So Much Guitar

Artist: Wes Montgomery
Label: Dcc Compact Classics
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Gold CD
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 010963107821
EAN: 0010963107821
ASIN: B000000180

Release Date: 1995-03-31

Related Categories:

Bebop General

| Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| Pop | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz

| Jazz | Styles | Music

Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo

| Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop

| Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Twisted Blues
Cotton Tail
I Wish I Knew
I'm Just A Lucky So And So
Repetition
Somethin' Like Bags
While We're Young
One For My Baby

Similar Items:

Boss Guitar
Full House
The Wes Montgomery Trio
The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
Movin' Along

Customer Reviews:

So much Wes.......2007-02-20

Wes Montgomery started recording late and died young - and some might unkindly say it was hard to tell the difference on his final Verve records. The best of Wes' playing is on his early Riverside discs, notably Incredible Jazz Guitar, the live Full House and this record. Movin' Along, which falls chronologically between Incredible and So Much, is spoilt by Montgomery's inexplicable decision to solo on bass guitar, thus eliminating one of the most attractive features of his style, his mellow, glowing tone. Most critics rate Incredible Jazz Guitar as the pick of the bunch. While not disputing that album's many strengths, I find So Much Guitar slightly more enjoyable. There's no hint of lethargy or cruising here. The single note runs are crisp and consistently inventive. There's less of the uninspired strumming that so marred Wes' later work. Ballads like One More for My Baby have a real after hours feel without becoming syrupy. Wes solos at a blistering pace on Cottontail. Pehaps the best thing to do is buy and enjoy both discs.

Great sessions from a guitar titan.......2006-12-10

We have all heard Wes Montgomery, either from the great man himself or referenced by Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, who did a good approximation of Montgomery's signature octave picking.
Of course, that's not all Wes could do. This session, recorded in a few days time, is precise, mindblowing and represents some of guitar oriented bebop's finest moments.
"Twisted Blues" starts off with a friendly jump, and "Cotton Tail" follows with a nearly incomprehensible rhythm pattern that no novice should ever attempt without a safety net.
The album is smooth and shows us what a well rounded guitarist could do for the instrument. Perhaps Montgomery's only real contemporary competition was Chet Atkins. Like Atkins, the chord knowledge and voicing is encyclopedic. No guitar player should be without this CD as a lesson for great rhythm work (not to mention lead work, too), and no fan of be-bop should neglect to have this gem in his or her collection, either.

I stand corrected...but still awed.......2003-08-27

Below, in a previous review, I stated that "While We're Young" was written by Wes. It was not. It was written by Alec Wilder. It is still the most precious tune that Wes ever recorded...

So Much to say..........2003-07-05

Given the fact that Wes Montgomery died at age 43, you almost want to finish this title with the words "so little time", but Wes packed a whole 'nuther career into the time between this LPs release and his death. While this is not my absolute favorite single Wes CD, one of my favorite Wes 'Riverside era' tunes is on it. 'While We're Young' is, as far as I know, the only solo tune that Wes ever wrote and recorded. It is the sweetest, most honest, closest thing to heaven I've ever heard come out of a man's soul through an electrified wooden six string instrument. There - is that enough accolade for one less than 2 minute tune?! The rest of this original LP is great with some really superb piano playing by Hank Jones, smokin' bass lines by Ron Carter, beat-bumping from Ray Barretto on congas and drummer Lex Humphries. 'Twisted Blues' is superb, as are all the tunes. The only reason that this is not included in my all-time Wes "5-star" line-up is because I do miss Jimmy Cobb on drums, and because at times ("Cottontail") the tempo is pushed almost to the uncomfortable point. However, it is still Wes at his very best...and if "Cottontail" drops to "4-star" status, then "While We're Young" with its "10 stars" more than makes up for it. If you love Wes, this is a 'must-have' CD.

Quality Jazz Guitar.......2001-03-15

"So Much Guitar!" gives us the great breadth of Wes's range- from smooth and soulful to quick and sleek. The other players on the CD are also notables. "One for My Baby" is done very nicely, as is "I Wish I Knew". You will also be surprised to find a hidden gem in here- one of the songs is a pure unaccompanied solo, warm and pure to the touch- very clean.

While I am very happy that some of these old jazz albums are now being remastered onto CD, I gave this one four stars instead of five because it fully employs the split-speaker recording tactic that was popular in the sixties. Through a stereo system that's a plus because it sounds like the band has set up in front of you- Wes on the right, the kit in the middle, etc. The problem is that I like to listen to music on my walkman, and my right ear gets blasted with straight guitar! Not so much a complaint, but more of an unusual situation. Anyway, if you like good jazz and especially great electric jazz guitar, buy this CD!

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