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Wes Montgomery

Wes Montgomery (1925-68) was a guitar superstar, combining a smooth, mellow attack with blues-drenched swing. Praised by critics and musicians, he was a huge crossover hit as well. Geoffrey Smith surveys an impressive, all too brief career.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 17 Jan 2016 00:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Wes Montgomery

    Finger Pickin'

    • The Montgomeryland Sessions.
    • Phoenix.
    • 1.

  • Wes Montgomery

    West Coast Blues

    • The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery.
    • Riverside.
    • 5.

  • Wes Montgomery

    In Your Own Sweet Way

    • The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery.
    • Riverside.
    • 6.

  • Wes Montgomery

    So Do It

    • Movin' Along.
    • Riverside Records.
    • 6.

  • Wes Montgomery

    Cottontail

    • The Quintessence.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 8.

  • Wes Montgomery

    Delilah

    • The Quintessence.
    • Fremeaux & Associes.
    • 10.

  • Wes Montgomery

    Besame Mucho

    • Boss Guitar.
    • Riverside.
    • 1.

  • Wes Montgomery

    If You Could See Me Now

    • Smokin' at the Half Note.
    • Verve.
    • 2.

  • WES MONTGOMERY, The Wynton Kelly Trio, WES MONTGOMERY, Paul Chambers & Jimmy Cobb

    Impressions

    • Smokin' at the Half Note.
    • Verve.
    • 11.

Performers:

  Title:  Finger Pickin' 
  Performers: Wes Montgomery
  Composers: Wes Montgomery 
  Album Title: The Montgomeryland Sessions
  Label: Phoenix  Catalogue No: 131579
  Duration:  02:30
  Performers: Freddie Hubbard, (tp); Wayman Atkinson, Alonzo Johnson, (ts); Buddy Montgomery, (vib); Joe Bradley, (p); Monk Montgomery, (b); Paul Parker, (d)

  Title:  West Coast Blues 
  Performers: Wes Montgomery
  Composers: Wes Montgomery
  Album Title: The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
  Label: Riverside Catalogue No: 11-69
  Duration: 07:20
  Performers: Wes Montgomery, (g); Tommy Flanagan, (p); Percy Heath, (b); Albert Heath, (d)

  Title:   In Your Own Sweet Way 
  Performers: Wes Montgomery
  Composers: Dave Brubeck
  Album Title: The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
  Label: Riverside Catalogue No: 11-69
  Duration: 04:49
  Performers: Wes Montgomery, (g); Tommy Flanagan, (p); Percy Heath, (b); Albert Heath, (d)

  Title:  So Do It 
  Performers: Wes Montgomery
  Composers: Wes Montgomery 
  Album Title: Movin' Along 
  Label: Riverside Records Catalogue No: RLP-9342
  Duration: 06:04
  Performers: Wes Montgomery, (guitar); James Clay, (flute); Victor Feldman, (piano); Sam Jones, (bass); Louis Hayes, (drums)

  Title:  Cottontail 
  Performers: Wes Montgomery
  Composers: Duke Ellington
  Album Title: The Quintessence 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: FA 3062
  Duration: 03:38 
  Performers: Hank Jones, (piano); Wes Montgomery, (guitar); Ron Carter, (Bass); Lex Humphries, (dm); Ray Barretto, (conga)

  Title:  Delilah 
  Performers: Wes Montgomery
  Composers: Reed & Mason
  Album Title: The Quintessence 
  Label: Fremeaux & Associes Catalogue No: FA 3062
  Duration: 06:10
  Performers: Milt Jackson, (vibes); Wynton Kelly, (piano); West Montgomery, (guitar); Sam Jones, (bass); Philly Joe Jones, (dm) 

  Title  Besame Mucho 
  Performers: Wes Montgomery
  Composers: Velasquez & Skylar
  Album Title: Boss Guitar
  Label: Riverside Catalogue No: OJCCD-2612
  Duration: 06:28
  Performers: Wes Montgomery, (guitar); Mel Rhyne, (organ); Jimmy Cobb, (drums)

  Title: If You Could See Me Now 
  Performers: Wes Montgomery
  Composers: Sigman/Dameron
  Album Title: Smokin' at the Half Note
  Label: Verve Catalogue No: 007502-1034761
  Duration: 08:19
  Performers: Wynton Kelly, (piano); Wes Montgomery, (guitar); Paul Chambers, (bass); Jimmy Cobb, (drums)

  Title:  Impressions 
  Performers: Wes Montgomery 
  Composers: John Coltrane
  Album Title: Smokin' at the Half Note
  Label: Verve Catalogue No: V6-8633
  Duration: 05:00
  Perfomers: Wynton Kelly, (piano); Wes Montgomery, (guitar); Paul Chambers, (bass); Jimmy Cobb, (drums)

Broadcast

  • Sun 17 Jan 2016 00:00
    BBC Radio 3

Podcast

  • Geoffrey Smith's Jazz

    Geoffrey Smith's Jazz - a weekly sequence exploring what makes great jazz great music