Gracias a las televisiones públicas europeas, existen testimonios históricos como esta interpretación del genial guitarrista Wes Montgomery, en su país, no tuvieron esa "deferencia" con el, lamentable...
Simply just facts, all of the quote on quote best guitarist that have ever lived were all jazz guitarist and not rock guitarist....not my fault it's just the way the cookie crumbled..... Django, grant green, Wes Montgomery a d I'm sure Iam leaving some one out for sure all pushed the limits of the instrument and all played completely different from each other.....after the three u can start naming Clapton, hendrix, and who ever u would like....just imo....I'm not a guitarist but, I'm way beyond an enthusiast
Wes Montgomery was said to lack confidence in his ability but on camera he’s killing it and looking relaxed. Superlative backing musicians must have helped.
Barbaroja It flowed perfectly. I was listening to the bass solo and when the band popped back in it was so subtle I didn’t really notice it but I did. I don’t know how else to describe it. Just flowed perfectly.
One of the mysteries of Wes Montgomery’s incredible technique (and there are many!) is that because he played with his thumb, he must have only been able to pluck the strings downward, since it is difficult to imagine how to pluck upward with the thumb. I did read somewhere that Wes had developed a distended callous on his thumb that made it possible for him to pluck upward occasionally with his thumb. It’s very interesting to see on this video that Wes does in fact pluck upward very occasionally. He does, however, pluck downward predominantly. I’ve never been able to see that on any other video of Wes, but there it is! I believe also that Wes had the greatest natural understanding of the fretboard of any guitarist I can think of. He was to my mind not only the greatest of all jazz guitarists, but he stands with only h small handful of the greatest jazz musicians on any instrument (Lester Young, Charlie Parker etc.)
You can for sure pluck up with the thumb. Tosin Abasi has mastered it. But I’m pretty sure Wes used just downstrokes when playing lead lines. Which is really impressive
Wes started playing guitar with the age of 19 years. At that time he was working as a mechanic. In the evening he could rehearse. Playing with a pick was too harsh and loud and his children woke up. So he decided just to use his thumb wich produces a more mellow tone. Wes didn't read music, just played by listening and watching. Amazing guy, fantastic musician, improvisor, beautiful soul and guitarslinger.
This guy here is the ABSOLUTE G.O.A.T. of jazz guitar, in my opinion!!! I look at a USED Gibson L5, like the one here, that thing was $9500.00😳! (Needless to say... I'm still DREAMING of owning one😆.)
Add Grant Green was copied as well. GB copied anything that he could from non guitarists too. GB had /has perfect pitch thus quite easier to verify what he heard. Wes didnt have perfect pitch and Horace Silver said he played beautiful on a tune at a Jam session but in the wrong key.
Both George Benson and Phil Upchurch ... great jazz guitarists in their own right... ... co-wrote a song called "Six To Four". I'm wondering if this is where they got the inspiration from 🤔😊😊
And many other jazz guitar greats, like Pat Martino, Emily Rembler, and Lee Ritenour (Lee even named one of his sons after Wes). Wes was to jazz guitar what Hendrix was to rock in that he was a great guitar innovator who many try to emulate.
I mostly listen to metal, punk, and hard rock and now old jazz. seeing this dude play makes me realise that no matter what genre you like a great musician will always amaze you. And as a guitar player jazz is one of the Is challenging genres to play. It really has made me spend ours in the guitar playing those hard ass chords. And that bass solo is sick!
Good music is always good music. I can easily jump from Pantera to Dave Brubeck, pass through Slayer or Red Hot Chili Peppers straight out to Elton John or Queen, then go to Fela Kuti or John Zorn, Quantic or Björk. Johann Sebastian Bach or Stravinsky, through Korsakov or Béla Bartok jumping from Pink Floyd to Iron Maiden, ending with some good old Hendrix or Zeppelin.
Listen to Rite of Spring by Stravinsky. I think you will hear very, very early hints of metal and prog in an orchestra setting. When it was debuted in 1915 in Paris it caused a fights to break out in theater and people were pounding the hands on the seats almost like head banging.
My only wish is to be able to hear music forever. I’m go glad I’m 17 and able to enjoy beautiful music like this. this is true music right here. That roots soul music
Saw him in San Francisco. I think it was the summer of 1959 in a North Beach club. I was 18 and Caiifornia ajjowed 18 year olds to enter but couldn’t serve us alcohol. Which was fine with me. I was thoroughly intrigued by the Music!!!!!
3:04 was his finger resting on the top of the guitar actually wearing away the top of he guitar? (his finger next to the index ... it is off the pickguard or is that some kind of pad stuck on there?)
It's very important what you mention!! That's why his way of playing is unique. The tone of his sound is so clear..besides he plays the right notes and chords without overplaying them like other jazz interpreters.
I had a boss, who was a young man, when he was offered a gig in SF to take the place of Wes's bass player because he got sick. He got scared and turned it down. He regretted years later.
I believe the use of Octaves for guitar leads was a huge influence on Hendrix, he did that a ton which set him apart from other Rock/Blues players. Third Stone was a great example of him using that technique, which no doubt he picked up from watching and hearing Wes
His thumb was double jointed so he could literally alternate pick with it like a pick player, I remember doing research on him cuz I was wondering the same lol
The cameraman is hanging from the rafters and obviously a guitar picker, trying to kop some licks. I've never seen a better pov camera angle in a clip. Now if I can just find a way to run it at half speed, oh well....
I marvel at seeing Rick Laird playing the bass on this show with Wes. It's not for nothing he was chosen to play with Mahavishnu years later. The experience and pedigree are there.
Can't say I've seen this camera angle on Wes' left hand before nor his right. I'm amazed at how he just uses his thumb on single notes. Such a talent. Love hearing him play The Big Hurt. One of my all time favorites. Wish there was footage of that.
DjazzYMas Stan Tracey - piano, Jackie Dougan - drums and Rick Laird - bass. Irishman Rick later became the bass player in the original Mahavishnu Orchestra, so he has certainly played with some hot guitarists!
Soy flamenco, vine por Vicente Amigo ya que él lo nombra. Conocía el talento de McLaughin, Santana o Larry, pero no a este monstruo. Me ha sorprendido mucho la naturalidad de su expresión e improvisación. Este es uno de los grandes, sin duda alguna. Y no entiendo casi nada de jazz. Un saludo.
.heavier then usual strings...... no relief in the guitar neck.and frets perfectly leveled. Benson likes his touring guitars very similarily setup!...plays like butter from one end to the other.
wow..amazing & unique thumb technique of wes Is graceful as always like his smile..great talents and a rare clarity b&w video Is a treat to our eyes and ears, ' n ' number of times to watch..thanks a lot..siva..india..
The album this song appeared on was The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery on Riverside Records. It is indeed a jazz classic and sounds as new and exciting as when it came out.
During one of the most turbulent eras of American history we saw such masterful instrumentation and musical expression. The jazz music, itself, from this era should be studied to understand the monumental leap forward-and I some respects backwards, in our existence in America.
