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I was listening to a Lewis Steward download and came across his version of the song "Far Wes." I also looked up Wes Montgomery's version. What is it about this song that it seems to have captured my imagination. And that little hook in the melody is just infectious to me. I can remember it, no problem.
Both versions were so laid back, and full of 2-5-1s and motion. There were not super fast so if you are not a fast player, you could probably have some fun with it. It has made my top ten list of favorite Jazz songs (at least for the moment
Would anyone care to comment on it?
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05-16-2019 12:29 AM
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Oh - you hit on one of my favourites there - love that tune to death! Encountered it when I was just starting out trying to play jazz and learned most of it but never finished (shame on me). There's a lot to learn in that tune.
What is it about it? Not entirely sure but it just floooows so smoothly and laid back.
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Yes it’s a great tune, nice medium tempo groove. Here’s Louis Stewart’s very tasty version:
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And here's Emily Remler's version.
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Well that settles it, learning it today.
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That was the first Wes recording I owned, and it is still my favorite. I have always assumed not listing "Smokin' At the Half Note" as my go-to would be frowned upon. Yeah, I'm weird like that.
and, yeah - a GREAT tune! Both "Far Wes" and "Leila" haunt me.
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Originally Posted by sgosnell
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What really gets me about it is that it has seduced a guy like me who has always been interested in more uptempo tunes. This soloing on this song seems to allow for so much expression, as though it is a conversation with a pleasant person who smiles a lot.
Thanks for weighing in folks.
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Originally Posted by grahambop
Great find! That's the one I was talking about. (I gotta learn how to spell that man's name -LOUIS not Lewis!).
Louis throws some fast lines in yet for me, still captures the laid-back nature of the song. His lines are like gentle prodding, before falling back to the mid-tempo mood.
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Originally Posted by sgosnell
That is a great tune as well. What phrasing!
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I've seen that album before (Far Wes), and heard cuts in passing.
Is it worth purchasing?
I do love Harold Land as well.
I'm embarrassed to say I've never heard the title cut.
I'm hooked!
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Originally Posted by Irez87
It is both a good thing and a bad thing for me when I find these songs from the past. I don't have a lot of listening time and finding these gems keeps me from moving forward. God knows how many old songs are out there that I have not yet discovered. And when I do discover them, they are essentially "new" to me - as new as any modern song.
Yes, it cuts both ways...
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Originally Posted by grahambop
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Love that tune. Here's my rendition on my 2012 CD, "Pedal Steel Jazz":
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yay, you're back.
Jasco, have you ever played one of these:
I think they're called palm leaves?
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Originally Posted by Irez87
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glad you're posting again.
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Originally Posted by Irez87
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Originally Posted by jasaco
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Originally Posted by Irez87
jasaco - that's a great rendition - love it! Thanks for sharing.
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ive always liked this tune well before I realised it was Wes (or who Wes was)
When I was discovering jazz (outside of gypsy jazz) a friend bought me a jazz guitar compilation CD (remember CDs?!) and I put it in my car and swiftly lost the case along with the track-listing.
Over the years as i've listened to more and more Jazz I've slowly been ticking off artists from that CD and finding out who they all were.
I was actually surprised this is wes when I finally realised. The feel of the band and cleanness of the recording always made me feel it was a newer recording.
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Originally Posted by grahambop
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oooouuuu-eeeeeeeeee
You have to listen to more Louis Stewart.
He did some interesting stuff with George Shearing and NOP
He also played some gigs with Mundie Mundell Lowe
Very swanging player
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Originally Posted by Bahnzo
Cheap floating humbuckers
Yesterday, 09:15 PM in For Sale