Wes Montgomery Here’s That Rainy Day Live London 1965
Stan Tracey (piano) Wes Montgomery (guitar) Rick Laird (bass) Jackie Dougan (drums)
Television broadcast, “Tempo”, ABC TV, London, England, May 7, 1965
Wes Montgomery (1923-1968)
John Leslie “Wes” Montgomery is the most influential bebop guitarist of past and present times. Basically, he’s the one that changed both the mentality of players that followed AND the way the instrument is played. It’s hard to hear anything “Jazz Guitar” and not associate with a hint of Wes Montgomery behind it! He came right after Charlie Christian and he’s considered by many to be the logical sequel in jazz guitar history.
Wes was in fact very much inspired and influenced by Christian’s playing. It is said that early on, Wes was actually hired to play Christian’s solos during live concerts! He learned them all (by ear… Wes was not a reader) to the point that the vinyls started to disintegrate. That’s the spirit! (-:
In the end, both Montgomery and Christian contributed to the then new bebop language with great tones, rhythms, dexterity and soulfulness. Wes always had fresh, surprising melodic ideas as well a great chops. He never read a single note on paper but his ears and heart guided him dearly. Watch him on video, you’ll understand!
Wes Montgomery is now part of this great tradition and still has an influence on young jazz guitarists. His music is worth studying carefully. Most (if not all) jazz guitarists that came after cite Wes as an influence. It’s hard not to…
The great Pat Metheny goes further and says: “Wes and Miles, […] the two guys who have left a sonic residue that has pervaded all of music, not just jazz.” It’s true. When listening to both of these masters, we almost hear the conscious “edition” that is going on in their musical minds: they leave out all the extra notes and keep only the essential… We know that Wes was a HUGE perfectionist, perpetually disatisfied with his solos… keeping only “the good stuff in” take after the take in the studio.
My favorite recordings of Wes are on the Riverside label. They are small group performances that are very much in the bebop (and post-bop) idioms. I love Wes’ playing in quartets and organ trios. Such groovy stuff!
Playing Style and Gear
Wes used a Gibson L-5 throughout his career. It is a hollow-body carved-top (spruce top, maple back and sides) guitar and it was plugged into very clean sounding amplifiers. Gibson still produces a replica of the guitar Wes used to play. (-:
Wes’ sound is totally unique and original. He never liked the “noise” of the pick striking the strings. That is why he started plucking strictly with the fleshy part of his right thumb. That is perhaps, one of the most imitated sound in the jazz guitar world. If you’ve never tried it, take 10 minutes and experiment with just the thumb, it’s addictive!
Another technique that gave Wes his personal sound is the use of octaves. He would play in and out of octave playing in most of his solos. That too is a sound that’s always imitated. However, in its first experimentation with octaves, Wes was discouraged by his colleages. They said it was “piano stuff” … go figure! (-:
In summary, his signature sound opened the way for future generations. The use of the thumb and octave playing was revolutionary at the time. It is now in widespread use! Wes Montgomery was (probably) the greatest jazz guitar innovator of the 20th century.
Discography
As leader
Release date | Album | Label | Source |
---|---|---|---|
1959 | The Wes Montgomery Trio | Riverside | [1][2] |
1960 | The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery | Riverside | [1][2] |
1960 | Movin’ Along | Riverside | [1][2] |
1961 | So Much Guitar | Riverside | [1][2] |
1962 | Full House | Riverside | [1][2] |
1963 | Fusion! Wes Montgomery with Strings | Riverside | [1][2] |
1963 | Boss Guitar | Riverside | [1][2] |
1963 | Portrait of Wes | Riverside | [1][2] |
1963 | Guitar on the Go | Riverside | [1][2] |
1964 | Movin’ Wes | Verve | [1][2] |
1965 | Bumpin’ | Verve | [1][2] |
1965 | Smokin’ at the Half Note | Verve | [1][2] |
1966 | Goin’ Out of My Head | Verve | [1][2] |
1966 | Tequila | Verve | [1][2] |
1966 | California Dreaming | Verve | [1][2] |
1967 | A Day in the Life | A&M | [1][2] |
1968 | Down Here on the Ground | A&M | [1][2] |
1968 | Road Song | A&M | [1][2] |
1969 | Willow Weep for Me | Verve | [1][2] |
1982 | The Alternative Wes Montgomery | Milestone | [1][2] |
1990 | Far Wes | Capitol | [1][2] |
1996 | Fingerpickin’ | Capitol | [1][2] |
2012 | Echoes of Indiana Avenue | Resonance | [3] |
2015 | In the Beginning | Resonance | [3] |
2016 | One Night in Indy | Resonance | [3] |
2017 | Smokin’ in Seattle | Resonance | [3] |
2017 | In Paris: The Definitive ORTF Recording | Resonance | [3] |
With The Montgomery Brothers
Year | Album | Label |
---|---|---|
1957 | The Montgomery Brothers Plus Five Others | World Pacific |
1958 | Montgomeryland | Pacific Jazz |
1961 | Groove Yard | Riverside |
George Shearing and the Montgomery Brothers | Fantasy | |
The Montgomery Brothers | ||
The Montgomery Brothers in Canada | ||
Love Walked In | Jazzland | |
Wes, Buddy and Monk Montgomery | Pacific Jazz | |
1969 | It’s Never Too Late | Chisa |
Collaborations
- Bags Meets Wes! with Milt Jackson (Riverside, 1962)
- Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo with Jimmy Smith (Verve, 1966)
- Further Adventures of Jimmy and Wes with Jimmy Smith (Verve, 1969)
As sideman
- Kismet, The Mastersounds (World Pacific, 1958)
- A Good Git-Together, Jon Hendricks (World Pacific, 1959)
- Work Song, Nat Adderley (Riverside, 1960)
- West Coast Blues!, Harold Land (Jazzland, 1960)
- Cannonball Adderley and the Poll Winners, Cannonball Adderley (Riverside, 1960)
- Complete Recordings with Lionel Hampton (Definitive, 2002)
Browse in the Library:
Artist or Composer / Score name | Cover | List of Contents |
---|---|---|
Verdi – Libiamo Ne Lieti Calici (La Traviata) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Verdi – Va pensiero Piano Solo arr. NABUCCO ACTE III Choeur des ésclaves hébreux.mscz | ||
Verdi La dona e mobile Rigoletto Piano Solo with lyrics | ||
Verdi La Dona E Mobile Rigoletto Piano Solo With Lyrics Musescore File.mscz | ||
Verdi Requiem Cambridge Music Handbooks (Book) | ||
Vernon Duke Autumn In New York | ||
Vernon Duke – Autumn In New York (guitar arr. with TABs) | ||
Vertical Horizon – Best I Ever Had | ||
Via con me (Paolo Conte) | ||
Via del Campo (Fabrizio De Andrè) | ||
Vianne Sets Up Shop (Chocolat OST) Rachel Portman | ||
Vicente Amigo Ciudad De Las Ideas (Guitar TAB) | ||
Victor Herbert’s masterpiece Ah Sweet Mystery Of Life | ||
Victor Jara Un Canto Truncado Joan Jara (Book) Español – Spanish Biography – Biografía | ||
Victor Labenske Piano Miniatures 24 Short Solos In All Major And Minor Keys (Intermediate Piano) | Victor Labenske Piano Miniatures 24 Short Solos In All Major And Minor Keys (Intermediate Piano) | |
Victor Wooten Best of – transcribed by Victor Wooten Guitar Tabs | Victor Wooten Best of – transcribed by Victor Wooten Guitar Tabs | |
Victor Young When I Fall In Love | ||
Victor Young – Blue Star The Medic Theme | ||
Victor Young – Stella By Starlight Jazz Standard | ||
Victor Young – When I Fall In Love | ||
Victor young – When I Fall In Love Sheet Music as recorded by Celine Dion and Clive Griffin (fromm Sleepless in Seate) | ||
Victor Young (Bill Evans) – When I Fall In Love (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Victor Young And Peggy Lee Johnny Guitar | ||
Victor Young Around the World (piano solo sheet music) | Victor Young Around the World (piano solo sheet music) | |
Victor Young Around The World In 80 Days Easy Piano Solo | ||
Victor Young Love Letters (Piano Solo arr.) | ||
Victor Young Stella by Starlight | Stella-By-Starlight-Victor-Young | |
Victor Young Stella By Starlight Easy Piano Solo | ||
Victor Young Stella By Starlight Victor Young & Ned Washington Sheet Music 1946 Jazz Standard (Vintage sheet music) | ||
Vida Y Arte De Glenn Gould – by Bazzana Kevin (Español Spanish) | ||
Viktor Semenuita Suite The Spring Awakening for Guitar quartet | ||
Villa-Lobos – 12 Guitar Etudes (Doze Estudios para Violao) | ||
Villa-Lobos – Bachiana Brasileira no. 4 | ||
Villa-Lobos – Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 – Aria (Cantilena) partitura | ||
Villa-Lobos – Choros (N°1) Guitar Sheet Music (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Villa-Lobos – Prelude N° 3 (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Villa-Lobos -Etude №1 (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Villa-Lobos A Lenda do Caboclo | Villa-Lobos Lenda do Caboclo | |
Villa-Lobos Five Preludes for Guitar, W419 | Wes Montgomery The Early Years (Mel Bay) Jazz Guitar Solos Tablature | |
Villa-Lobos Guia Patrico Album 2 | Villa-Lobos-GP-Album-2 | |
Villa-Lobos Guia Patrico Album 3 | Villa-Lobos Guia Patrico Album 3 | |
Villa-Lobos Prelude 1 for Guitar | Villa-Lobos prelude 1 | |
Villa-Lobos Prelude No 1 (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Villa-Lobos Tristorosa Guitar arr. by Gorbunov | ||
Villa-Lobos, Heitor – Obras Completas (complete works for GUITAR) | Villa-Lobos obra completa guitarra | |
Villa-Lobos, Heitor – Aria (Cantilena) arr. for voice and guitar | Villa-Lobos, Heitor – Aria (Cantilena) arr. for voice and guitar | |
Villa-Lobos, Heitor – Bachianas Brasileiras No 4 No 2 – Choral Song Of The Jungle | ||
Villa-Lobos, Heitor – Saudades das selvas brasileras (pour piano) | Villa-Lobos – Saudades das selvas brasileras | |
Vince Guaraldi A Charlie Brown Christmas | Vince Guaraldi A Charlie Brown Christmas | |
Vince Guaraldi Christmas Time Is Here | ||
Vince Guaraldi Linus And Lucy (Piano Solo) Peanuts Theme | Vince Guaraldi Linus And Lucy (Piano Solo) Peanuts Theme | |
Vince Guaraldi – Cast Your Fate To The Wind | Vince Guaraldi – Cast Your Fate To The Wind | |
Vince Guaraldi – Linus And Lucy (Piano Solo) Peanuts Theme (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Vince Guaraldi A Charlie Brown Christmas For Solo Jazz Guitar with TAB | Vince Guaraldi A Charlie Brown Christmas For Solo Jazz Guitar with TAB | |
Vince Guaraldi A Charlie Brown Christmast Beginning Piano Solos | Vince Guaraldi A Charlie Brown Christmast Beginning Piano Solos | |
Vince Guaraldi Collection 9 transcriptions | Vince Guaraldi Collection 9 transcriptions | |
Vince Guaraldi The Christmas Song | ||
Vince Guaraldi The Christmas Song (Mel Tormé and Robert Wells) Piano Solo | Vince Guaraldi The Christmas Song (Mel Tormé and Robert Wells) Piano Solo | |
Vineyard Songbook (2011) Guitar Songchords | Vineyard Songbook (2011) Guitar Songchords | |
Vinicius De Moraes Vols 1,2 & 3 Guitar | Vinicius de Moraes 1,2 & 3 books | |
Vinnie Moore Masterclass (audio Mp3 Tab And Backing Track) GUITAR TABS and Al Di Meola Reh Video Booklet | ||
Violin Songs Big Book Of (Songbook) 130 songs | Violin Songs Big Book Of (Songbook) 130 songs | |
Virtuosity And The Musical Work The Transcendental Studies Of Liszt By Jim Samson Book | ||
Vittorio Monti Czardas (Piano Solo arr.) | ||
Vittorio Monti Czardas Piano violin arr. by J. Godderis | ||
Viva Italia Songbook A Travelogue In Song Piano Vocal Chordsby Curt Appelgren | Viva Italia Songbook A Travelogue In Song Piano Vocal Chordsby Curt Appelgren | |
Viva La Vida – Coldplay (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Vivaldi Largo Concerto D Guitar Arr | ||
Vivaldi Summer The Four Seasons Piano Solo Arr. | Vivaldi Summer The Four Seasons Piano Solo Arr. | |
Vivaldi The Four Seasons (Piano Solo Arrangement) | ||
Vivaldi The Four Seasons Guitar arr. (A Suite of Themes) by Alxander Glüklikh | ||
Vivaldi Violin Concerto In F Major Op. 8 No. 3 Rv. 293 Autumn For Solo Piano | Vivaldi Violin Concerto In F Major Op. 8 No. 3 Rv. 293 Autumn For Solo Piano | |
Vivaldi – Concert in G minor Summer arr. violin and piano | ||
Vivaldi – Concerto No. 2 In G Minor Op. 8 Rv 315mov. 3 Presto Summer L’estate Piano Solo Arr. (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Vivaldi – Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315 mov. 3 Presto Summer L’estate Piano Solo arr. sheet music | Vivaldi – Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315 mov. 3 Presto Summer L’estate Piano Solo arr. sheet music | |
Vivaldi – Summer The Four Seasons Piano Solo arr..mscz | ||
Vivaldi – Winter Guitar Arr. Based On Violin Concerto In F Minor Rv 297 L’inverno (Sheet Music) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Vivaldi – Winter Guitar arr. based on Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 L’inverno (sheet music) | Vivaldi – Winter Guitar arr. based on Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 L’inverno (sheet music) | |
Vivaldi Gloria Piano Reduction | ||
Vivaldi Master Musicians Series (Book) Biography by Michael Talbot | ||
Vivo Per Lei – Bocelli | ||
Vivo per lei (Bocelli – Giorgia) | ||
VK Vanros Kloud Wings Of Piano | ||
Vladimir Cosma Les Musiques De Films Vol 2 | Vladimir Cosma Les Musiques De Films Vol 2 | |
Vladimir’s Blues (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Volker Bertelmann – Lion Main Theme sheet music | ||
Volodos Mozart’s Turkish March From Sonata No. 11 | ||
Volodos – Rachmaninoff Where Beauty Dwells Melodiya Op. 21 No. 7 Version Putsmeiser Piano Solo | ||
Volumia – Afscheid | ||
Volumia – Hou Me Vast | ||
Vorrei (Lunapop) | ||
W.C. Handy The St. Louis Blues | W.C. Handy The St. Louis Blues | |
W.C. Handy – The St. Louis Blues (Musescore File).mscz | ||
W.E. – Evgenis Waltz Abel Korzeniowski | ||
Wagner – Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg – complete (arr. for piano solo & voice) | Wagner – Die Meistersinger… | |
Wagner – Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg -Vorspiel (arr. 2 for pianos) | Wagner – Die Meistersinger…Vorspiel | |
Wagner – Die Walküre Ride of the Valkyries (arr. 2 for pianos) | Wagner – Die Walküre | |
Wagner – Isoldens Liebestod For Two Pianos | ||
Wagner – Parsifal – Entrance into the Castle of the Holy Grail (arr. piano) | ||
Wagner – Prélude To Lohengrin (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Wagner – Prélude to Lohengrin (piano solo arr.) | ||
Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries – piano solo arr. | Wagner Ride of the Valkyries | |
Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries (Piano solo) | Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries (Piano solo) | |
Wagner – Ride Of The Valkyries (Piano Solo) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Wagner – Tannhäuser Pilgrims Chorus – Richard Wagner Piano Solo with guitar Chords | ||
Wagner – Tristan und Isolde – Isoldes Liebestod (arr. piano solo) | ||
Wagner – Tristan und Isolde Prelude & Isoldes Liebestod (arr. for 2 pianos) | Wagner – Tristan und Isolde | |
Wagner Ouverture Thanhauser (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Wagner Siegfried’s Funeral March From Götterdämmerung (Piano Solo) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Wagner Tannhauser Piano Solo arr. | Wagner Tannhauser Piano Solo arr. | |
Wagner-Busoni – Funeral March (Il Crepuscolo degli Dei) arr. piano solo | Wagner-Busoni Funeral March | |
Wagner, Richard TANNHÄUSER Piano solo arr. J. Doebber | ||
Waiss Elena Andante From Mi Amigo El Piano (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Waiss, Elena Mi Amigo El Piano | ||
Waitress (The Musical) – Opening Up Sara Bareilles (Voice and Piano) | Waitress sheet music | |
Walking In The Footsteps Of Paul Chambers (Bass technique) | Walking In The Footsteps Of Paul Chambers | |
Walt Disney Pictures Intro (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Walter Carroll Tunes From Nature First Piano Lessons Easy Pieces For Beginners (Vintage sheet music) | ||
Walter Kent – White Cliffs Of Dover | ||
Waltz – Boston (Alexander Rozenbaum) |