Wes Montgomery S/D

First jazz guitarist I liked and spoiled me for almost everyone else. Incredible Jazz Guitar was one of my first jazz CDs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtvilT2LZXc
I still love this

This book discusses the techniques he applied in his playing (solos and comping) - quite advanced stuff. Apparently he was very much inspired by the ideas of Charlie Parker. Wes got hired by Lionel Hampton "because he could play the solos of Charlie Christian note for note".

https://ec-assets.sheetmusicplus.com/items/4064248/cover_images/cover-large_file.jpg

My late teacher knew Wes and used a similar thumb style. It has its technical limits but produces so much of a richer tone than most picking. Picked jazz guitar is really not that pleasant a sound in the hands of all but a few.

I saw James blood ulmer in power trio format around 1986 or 1987 and from where I was sitting it looked like he played exclusively with his thumb, it was insane

picked up a vinyl copy of willow weep for me in kansas city last week - his take on Coltrane's "Impressions" is just incredible

he is the only jazz guitarist who you can say was easily as talented as Reinhardt without any challopry. Love the guy.

http://www.resonancerecords.org/_img/covers/HCD-2029-l.jpg

This new one from Resonance records is really nice, it isn't as essential a Wes live album as Full House or Smokin' At The Half Note, but not many are tbf.

This is a great line-up so a very much appreciated release. Samples on iTunes sound great.

Yeah it is a pretty sick band, even the trio tracks without Wes are rather excellent because Wynton Kelly is so fucking great.

Yeah gotta get this.

i recently was gifted Down Here On the Ground and A Day In the Life by my father-in-law. i know those two are considered by some to be an example of Wes aiming for the lowest common denominator/fairweather jazz fan audience, but the playing is so good on both that I can't agree with that.

obv gotta pick up this Seattle sesh, if possible.

another absolutely smokin' double live set from Resonance: In Paris: The Definitive ORTF Recording. Top band with Mabern on piano and Johnny Griffin on tenor, love it so far.

Yeah, that set is fantastic.

I love everything about The Wes Montgomery Trio album, especially the '60s-licious watercolour cover.

And this live set with pickup musicians — a few minutes here and there teaching them the tunes and boom, they're locked in:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmUUi6wGwRA

Dude was born on 10th and Pershing in Indy in 1923 and I bet it was just as tough a neighborhood then as it is now.

You see clips of him playing and I just don't see how he can play all that with his thumb. Truly a unique guitarist.