Wes Montgomery, Jazz Guitar Great
Recorded Boss Guitar, Beatles Songs, Paved Way for Smooth Jazz
Dec 23, 2008
Montgomery was born in 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to a musical family. He didn't begin learning the guitar until he was 19 years old, and within a few short years he was touring with vibraphone player Lionel Hampton.
He didn't do much touring during his career, however, because he didn't like leaving his family of eight. Instead, he worked a day job and then played the clubs of Indianapolis until early in the morning.
Early Recordings and Riverside Records
Montgomery's earliest recordings, in the late 1950s, also featured his brothers Monk and Buddy. He also recorded with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard around this time.
From 1959 to 1963 Montgomery recorded for Riverside Records label. Critics and fans consider this his most important period. It was during this time that he wrote the songs "Four on Six" and "West Coast Blues" and recorded albums such as Movin' Along, Full House and So Much Guitar. A fruitful association with alto sax player Cannonball Adderley also brought him into focus among jazz circles.
Verve and A & M Records
At Verve Records, Montgomery recorded albums with string and horn sections, with lush arrangements that sometimes overshadowed the guitar work. With arranger Don Sebesky, albums such as Tequila, Movin' Wes and Fusion!: Wes Montgomery with Strings moved Montgomery's focus away from the post-bop jazz he had been creating into a more accessible form.
There were several well-received records during Montgomery's stay at Verve, including several titles with jazz organist Jimmy Smith.
At A & M, Montgomery moved a little farther from jazz still with recordings of pop songs such as "I Say a Little Prayer for You," "Eleanor Rigby" and "Scarborough Fair." The records proved to be big hits for the guitar player.
Guitar Style of Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery is known as a guitarist's guitarist, as inventive with his technique as he was with his musical ideas. He was known as "The Thumb," because he played notes and chords with his thumb rather than a pick. The resulting sound was a fuller tone than most guitar players could produce.
Playing with the thumb also allowed him to play runs in octaves. This innovation makes Montgomery's sound instantly recognizable.
Death and Legacy
Wes Montgomery died suddenly of a heart attack in 1968. He was just 45, and had only recorded for about a decade.
Musically, Wes Montgomery followed in the tradition of guitar great Charlie Christian. His inspired playing influenced such major guitar players from George Benson and Pat Martino to Pat Metheny. In addition, he is cited as one of the pioneers of guitar as a solo instrument, one of the great developments of post-war jazz.
