reviews in Jazz journals about the particular brilliance of Wes's playing on this album and these are entirely justified. He also had the most fabulous rhythm section at work for him too. Tommy Flanagan on piano was a match for Wes in his invention and echoing and development of the melodies (in particular West Coast blues) and a sense of invention and brightness throughout.Percy Heath on bass is a wonderful example of how to compliment the frontline using occasional solo opportunities to help the listener follow enjoy and understand the melody and progression of each piece. Similarly, Albert heath on drums disciplines his contribution to ensuring the swing of Wes's playing. There is no grandstanding fom the rhythm section here whatsoever.If you like to here some jazz guitar beware - this needs 4/5 listenings before th penny or dime drops. Thereafter you and most of the rest of us have our complete list of tunes when it's our turn for Desert Island discs. A fabulous album.