Where is the untremoloed Smokin' at the Half Note?

**EpiJazz** · 07-06-2015, 12:20 PM

Tracks 7-10 (I think) of the reissue appear to have tremolo put on them. It makes it nearly unlistenable. A few tracks seem to have been shortened, as well...where are the originals?

**wintermoon** · 07-06-2015, 12:54 PM

the trem was by Wes himself, not added later.
only 2 cuts on the original lp were actually recorded live, If You Could See Me Now and Unit 7.
the other 3 were re-recorded in the studio later in the year.

Creed Taylor produced it, and he's still alive, so he knows about the replaced/shortened cuts, edits, etc.

**grahambop** · 07-06-2015, 02:03 PM

Unit 7, Four on Six and What's New were all studio recordings, the rest are live (on the Small Group Recordings double LP, which encompasses Smokin at the Half Note).

**EpiJazz** · 07-06-2015, 02:03 PM

Actually, it's not the tremolo that's so bad, it's the strings v.v

How would one contact Creed Taylor?

**MarkRhodes** · 07-06-2015, 03:39 PM

I did not know these things.

What about "No Blues"? I think this is one of the most amazing guitar solos I've ever heard. It's not that this or that phrase is out-of-nowhere but rather how the whole thing builds and builds and builds and never disappoints.

**grahambop** · 07-06-2015, 03:39 PM

Which version have you got? I've just remembered I've also got the 2005 reissue which has all the original live tracks (some previously unissued), no edits, no strings. Much better.

**grahambop** · 07-06-2015, 03:46 PM

At the time 'Willow Weep For Me' was the somewhat crappy version of these recordings, with edits and strings added. Sounds like you've somehow got some of those tracks instead?

**EpiJazz** · 07-06-2015, 04:50 PM

I was listening to this playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...8x-FWYkWYNFHqs

I'll look around.

**grahambop** · 07-06-2015, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by EpiJazz

I was listening to this playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...8x-FWYkWYNFHqs

I'll look around.

I think if you stick to the tracks that only say 'Smokin at the Half Note' somewhere in the title/description, you should be ok. They are the proper versions. Try and find 'Impressions' - that's a killer. Wes bursts out laughing towards the end of his solo, it's so incredible, even he was blown away!

**EpiJazz** · 07-06-2015, 05:39 PM

Yes, for some reason I got Portrait of Jennie with the orchestra. Everything is good now. (Gotta love the DJ's intro to Surrey with the Fringe: "great musical...musicians")

Impressions is awesome. The chord solo

EDIT: Is there a version of the Surrey with the Fringe on Top that doesn't fade out?

**grahambop** · 07-06-2015, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by EpiJazz

Yes, for some reason I got Portrait of Jennie with the orchestra. Everything is good now. (Gotta love the DJ's intro to Surrey with the Fringe: "great musical...musicians")

Impressions is awesome. The chord solo

EDIT: Is there a version of the Surrey with the Fringe on Top that doesn't fade out?

On the CD the DJ talks for about the last minute while they are still playing, then it fades out at 6 mins 12 secs.

**3625** · 07-06-2015, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by MarkRhodes

I did not know these things.

What about "No Blues"? I think this is one of the most amazing guitar solos I've ever heard. It's not that this or that phrase is out-of-nowhere but rather how the whole thing builds and builds and builds and never disappoints.

Yeah, I agree Mark - it's the best.

**EpiJazz** · 07-06-2015, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by grahambop

On the CD the DJ talks for about the last minute while they are still playing, then it fades out at 6 mins 12 secs.

Yeah, there's another version on YouTube where it just fades out.

**PMB** · 07-06-2015, 07:21 PM

This 2 CD set came out in the '90s and has everything from the Half Note and associated studio cuts without any overdubs. Whether you grab the CD or mp3s, it's an essential jazz guitar collection:

Wes Montgomery - Impressions: Verve Jazz Sides - Amazon.com Music

**wintermoon** · 07-06-2015, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by PMB

This 2 CD set came out in the '90s and has everything from the Half Note and associated studio cuts without any overdubs. Whether you grab the CD or mp3s, it's an essential jazz guitar collection:

Wes Montgomery - Impressions: Verve Jazz Sides - Amazon.com Music

Just bought it $7.44 shipped.

I have the old lps, Smokin' and Impressions, this will be nice for the car....

**EpiJazz** · 07-06-2015, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by PMB

This 2 CD set came out in the '90s and has everything from the Half Note and associated studio cuts without any overdubs. Whether you grab the CD or mp3s, it's an essential jazz guitar collection:

Wes Montgomery - Impressions: Verve Jazz Sides - Amazon.com Music

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen anything on Amazon with reviews that good. I'll have to check that out.

Pardon me if this is a stupid question but how do you get a link to display something other than a url?

**lawson-stone** · 08-31-2015, 03:17 PM

I think the pretty much un-altered complete set is on a recording called "Impressions: The Verve Years" A very fine album.

**neatomic** · 08-31-2015, 09:03 PM

all about wes and his 65 standel super custom xv…with trem and reverb!!!

good read

Standel | Story

cheers

**EpiJazz** · 08-31-2015, 10:55 PM

Wow, thanks neatomic...looks like those amps are hard to find nowadays. Back at you with Selmer amps Selmer Truvoice Amplifiers. Doesn't have much to do with jazz but still interesting. Just...Selmer.

**daveg** · 09-01-2015, 10:10 AM

For the Discographical information - follow the link below:

**wintermoon** · 09-01-2015, 12:36 PM

btw, I think daveg might have seen Wes perform during his mid 60's European tour.
very fortunate! how cool is that?

**daveg** · 09-01-2015, 01:07 PM

That's right Wintermoon. It was at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (The Old Place -39 Gerrard Street) on a Friday night in May of 1965 and he was playing the Heart Guitar through the Standel Amp mentioned above. He used the Tremolo on a couple of numbers - one I remember was "Laura". I spoke to him at the Bar and he autographed a book for me.

DG

**wintermoon** · 09-01-2015, 01:19 PM

I got to see most of my favorites through the yrs, but Christian and Montgomery would have been the icing on the cake.
[though if it was Christian I'd likely not be around now to post about it...]

**princeplanet** · 09-02-2015, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by MarkRhodes

I did not know these things.

What about "No Blues"? I think this is one of the most amazing guitar solos I've ever heard. It's not that this or that phrase is out-of-nowhere but rather how the whole thing builds and builds and builds and never disappoints.

I can't imagine that anyone will ever play a guitar solo as perfect as that ever again. Such a high water mark, just one long swingin' melody, perfectly paced, effortless, hip, fresh, risky, frisky ..... beautiful. Just unfathomable to me that non jazz guitarists don't understand the genius in Wes' playing. I once played this very track to an "experienced" rock/blues player and he said "Yeah, but not as good as Clapton" ! I had to walk out of the room....

**EpiJazz** · 09-02-2015, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by princeplanet

I can't imagine that anyone will ever play a guitar solo as perfect as that ever again. Such a high water mark, just one long swingin' melody, perfectly paced, effortless, hip, fresh, risky, frisky ..... beautiful. Just unfathomable to me that non jazz guitarists don't understand the genius in Wes' playing. I once played this very track to an "experienced" rock/blues player and he said "Yeah, but not as good as Clapton" ! I had to walk out of the room....

Non-jazz guitarists are always unfathomable. I've met some who can't understand why the chord symbol "Cm" would suggest an Eb major triad to me, when there was a bass player present to play the root. Tsk, tsk.