Bluenotes the incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery. The story behind guitarist wes montgomery s groundbreaking 1960 album the incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery, as. Since this scale contains a major third interval, it is mostly used to outline. How to practice jazz guitar blues wes montgomery guitar. Most of its tracks exemplify two of montgomery s distinguishing techniques. This video is an in depth lesson on the wes montgomery jazz guitar. Photo by dave dejong i was fortunate to grow up in the original era of lp vinyl records. Montgomery often worked with his brothers buddy and monk and with organist melvin rhyne. Joining guitarist wes are tommy flanagan piano, percy heath bass and his brother albert heath drums, one of the smallest groups wes would record with during the course of his. May 25, 2014 his other brothers were also jazz musicians. A true legend, wes montgomery left a huge impression on the jazz community with his recording output, inspiring future generations of guitarists to pick up the guitar and explore the jazz idiom at the same time. The incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery by wes. Which is a more classic straight ahead jazz approach compared to the octaves played in the 60s which became his signature style.
Great fun for all musicians and wonderful additions to your song list for any gig. It was reissued on cd in 2007 with an alternate take of sunny. Aug 02, 2001 the incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery ace. Wes montgomery, jim hall, kenny burrell, take the a train1958 au privave1960 days of wine and roses1963. This video is an in depth lesson on the wes montgomery jazz guitar method. Full house is a song by wes montgomery from the album full house. William howard monk montgomery, october 10, 1921 may 20, 1982, and charles buddy montgomery, january 30, 1930may 14, 2009. The most famous version of unit 7 is on wes montgomerys album smokin at the half note. Wes montgomery guitar solo transcriptions from west coast blues. The incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery is the fourth album by american jazz guitarist wes montgomery. Jgt contributor and guitarist marc silver provides a look at the gibson l5s of wes montgomery. California dreaming is an album by jazz guitarist wes montgomery that was released in 1966. This scale is built with the following interval pattern. A7 blues from acoustic blues guitar essentials book cd.
Solos, chord solos, standards, originals, good stuff, but no tabs. Wes lush, inimitable sound was a product of his unusual stylistic approach. Our jazz critic kevin whitehead says montgomery was a virtuoso with a good head for melody. Listen free to wes montgomery the incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery airegin, dnatural blues and more. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This wes montgomery guitar lesson is breaking down parts of the solo on four on six. Original jazz classics ojccd0362,original jazz classics ojccd 0362,riverside records 12.
John leslie wes montgomery was from indianapolis, indiana. Wes montgomery was one of the most famous jazz and pop guitar players ever. Montgomery, wes incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery. How to practice jazz guitar blues wes montgomery guitar blues case study many guitarists aspire to learn jazz guitar blues, but get frustrated with their lack of progress. Montgomery s bop period ended much too soon, but thankfully, he recorded his share of rewarding bop albums when he was still boporiented and one of them is boss guitar, which orrin keepnews produced in 1963.
Wes montgomery, jazz guitarist who influenced many african. The wes montgomery guitar folio, by steve khan, will keep you busy for a long time. But actually there is one aspect of his playing that maybe does not get the attention it deserves, and which in my opinion is also more important than the things i already talked about. Its hard to hear anything jazz guitar and not associate with a hint of wes montgomery behind it. Marc silver playing a vintage 1966 l5ces pickguard fauxinlay inspired by wes montgomery. Wes montgomery four on six the incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery by ed1962. The incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery wikipedia. If you want tabs, wolf marshall has them with playalong cds. Wes natural and effortless style is evident in each one of these soulful standards. Get all the lyrics to songs on the incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery and join the genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics. The incredible wes montgomery of 1960 was more discernible and distinctive than the guitarist who would emerge a few years later as a pop stylist and precursor to george benson in the 70s.
One of the most influential guitarists of the 20th century, montgomery was known for an unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and his extensive use of octaves, which granted him a distinctive sound. Play guitar like wes montgomery chord melody example jazz guitar. In this section, well have a look at how wes handles playing over dominant chords. Montgomery picked up where charlie christian left off, in developing the electric guitar as a jazz instrument. Wes montgomery four on six the incredible jazz guitar. The unmistakable jazz guitar september 26, 2007 in his short but prolific recording career wes montgomery reinvented the jazz guitar, while his name and his sound. How to practice jazz guitar blues wes montgomery guitar blues case study. Wes montgomery was perhaps best known for the commercial, orchestrated, easylistening albums he put out after the demise of riverside, but it is his earlier work with that label that earned him his reputation as one of the great jazz guitarists of all time. The story behind guitarist wes montgomerys groundbreaking. In this lesson, you will learn wes montgomery inspired chord solo licks that youll apply over a blues in f and over the jazz standard yesterdays.
The sound of wes montgomery is firmly rooted in the blues. Wes montgomery, jazz guitarist who influenced many. I had enough on my plate when you first emailed me about it that i deferred working on it. Wes himself stuck with chords played mainly on adjacent strings and drop 2 chord shapes. Jul 29, 2015 10 easy jazz guitar licks to play over a bb7 chord. With this cd he validates the title, the incredible jazz guitar.
Before he moved away from straightahead jazz and starting playing what is now known as smooth jazz, wes montgomery was one of bops finest guitarists. In short, if the music is great then the jazz guitar gear used doesnt really matter. Learn the melody to no blues from the youtube recording above the melody is located from 0. He began playing guitar in his late teens and played in the lionel hampton band from 194850 and in indianapolis during the 1950s, most often with his brothers buddy. On this landmark recording, montgomery veered away from his home indianapolisbased organ combo with melvin rhyne, the californiabased montgomery brothers. California dreaming wes montgomery album wikipedia.
One aspect of the playing of wes montgomery that we never talk about is in my opinion the real reason he is the amazing jazz improviser that he is. Written by wes montgomery i got this transcription from mel bay essential jazz lines. Wes montgomery how to make simple sound amazing youtube. The incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery so much guitar.
Youd be so nice to come home to jim hall written by cole porter. Wes montgomery incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery. John leslie wes montgomery is the most influential bebop guitarist of past and present times. He was an african american jazz guitarist, probably the most influential postwar improviser on his instrument. Montgomerys oneofakind technique and approach to guitar helped elevate the instruments status in jazz and has influenced decades of jazz guitarists, several of which will be represented tonight.
Dizzys club cocacola celebrates beloved jazz guitarist wes montgomery on what would have been his 92nd birthday. The incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery discogs. Oct 24, 2019 in this guitar tutorial ill show you several licks that use chords, as well as octaves and wes montgomery single note licks. This playlist was carefully selected and ranked for the fun of it it is just our own humble opinion. The chord solos of wes montgomery techniques and concepts. A community for jazz guitarists and lovers of jazz guitar. Most of the time we are in impressed with wes for playing everything with the. Eleven groovin jazz masterpieces from the legendary wes montgomery and accompanied by a swingin rhythm section in the style of his popular band. Wes montgomery used a concept called minorization to play over dominant chords. Gibson es125d strings wes montgomery used heavy gauge flat wound guitar strings to get that fat, characteristic. The incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery youtube.
John leslie wes montgomery march 6, 1923 june 15, 1968 was an american jazz guitarist. Wes montgomery the incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery. From 1958 until a decade later, montgomery was the consummate hard bop guitar. In paris recording, guitarist wes montgomery shows his. On this landmark recording, montgomery veered away from his home indianapolisbased organ combo with melvin rhyne, the californiabased montgomery brothers band, and other studio sidemen he had been. How to lay in the style of es montgomery gibson l4 with a charlie christian bar pickup. Basically, hes the one that changed both the mentality of players that followed and the way the instrument is played. Wes montgomery tabs guitar tabs with rhythm songsterr. Give wes montgomery a toothbrush and hell make music out of it. The incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery wes montgomery.
Share this playlist with other classic jazz fanatics. Wes montgomery was a jazz guitar virtuoso who introduced several new techniques to guitarplaying mainly bebop and smooth jazz. Originally released on riverside in 1960, the incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery was recorded over just two days at the reeves sound studios in new york city. How the jazz great ditched guitar picks and created a masterpiece. The most famous jazz guitar recording of besame mucho is on wes montgomery s album boss guitar. John leslie wes montgomery was an american jazz guitarist. I guess we all agree upon the fact, that wes montgomery was one of the most influencial jazz guitarists of all times. Timeline is below printable pdf ebooks for guitarists. The incredible skills of wes montgomery will live on in jazz history. Montgomery, wes incredible jazz guitar of wes amazon. In this guest post, greg orourke from teaches you the essential ingredients you need for a successful jazz guitar practice session, walking you through a. In this guitar tutorial ill show you several licks that use chords, as well as octaves and wes montgomery single note licks. The style of wes montgomery for guitar by corey christiansen, i may have altered it a bit, i changed the octave section to single notes for ease of learning.
The most famous version of unit 7 is on wes montgomery. Wes second album, the incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery, earned him downbeat magazines new star award in 1960. Unit 7 is a great jazz standard composed by bass player sam jones during the time he was working with cannonball adderley. The wes montgomery jazz guitar style most of the time we are in impressed with wes for playing everything with the thumb, using octaves and playing swinging lines.