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 |
---|---|---|
Andrea Morricone – Nuovo Cinema Paradiso – Love Theme | ||
Andrea Vanzo Autumn Intro | ||
Andrea Vanzo Les Madeleines | ||
Andrea Vanzo Spring | ||
Andrea Vanzo Valzer d’Inverno | ||
Andrés Segovia Classic Album For Guitar Volume 2 | Andrés Segovia Classic Album For Guitar Volume 2 | |
Andrés Segovia Classic Album For Guitar Volumes 1 to14 | Andrés Segovia Classic Album For Guitar Volumes 1 to14Andrés Segovia Classic Album For Guitar Volume 2 | |
Andres Segovia Collection Pieces For Solo Guitar | Andres Segovia Collection Pieces For Solo Guitar | |
Andres Segovia Obras Para Guitarra Vol 1 Preludios Y Estudios | Andres Segovia Obras Para Guitarra Vol 1 Preludios Y Estudios | |
Andres Segovia Obras Para Guitarra Vol 2 23 Canciones Populares Del Mundo | Andres Segovia Obras Para Guitarra Vol 2 23 Canciones Populares Del Mundo | |
Andres Segovia- Transcripciones Obras Para Guitarra Vol 3 | Andres Segovia- Transcripciones Obras Para Guitarra Vol 3 | |
Andrew Hill 21 Piano Compositions | ||
Andrew Lloyd Webber Sunset Boulevard (Revised Broadway Version) Piano & Vocal Score | ||
Andrew Lloyd Webber The Music Of The Night | ||
Andrew Lloyd Webber Think of me (The Phantom of the Opera) | Andrew Lloyd Webber Think Of Me | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber – All I Ask of You (The Phantom of the Opera) | ||
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Angel Of Music (Piano, Vocal, Guitar chords) | Andrew Lloyd Webber – Angel Of Music (Piano, Vocal, Guitar chords) | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber – CATS (Piano & Vocal score) | Andrew Lloyd Webber – CATS (Piano & Vocal score) | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Jesus Christ Superstar (Musical Excerpts Complete Libretto) Lyrics by Tim Rice | ||
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Musical Full Score | ||
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Musical Vocal Selections | Andrew Lloyd Webber – Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Musical Vocal Selections | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Love Never Dies (Piano Book) | Andrew Lloyd Weber – Love Never Dies (Piano Book) | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Love Never Dies Full Vocal Score (Andrew Lloyd Webber) | Love Never Dies Full Vocal Score | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Memory (from CATS) Piano Vocal with lyrics | ||
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Requiem (the musical) Piano Vocal Score | ||
Andrew Lloyd Webber – School of Rock | Andrew Lloyd Webber – School of Rock | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber – The Phantom Of The Opera | ||
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Unmasked A Memoir (Book) | ||
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Unmasked The Platinum Collection | Andrew Lloyd Webber – Unmasked The Platinum Collection | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber “By Jeeves”, the musical | ||
Andrew Lloyd Webber Anthology | Webber, Andrew Lloyd – Antholog | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber Jesus Christ Superstar Tim Rice (Deutsche Texte) | Andrew Lloyd Webber Jesus Christ Superstar Tim Rice (Deutsche Texte) | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber Masquerade from The Phantom of the Opera for Guitar TABS | Andrew Lloyd Webber Masquerade from The Phantom of the Opera for Guitar TABS | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber Memory (from Cats) for Guitar TABS | Andrew Lloyd Webber Memory (from Cats) for Guitar TABS | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber Pro Vocal Womens Edition | Andrew Lloyd Webber Pro Vocal Womens Edition | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber Sheet Music Collection, The – Andrew Lloyd Webber sheet music | Andrew Lloyd Webber Sheet Music Collection, The – Andrew Lloyd Webber sheet music | |
Andrew Lloyd Webber The Phantom of the Opera for Guitar TABS | Andrew Lloyd Webber The Phantom of the Opera for Guitar TABS | |
Andrew Lloyd WebberJesus Christ Superstar (Broadway) | Andrew Lloyd Webber Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway) | |
Andrew Lloyd WebberThe Phantom of the Opera (Piano Vocal & Guitar) Songbook | ||
Androgyne (Mario Leblanc) | ||
Andy Timmons Anthology | ||
Andy Jaffe – Jazz Harmony | Andy Jaffe – Jazz Harmony | |
Andy Laverne – Tons Of Runs For The Contemporary Pianist | andy laverne tons of runs contemporary pianist | |
Andy LaVerne – Vol. 85 Tunes You Thought You Knew | Andy LaVerne sheet music | |
Andy Mckee Joyland (Songbook) (Andy Mckee) Guitar TAB | Andy Mckee Joyland (Songbook) (Andy Mckee) Guitar TAB | |
Angeles Negros Y Volveré (Alaian Barrière) | ||
ANGELO BADALAMENTI – (Twin peaks) – Twin Peaks theme easy piano solo | ANGELO BADALAMENTI – (Twin peaks) – Twin Peaks theme | Badalamenti Angelo – Twin Peaks |
Angelo Badalamenti – Twin Peaks – Love Theme easy piano solo | Badalamenti, Angelo – Twin Peaks – Love Theme | Angelo Badalamenti – Twin Peaks (book) |
Angelo Badalamenti – Twin Peaks (songbook the music of Twin Peaks) | Angelo Badalamenti – Twin Peaks (book) | |
Angelo Badalamenti – Twin Peaks Theme (Instrumental) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Angelo Badalamenti Twin Peaks – Love Theme (Laura Palmer’s Theme) | Twin Peaks -Love Theme | |
Angra Rebirth Guitar Songbook | ||
Angry Birds Theme Song (Piano) | ||
Animal Crossing Christmas Eve | ||
Animal Crossing – Christmas Eve (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Animal Crossing New Horizons – Welcome Horizons Main Theme | ||
Animals – The House Of The Rising Sun | The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun | |
Animation Collection, Music From The Movies The (Solo Piano) | Animation Collection, Music From The Movies The (Solo Piano) | |
Anime Music Collection | Anime Collection | |
Anime Sheet Music Tsubasa Chronicle | Anime Sheet Music Tsubasa Chronicle | |
Anna And The King – How Can I Not Love You – Enriquez Joy | ||
Anna And The King – How Can I Not Love You – Joy Enriquez | Anna And The King – How Can I Not Love You – Enriquez Joy | |
Anna Karenina 2012 – Curtain (Dario Marianelli) | ||
Anna Karenina 2012 – Dance with me (Dario Marianelli) | ||
Anna Karenina 2012 – I Understood Something (Dario Marianelli) | ||
Anna Karenina 2012 – Kitty’s Debut (Dario Marianelli) | ||
Anna Karenina 2012 – Ouverture (Dario Marianelli) | ||
Anna Karenina 2012 – Ouverture (easier version) | ||
Anna Karenina 2012 – Too Late (Dario Marianelli) | ||
Anna Nalick – Breathe | ||
Anne Murray – Day Dream Believer | ||
Anne Murray Best Of Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar Chords | Anne Murray Best Of Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar Chords CONTENTS LIST | |
Anne Murray Could I Have This Dance Piano Vocal Musescore File.mscz | ||
Anne Of Green Gables – Anne’s Theme | ||
Anne With An E – Marilla’s Theme | Anne With An E – Marilla’s Theme | |
Annie Lennox The Best Of | Anni Lennox best of songbook | |
Anohni – In My Dreams (piano Solo arr.) euphoria OST | ||
Another Day In Paradise Phil Collins (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Another Day of Sun – La La Land OST | ||
Anouk – Girl | ||
Anouk – Its a Shame | ||
Anouk – My Life | ||
Anouk – Nobodys Wife | ||
Anoushiravan Rohani Fravorite Persian Pieces for piano Mid-level piano book | Anoushiravan Rohani Fravorite Persian Pieces for piano Mid-level piano book | |
Ansons S. – 6 easy pieces | ||
Ansons, S. The harmonic garden part I – 24 short Jazz Piano solos | ||
Anthologie De La Chanson Française 1920 1950 Enrégistrée Book (Français) | Anthologie de la chanson française | |
Anthology for Saxophone (arr. for Eb instr. by Andrea Cappilari) | ||
Anthology Of American Piano Music Intermediate To Early Advanced Works By 31 Composers | Anthology Of American Piano Music Intermediate To Early Advanced Works By 31 Composers | |
Anthology of American Song (26 songs collection by representative American Composers) | ||
Anthology Of Broadway Songs Gold Edition Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar chords | Anthology Of Broadway Songs Gold Edition Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar chords | |
Anthology Of Children’s Songs Gold Edition Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar chords | Anthology Of Childrens Songs Gold Edition Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar chords | |
Anthology of French Piano Music – Vol. 2 Modern Composers (1906) | ||
Anthology of French Piano Music by Isidor Philipp Vol. I (1906) | ||
Anthology of German Piano Music by Moritz Moszkowski (1908) Vol I Early Composers | Anthology of German Piano Music by Moritz Moszkowski (1908) Vol I Early Comp | |
Anthology of German Piano Music by Moritz Moszkowski (1908) Vol II Modern Composers | Anthology of German Piano Music by Moritz Moszkowski (1908) Vol II Modern Comp | |
Anthology of Italian Song of 17th and 18th Cent. (1922) | ||
Anthology Of Modern Classics For The Piano (32 Compositions, Selected, Edited And Fingered) 1904 | Anthology Of Modern Classics For The Piano (32 Compositions, Selected, Edited And Fingered) 1904 | |
Anthology of Modern French song (1912) 39 songs with piano accomp. | ||
Anthology Of Movie Songs Gold Edition Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar chords | Anthology Of Movie Songs Gold Edition Songbook Piano Vocal Guitar chords | |
Anthology Of Post Tonal Music By Miguel A. Roig Francolí (Book) | ||
Anthony Braxton Composition Opus 23 M | ||
Anthony Braxton Composition Opus 23D | ||
Anthropology lead sheet.mscz | ||
Anthropology Transcription – Sheila Jordan Charlie Parker.mscz | ||
Anton Bruckner – Fantasy In G Major (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Anton Rubinstein A Life In Music (Book) Biography by Philip S. Taylor | ||
Antonio Carlos Jobim Corcovado (Piano and vocal) | Antonio Carlos Jobim Corcovado (Piano and vocal) | |
Antonio Carlos Jobim The Girl From Ipanema (Piano Solo) Garota De Ipanema | Antonio Carlos Jobim The Girl From Ipanema (Piano Solo) Garota De Ipanema | |
Antonio Carlos Jobim The Girl From Ipanema (Piano Vocal) Garota De Ipanema | Antonio Carlos Jobim The Girl From Ipanema (Piano Vocal) Garota De Ipanema | |
Antonio Carlos Jobim Triste (Guitar Solo Arr. With Tabs Sheet Music) | Antonio Carlos Jobim Triste (Guitar Solo Arr. With Tabs Sheet Music) | |
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Agua De Beber | ||
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Aguas de Março – Tom Jobim Easy Piano Solo arr | Antonio Carlos Jobim – Aguas de Março – Tom Jobim Easy Piano Solo arr | |
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Aguas de Março – Tom Jobim Easy Piano Solo arr.mscx | ||
Antonio Carlos Jobim – cancioneiro (piano,lyrics &guitar chords songbook) | Antonio Carlos Jobim – cancioneiro (piano lyrics songbook) | |
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Corcovado (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Antonio Carlos JOBIM – For bossa nova all styles (Guitar Tabs) | Antonio Carlos JOBIM – For bossa nova all styles | |
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Garota De Ipanema | ||
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Jobim Cancioneiro Obras Completas | Antonio Carlos Jobim – Jobim Cancioneiro Obras Completas contents — Antonio Carlos Jobim – Jobim Cancioneiro Obras Completas | |
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Jobim Cancioneiro Obras Selectas (partituras) | Antonio Carlos Jobim – Jobim Cancioneiro Obras Selectas (partituras) |