Your Favorite Wes Montgomery Album

**Dirk** · 04-09-2013, 06:30 AM

Just wondering what everyone's favorite Wes Montgomery album is...

**disco~juice** · 04-09-2013, 06:54 AM

Smokin' at half note

**yaclaus** · 04-09-2013, 07:33 AM

Riverside Complete Recordings of Wes Montgomery

**daveg** · 04-09-2013, 07:45 AM

You haven't listed the two Jimmy Smith Collaborations or I would vote for them as well as:

The Wes Montgomery Trio
Boss Guitar
Guitar on the Go

DG

TH · 04-09-2013, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by yaclaus

Riverside Complete Recordings of Wes Montgomery

+1

**paynow** · 04-09-2013, 03:10 PM

When I started playing guitar (around age 16) I was really into the Beatles, and that's mainly what I played. My Dad was a bassist and one day he says to me "You should listen to this cat..." and put on the vinyl of "The Wes Montgomery Trio." He didn't really say much, just had it on. I was hooked on Wes from that point on. I love so much of his work, but that stands out as my favorite.

**docbop** · 04-09-2013, 09:38 PM

All his playing is great, but like the earlier recording because I'm not of fan of the big orchestrations of the later albums.

**jtizzle** · 04-10-2013, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by yaclaus

Riverside Complete Recordings of Wes Montgomery

I was about to post that, haha!
Also missing Echoes of Indiana Ave. Definitely one of my two fav. albums, Smokin' At The Half Note (although I kind of thought that was technically under Wynton Kelly's name, or am I wrong?) and Echoes.

**Leunam** · 04-13-2013, 11:16 AM

the first album from wes - boss guitar.
Manuel Hobi - Jazz Gitarre

**randalljazz** · 04-13-2013, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by disco~juice

Smokin' at half note

if they would only have edited out that dreadful commentary... Your Favorite Wes Montgomery Album-cherna-facepalm-gif

**pierre richard** · 04-15-2013, 10:51 AM

I can not chose one...

I love them all..

I have 26 of his albums (LPS)...play one or two weekly...

A great player...

I was in the Navy when I first heard him and said when I get out I'm am going to make a pilgramage (sp) to seek him out and listen to him perform live...

Alas...he died before I got out...

Play his style on many tunes I do...single note...octaves...chord melody stuff...top of the pile man...

time on the instrument...

**Petimar** · 04-19-2013, 12:43 AM

The Incredible Jazz Guitar!!!!

**AndyV** · 04-20-2013, 07:17 PM

If I follow conventional critical thought, I'm supposed to vote for Smokin' at the Half Note or Incredible Jazz Guitar because these show Wes at the apex of his long form jazz creativity but in truth, it's ability to pull incredible beauty from harmonically less sophisticated pop material that truly takes my breath away. In a limited number of bars, he could spontaneously compose a perfect gem of a solo - the kind that stays in your head for days. So, I vote for the LP Tequila, strings and all.

**David B** · 04-22-2013, 11:57 AM

FULL HOUSE for me.

**mr. beaumont** · 04-22-2013, 12:06 PM

Full House here too. C'mon, you get Johnny Griffin! Johnny Griffin's like hot sauce. It makes everything better.

**fumblefingers** · 04-25-2013, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by randalljazz

if they would only have edited out that dreadful commentary... Your Favorite Wes Montgomery Album-cherna-facepalm-gif

i kinda like it. its so old timey. everybody has cigarette voice.

**2bornot2bop** · 04-27-2013, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by fumblefingers

i kinda like it. its so old timey. everybody has cigarette voice.

that's cuz those cats were livin' the life as they chose! old timey is GOOD!

**jazzuki** · 04-27-2013, 03:38 PM

Sorry Dirk, unfair question-no favourites -I just like anything by Wes.For me he could even play brilliantly on Seasick Steves guitar!

**princeplanet** · 04-28-2013, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Full House here too. C'mon, you get Johnny Griffin! Johnny Griffin's like hot sauce. It makes everything better.

Yeah, Griff is baddass on that disc . Too bad the Wes / Coltrane thing never happened. How many albums did Wes do with great horn players where they share solos? Isn't there a Poll Winners record with Wes and Cannonball? Anyone heard it?

**ronjazz** · 04-28-2013, 09:41 PM

Certainly the Jimmy Smith stuff should be included, but Smokin' at the Half Note is just the way I heard him 6 nights running at the Jazz Workshop in Boston. He had an amazing presence as well, lit up the room, as was a wonderful, gentle person,even driving me home in his rented car after I missed the last train because we were hanging out carrying on about music and the guitar. A great player and a great person, very few recordings captured the impact of his sound and swing when one caught him in person.

**wizard3739** · 04-29-2013, 12:48 AM

Wes was wonderful in most of his albums but for me, his best music came from the releases before the octaves became his signature sound.

wiz

**ooglybong** · 04-29-2013, 04:33 PM

SO many great ones but Full House probably gets played the most!

**oldane** · 05-01-2013, 02:13 PM

I like the earlier Pacific and Riverside records better than the later and more commercial ones (but I acknowledge that he had to make a living and feed his seven kids). If I absolutely have to pick one - which I do reluctantly - I think it must be 'Far Wes' recorded on Pacific with his two brothers. The two ballads 'Old Folks' and 'Falling in Love with Love' are so beautiful and full of tenderness, love and warmth.

**dallasblues** · 05-02-2013, 03:35 PM

Smokin' at the Half Note

**Doctor Jeff** · 05-02-2013, 04:06 PM

I like Bumpin' because it was the first Wes album I bought (used). I probably listen to the albums he made with Jimmy Smith the most though.

I also like A Day in the Life for sentimental reasons because I love the songs, but I'm not crazy about the arrangements. It has Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter in the band.