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Rating: His music fills my soul with positive sensations. Sometimes, while listening to the swing of "West Coast Blues", a bit of melancholy even surfaces, but it's pleasant. It's not an essential jazz, the one presented in this 1995 posthumous collection, double CD, label Polygram. Some purists have defined these versions as pop-jazz.
The melodies are extremely clean, the harmonies vibrant and delicate, the accompaniment of the trumpets fills and completes the basic concept. The rhythm is delirious, the swing carries you into the sound, full, rich, orchestral (3 trumpets make the difference). Pure pleasure in a box. Unmatched quality.
The pieces are always short (2-3 minutes), intense, dominated by a soft framework. "Caravan" is a rapid journey into the energetic substance of a sound that fills with captivating vibrations. Wes's skill is always at the forefront. "Twisted Blues" is also joyful, brisk, and the rhythm is crazy, elusive.
In the first tracks, it was a journey of pure "verve".
Heartbreaking, melancholic "Golden Earrings", where the sounds of the brass are poignant and laden with melancholy. An emotional piece, because every element does its duty, the path deluding about the nature of the slower track, that rocks you with the ups and downs of Wes's velvety guitar, which dissolves leaving space to the brass, a lump in the throat, embarrassing closure.
The first four pieces themselves encapsulate the immense value of this collection of historically significant tracks, pure music to be enjoyed, where Wes's electric guitar never exudes presumption, with its swollen and intimate notes, gliding gracefully, never a chord, only combinations of keys and caresses on strings, in the ensemble of a rich instrumentation.
And no piece steps out of line. The harmonic concept quickly arrives and Wes sticks to some snippets of personal brilliance, but never smudges. Jazz and blues concepts are alternated and no track takes too much space. The risk is finding yourself with a collection that illuminates the genius of a self-taught artist with great ideas, strong personality, and immense character. And the CD is a true gift, an homage to the fullness of brilliant music, where a bit of everything enters. You might say it's a middle ground, where there are multitudes of musical territories to discover, and it's perfectly suited for anyone who feels uneasy approaching genres such as blues or jazz. The mood will mediate your anxieties and you will emerge pleasantly involved and open to new explorations.
The piano interludes in "Sun Down" are delightful, plus a captivating swing. You'll realize there's room for everyone and everything. You'll love this music if you give it the beauty of a few listens. Let the melody in, then observe Wes's unique style, finally listen to the whole. The arrangement of every single track is simply perfect.
"Milestones" is introspective, dark, softened by orchestral tones and Wes's strides, who plays nimbly and has fun. An unclassifiable effect.
Then there's "'Round Midnight": fatal, whispered, deep, and here there's space for the spectacular "Hammond" keyboard, the range includes striking trumpet highs.
There isn't a weak point, a single note out of place, and each piece is a nest of sensations. The serenity of "O.G.D", the gracefulness of "Wives And Lovers", the romanticism of "Portrait of Jennie", up to the cabaret-like serenity of "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top" tinged with blues accents, that closes the first CD (15 tracks).
The second CD (10 tracks), includes the sessions of Smokin' at the Half Note with the Wynton Kelly trio
and begins with "Unit 7" which has a modern blues sound, with happy alternating piano/guitar improvisation.
There's "Four On Six", a Montgomery staple, in a very fast version. An ancient ballad, from the piano bar "If You Could See Me", where the piano is prominently featured. "Impressions" is another classic piece, executed furiously, perhaps this unrefined version undermines its original intentions, but it's a matter of personal taste.
This man has been a master. He has inspired great musicians, he will inspire you too. If you know Metheny or Scofield, just to name a few, you'll understand how much Wes has influenced. In any case, a tremendous CD.
For biographical touches, I refer you to http://www.debaser.it/recensionidb/ID_18998/Wes_Montgomery_The_Incredible_Jazz_Guitar.htm
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