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. On this landmark recording,
Montgomery veered away from his home Indianapolis-based organ combo with
Melvin Rhyne, the California-based
Montgomery Brothers band, and other studio sidemen he had been placed with briefly. Off to New York City and a date with
Tommy Flanagan's trio,
Montgomery seems in his post- to hard bop element, swinging fluently with purpose, drive, and vigor not heard in an electric guitarist since bop progenitor
Charlie Christian. Setting him apart from the rest, this recording established
Montgomery as the most formidable modern guitarist of the era, and eventually its most influential. There's some classic material here, including the cat-quick but perhaps a trifle anxious version of the
Sonny Rollins bop evergreen "Airegin," the famous repeated modal progressive and hard bop jam "Focus on Six," and
Montgomery's immortal soul waltz "West Coast Blues," effortlessly rendered with its memorable melody and flowing, elegant chiffon-like lines.
Flanagan, at a time shortly after leaving his native Detroit, is the perfect pianist for this session. He plays forcefully but never overtly so on the bop tracks, offering up his trademark delicacy on the laid-back "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and easy-as-pie "Gone with the Wind." With the dynamic Philadelphia rhythm section of brothers
Percy Heath on bass and drummer
Albert Heath, they play a healthy Latin beat on the choppy and dramatic melody of
Montgomery's original "Mr. Walker."
Montgomery is clearly talented beyond convention, consistently brilliant, and indeed incredible in the company of his sidemen, and this recording -- an essential addition to every jazz guitarist fan's collection -- put him on the map. [
The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery was reissued in a Super Audio Compact Disc remastered version in 2003.] ~ Michael G. Nastos