Wes Montgomery's Finest Hour

Wes Montgomery's Finest Hour

ASIN: B00004TWRQ

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In the mid-1960s, Wes Montgomery went from being simply the most acclaimed jazz guitarist of the era to becoming an immense crossover success, setting the trend for later musicians like Grover Washington Jr. and George Benson. Often placed in pop-oriented big band and string settings, Montgomery covered earlier hits of the day--like "Tequila" and the Beatles' "A Day in the Life"--adding his trademark octaves and funky inflections. Given the opportunity, though, he was still an inspired improviser, a side that's best represented here by the big-band version of "Milestones" with organist Jimmy Smith, and the live recording of John Coltrane's "Impressions," with Montgomery blazing atop the rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb. This is a good introduction to the different facets of Montgomery's later recordings, with the emphasis on the pop side of the equation. Those seeking more of his forthright jazz playing of the time should go directly to Impressions: the Verve Jazz Sides. --Stuart Broomer

Wes Montgomery's Finest Hour,Wes Montgomery,Polygram Records,Crossover Jazz,Hard Bop,Jazz,Jazz Music,Jazz-Pop,Pop

Average customer rating:

This CD explains a lot!

A Pleasurable listen

Certainly Not His Finest Hour

An Album Wrapped In Timeless Elegance

Great & Bad

Wes Montgomery's Finest Hour
Wes Montgomery
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00004TWRQ
Release Date: 2000-06-27

Tracks:

Bumpin' On Sunset
The Shadow Of Your Smile
Up And At It
Once I Loved (AKA 'Favela')
Milestones
Movin' Wes - Part 1
Tequila
Watch What Happens
Bumpin'
Impressions
Goin' Out Of My Head
Sunny
A Day In The Life
Down Here On The Ground
Twisted Blues
Road Song

Amazon.com

In the mid-1960s, Wes Montgomery went from being simply the most acclaimed jazz guitarist of the era to becoming an immense crossover success, setting the trend for later musicians like Grover Washington Jr. and George Benson. Often placed in pop-oriented big band and string settings, Montgomery covered earlier hits of the day--like "Tequila" and the Beatles' "A Day in the Life"--adding his trademark octaves and funky inflections. Given the opportunity, though, he was still an inspired improviser, a side that's best represented here by the big-band version of "Milestones" with organist Jimmy Smith, and the live recording of John Coltrane's "Impressions," with Montgomery blazing atop the rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb. This is a good introduction to the different facets of Montgomery's later recordings, with the emphasis on the pop side of the equation. Those seeking more of his forthright jazz playing of the time should go directly to Impressions: the Verve Jazz Sides. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

This CD explains a lot!.......2007-05-24

Many top guitarists today have cited Wes as an one of their influences, and I've heard George Benson pay tribute to him in a song he did some years ago. After playing this CD as my intro to Wes, I not only know why he's cited as an influence for so many artists, but I can certainly hear him in many of today's best guitarists.

The CD starts out with "Bumpin'", the most recognizable song by him that I knew of. It just gets better from there, as there's not a bad song on this and it's wonderful to listen to from start to finish. There are several that pick up the pace nicely, and several that slow it down just right, but through it all, the great sound is there. It's a treat to hear it on this CD.

Needless to say, this certainly won't be the last CD by Wes that I buy.

A Pleasurable listen.......2007-04-23

I'm not going to re-hash the traditionalist vs sellout theme here.
I will however let it be known that I am not a fan of re-interpretations of current pop music in other forms. Things like these have traditionally smacked of embarrassing attempts at relevancy, Ala "Peace Love & Pops" by Arthur Fielder and The Boston Pops Orchestra.
BUT, there are exceptions, and this is one.
Yes, some of these tracks don't quite work. I was dissapointed with "Milestones" a personal favorite. Something's lost in this arrangements really slow tempo (not Montgomery's playing). It has all the soul of a Wal-Mart.
But for the most part, this is a really strong crossover piece with moments that just shine.
If you're not tappin' and snappin' to "Up And At It" "Impressions" and the wonderful "Twisted Blues" you ain't livin' Brother!
If this is cheesy elevator music in a equally bad hotel, then book me for a stay.
As I found this a pleasant musical snapshot of the late 60's filled with trademark Wes harmonics.
Overall a better attempt at this type of recording than most.

Certainly Not His Finest Hour.......2007-04-10

If you are new to John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery, there are much better albums to get yourself acquainted with his talent. Wes was known for his incredible melodies, and his octave playing, which he did with the side of his thumb (a practice he developed to keep his playing while practicing in his small living room! Watch George Benson or The Tonight Show's Kevin Eubanks to see this technique mastered today). Although technically not the best player, Wes' melodies are what set him apart from the rest of his contemporaries, and what made him such an influential artist to this day.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to discern his genius within most of the tracks of this album. To become a greater commercial success, Wes signed up with Verve, whose producers decided to drown out most of his guitar playing with LOUD brass sections and strings, relegating him to mostly comping in the background. Many have termed this Wes' "selling out". It did work, as the cover tunes and LOUD brass arrangements did sell more albums and garner more airplay. However, Wes' success was short-lived, as he died of a heart attack in 1968 at the young age of 45.
Most of the Verve tracks will sound very dated to today's listener, and sound suited best for elevators in outdated and cheesy hotels.
If one is new to Wes, and wants to hear his true genius, the first selections should be from his earlier Riverside label collection. These tracks let his talent shine through, without drowning it with garish and dated adornments.

An Album Wrapped In Timeless Elegance.......2007-03-01

"The sound is the first thing you notice. It's round and warm, without the brittleness often associated with jazz guitar or the wailing, screaming, look-at-me quality that can mar even the best blues and rock playing. Produced with his thumb rather than a pick, it's a profoundly human sound that invites you in." ~ Peter Keepnews, Liner Notes, March 2000 ~

This lovely compilation album, "Wes Montgomery's Finest Hour" is one of my top favorites guitar music from my collection. This is truly the lyrical guitar virtuoso's ultra finest of his finest hours. It's always been so pleasurable listening to sixteen mesmerizing tunes from the initial track and one of his original compositions, "Bumpin' On Sunset" to the final one, also an original, "Road Song."

Duke Ellington once said: "there are only two kinds of music, good and bad." And definitely this album falls into the first category. So good that any listener will have an hour of great listening experience. Wes Montgomery, one of the tops in my list of favorite jazz giants, will mesmerize you with three of my all-time favorites, "The Shadow Of Your Smile," "Once I Loved" and "Watch What Happens." These tunes are so remarkable - they have that calming and soothing effect that will make you want to listen over and over again, like a hundred times without tiring!

For someone who started playing the guitar at twenty, Wes Montgomery was one of the best jazz guitarists in American music history. He was known for the "use of octaves" and his trademark of using his right thumb instead of a pick, which I think is so uniquely brilliant! He played his signature Gibson L-5 and late in his career, an L4-CES reissue with such precision, elegance and overwhelming beauty. His graceful guitar playing style was characterized by timeless elegance. As what Peter Keepnews further wrote on Liner Notes: "And when it comes to guitar playing that can soothe, seduce, or sizzle as the occasion demands, it doesn't get any better - regardless of the context - than Wes Montgomery."

If you're a fan of Wes Montgomery, this is a great addition to your collection, and for fans-to-be, I would wholeheartedly recommend this as an essential introduction album. You'll absolutely enjoy it!

Happy Listening!

"Nobody can understand how he achieves such phenomenal speed in view of his unorthodox playing technique . . . Wes plucks the guitar with the thumb of his right hand." ~ Gene Lees ~

Great & Bad.......2006-02-26

Wes Montgomery is one of the greatest & most influential jazz guitarists. This album is not his finest hour, though, it's just an hour of Verve music. I don't have all the Verve stuff, so I can't say if it's his best Verve stuff, though I guess it isn't.

The best songs on this disc are truly great. It's the meatier jazz stuff - for example Impressions & Milestones that's the best. Some of the smoother stuff is still pretty impressive - for example Bumpin' On Sunset is slightly corny but the guitar is great. The worst commercial stuff, like Tequila, knocks a star off.

I think a good place to start, or continue, with Wes Montgomery is "Incredible Jazz Guitar".

Average customer rating:

Wes Montgomery's Finest Hour
Wes Montgomery
Manufacturer: Universal/Verve
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Verve | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005S75H
Release Date: 2001-12-21

Tracks:

Bumpin' on Sunset
Shadow of Your Smile
Up and at It
Once I Loved (A.K.A. Favela)
Milestones
Movin' Wes, Pt. 1
Tequila
Watch What Happens
Bumpin'
Impressions
Goin' Out of My Head
Sunny
Day in the Life
Down Here on the Ground
Twisted Blues
Road Song

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music