JAZZ SUNDAY
WES MONTGOMERY
Wes Montgomery - Movin' The Complete Verve Recordings (Limited Edition) [2011] (5 x CDs)
All eight of the albums Wes Montgomery issued on Verve in the mid-'60s (including the two he did with organist Jimmy Smith) are on this limited-edition, five-CD box set. With the addition of 20 bonus tracks (none previously unreleased, some of them alternate takes or overdubbed versions) and a 76-page booklet that includes readable reproductions of the original LP sleeves, it's the definitive compilation of his work for the label. By its very size, of course, its appeal might be limited to completists and serious collectors. But its no-stone-unturned thoroughness can't be faulted, and it sensitively separates the purest straight-ahead jazz material (all of the cuts recorded in 1965 for Smokin' at the Half Note) onto one CD, as well as placing the Montgomery-Smith albums so that they're heard in succession on the last half of disc four and the first half of disc five.
Montgomery's Verve period is the source of some contention among critics and fans. Numerous jazz authorities are of the opinion that Wes by far did his finest work when he operated with standard, straight-ahead small jazz groups early in his recording career, and declined substantially when he moved to Verve, primarily owing to increasingly commercial material and orchestrated arrangements. Most listeners with some open-mindedness, however, will find at least some material here to value -- not just the all-out straight jazz sessions on Smokin' at the Half Note, but also on the cuts with more pop-oriented backing. First, it should be pointed out that the pop and rock covers for which Montgomery's Verve releases are most often derided -- particularly "Goin' Out of My Head" and "California Dreaming" -- are a fairly small minority of the songs he recorded for the label. Of more importance, the combination of Montgomery's always excellent guitar playing with orchestrated arrangements (variously by Johnny Pate, Don Sebesky, Oliver Nelson, and Claus Ogerman) actually works well much of the time. At its best, the blend achieves a cinematic sense of drama, as well as a form of jazz that many more pop-oriented listeners will find more accessible than much of conventional jazz.
That also means, of course, that a good number of jazz specialists will find that material unpalatable, and there are some tracks where the embellishments verge upon becoming too sweet and middle of the road. But there are at least as many such cuts that even jazzheads should enjoy, both for Montgomery's playing and the effective, and at times adventurous addition of big-band elements. Quite a few tracks, in fact, are downright excellent. Standouts include the Montgomery-Smith recording "13 (Death March)"; the superb soul-jazz of another Montgomery-Smith highlight, "O.G.D. (aka Road Song)"; the simmering groove of "Bumpin' on Sunset"; or the unfettered, bluesy strut "Just Walkin'." Ultimately, Montgomery's Verve output must be considered more a success than a failure, and more worthy than embarrassing. And while his shifting approaches ensures that almost everyone will find this box an inconsistent listen, it's ultimately quite a worthy collection of a notable period in his career. (AMG review by Richie Unterberger)
==========================================================
ALL 
or
ALL
==========================================================
Track lists
CD01
01 Wes Montgomery - Caravan 2:39
02 Wes Montgomery - People 4:23
03 Wes Montgomery - Movin' Wes (Pt. 1) 3:31
04 Wes Montgomery - Moca Flor 3:12
05 Wes Montgomery - Matchmaker, Matchmaker 2:52
06 Wes Montgomery - Movin' Wes (Pt. 2) 2:54
07 Wes Montgomery - Senza Fine (The Phoenix Love Theme) 3:27
08 Wes Montgomery - Theodora 3:58
09 Wes Montgomery - In And Out 2:53
10 Wes Montgomery - Born To Be Blue 3:40
11 Wes Montgomery - West Coast Blues 3:12
12 Wes Montgomery - Bumpin' 6:51
13 Wes Montgomery - Tear It Down 3:15
14 Wes Montgomery - A Quiet Thing 3:30
15 Wes Montgomery - Con Alma 3:24
16 Wes Montgomery - The Shadow Of Your Smile 2:19
17 Wes Montgomery - Mi Cosa 3:22
18 Wes Montgomery - Here's That Rainy Day 4:59
19 Wes Montgomery - Musty 4:22
20 Wes Montgomery - Just Walkin' 3:00
21 Wes Montgomery - My One And Only Love 4:09
22 Wes Montgomery - Just Walkin' (Alternate Take) 3:37
CD02
01 Wes Montgomery - No Blues (Live At The Half Note, 1965) 12:56
02 Wes Montgomery - If You Could See Me Now (Live At The Half Note, 1965) 8:26
03 Wes Montgomery - Unit 7 6:46
04 Wes Montgomery - Four On Six 6:45
05 Wes Montgomery - What's New? 6:11
06 Wes Montgomery - Willow Weep For Me (Live At The Half Note, 1965) 9:07
07 Wes Montgomery - Portrait Of Jennie (Live At The Half Note, 1965) 3:27
08 Wes Montgomery - The Surrey With The Fringe On Top (Live At The Half Note, 1965) 6:15
09 Wes Montgomery - Oh, You Crazy Moon (Live At The Half Note, 1965) 5:30
10 Wes Montgomery - Misty (Live At The Half Note, 1965) 6:57
11 Wes Montgomery - Impressions (Live) 5:02
CD03
01 Wes Montgomery - Goin' Out Of My Head 2:14
02 Wes Montgomery - O Morro 4:46
03 Wes Montgomery - Boss City 3:46
04 Wes Montgomery - Chim Chim Cheree 4:51
05 Wes Montgomery - Naptown Blues 3:07
06 Wes Montgomery - Twisted Blues 4:15
07 Wes Montgomery - End Of A Love Affair 3:43
08 Wes Montgomery - It Was A Very Good Year 3:43
09 Wes Montgomery - Golden Earrings 5:14
10 Wes Montgomery - Tequila 3:23
11 Wes Montgomery - Little Child (Daddy Dear) 2:29
12 Wes Montgomery - What The World Needs Now Is Love 5:00
13 Wes Montgomery - The Big Hurt 4:34
14 Wes Montgomery - Bumpin' On Sunset 4:51
15 Wes Montgomery - How Insensitive 3:47
16 Wes Montgomery - The Thumb 4:51
17 Wes Montgomery - Midnight Mood 5:34
18 Wes Montgomery - Wives And Lovers 3:00
19 Wes Montgomery - Tequila (Alternate Take) 2:40
CD04
01 Wes Montgomery - California Dreaming 3:08
02 Wes Montgomery - Sun Down 6:03
03 Wes Montgomery - Oh You Crazy Moon 3:43
04 Wes Montgomery - More More Amor 2:53
05 Wes Montgomery - Without You 3:05
06 Wes Montgomery - Winds Of Barcelona 3:07
07 Wes Montgomery - Sunny 4:03
08 Wes Montgomery - Green Peppers 2:56
09 Wes Montgomery - Mr Walker 3:40
10 Wes Montgomery - South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way) 3:14
11 Wes Montgomery - Sunny (Alternate Take) 3:09
12 Jimmy Smith - Down By The Riverside 10:01
13 Jimmy Smith - Night Train 6:48
14 Jimmy Smith - James And Wes 8:14
15 Jimmy Smith - 13 (Death March) 5:22
16 Jimmy Smith - Baby, It's Cold Outside 5:57
CD05
01 Jimmy Smith - King Of The Road 4:03
02 Jimmy Smith - Maybe September 6:21
03 Jimmy Smith - Ogd (Road Song) 6:07
04 Jimmy Smith - Call Me 3:11
05 Jimmy Smith - Milestones 4:10
06 Jimmy Smith - Mellow Mood 8:39
07 Jimmy Smith - 'round Midnight 7:19
08 Jimmy Smith - Ogd (Alternate Take) 5:15
09 Wes Montgomery - The Big Hurt (Alternate Take) 3:28
10 Wes Montgomery - Bumpin' On Sunset (Alternate Take) 3:20
11 Wes Montgomery - Willow Weep For Me (Overdubbed Version) 7:42
12 Wes Montgomery - Portrait Of Jennie (Overdubbed Version) 2:47
13 Wes Montgomery - Oh, You Crazy Moon (Overdubbed Version) 5:28
14 Wes Montgomery - Misty (Overdubbed Version) 6:45
=============================================================
=============================================================
Thanks for this Butterboy, I never quite got into Wes. As someone who played guitar myself I full appreciated his technical prowess, but he seemed to play so much elevator music, stuff that makes pleasant background music at a cocktail party. Was he ever on fire? Did he ever play with some aggression? If so I've yet to hear it.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Bob Mac.
DeleteI think his earlier music, up to 1965, was best even though his later material was more commercial Pop and smooth jazz. But I tend to agree with you he wasn't an aggressive player.
Cheers.
But, his technical prowess is why he is considered such a great guitarist. For aggressiveness, his live albums tend to display more flash. SRV even cited him as a major influence on his style.Thanks, BB.
ReplyDeleteHi pmac,
DeleteNo doubt he was highly regarded. I think the write up about is a good refection of his appreciated talent.
Cheers.