Wes Montgomery's Finest Hour

Performer: Wes Montgomery
Artist: Clark Terry; Paul Chambers; Urbie Green; Jimmy Cobb; Mike Mainieri; Herbie Hancock; Wynton Kelly; Jimmy Smith
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes: Wes Montgomery (guitar); Oliver Nelson, Don Sebesky (conductor); Clark Terry (trumpet); Ray Alonge (French horn); Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green (trombone); Margaret Ross (harp); Mike Mainieri (vibraphone); Herbie Hancock, Roger Kellaway, Wynton Kelly (piano); Jimmy Smith (organ); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Ron Carter, Bob Cranshaw, Paul Chambers, Richard Davis (bass); Grady Tate, Jimmy Cobb (drums); Ray Barretto (congas, percussion). Producer: Creed Taylor. Compilation producer: Bryan Koniarz. Recorded between 1964 and 1968. Includes liner notes by Peter Keepnews. Digitally remastered by Jeff Willens (Universal Mastering Studios-East). This is part of the Verve Finest Hour series. Personnel: Al Casamenti, Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Margaret Ross (harp); Grady Tate (strings, drums); Stan Webb (flute, bass flute, woodwinds); George Marge, Joe Soldo, Romeo Penque (flute, bass flute); Raymond Beckenstein, Phil Bodner, Bill Watrous (woodwinds); Clark Terry, Ernie Royal, Mel Davis , Snooky Young, Bernie Glow, Jimmy Nottingham (trumpet); James Buffington, Ray Alonge (French horn); Jimmy Cleveland, Quentin Jackson, Urbie Green, Wayne Andre, Chauncey Welsch (trombone); Don Butterfield (tuba); Herbie Hancock, Wynton Kelly, Roger Kellaway (piano); Mike Mainieri (vibraphone); Jimmy Cobb (drums); Ray Barretto (congas, percussion); Joe Wohletz, Bobby Rosengarden (percussion); Steve Khan (sequencer). Recording information: 11/18/1964-12/21/1967. Photographer: Cynthia Sesso. Arrangers: Don Sebesky; Johnny Pate; Oliver Nelson. As part of the Finest Hour series from Verve, guitarist Wes Montgomery is spotlighted on 16 tracks recorded between 1964 and his death in 1968. These sessions highlight the widely accepted jazz-pop combination he achieved on these Verve and A&M releases, which followed a four-year stint on Riverside where he attracted a limited, mainly jazz audience. The guitarist employed a winning formula that combined his straight-ahead jazz style while exploring current trends in pop music that encompassed Latin, funk, and string-laden arrangements. The impressive coverage of guest musicians includes Herbie Hancock, Ray Barretto, Ron Carter, Jimmy Smith, and Clark Terry. ~ Al Campbell

Wes Montgomery's warm sound and hard-driving swing are, for many listeners, the epitome of jazz guitar. Rising from relative obscurity in the late 1950s, he became a huge sensation in the '60s, to the point that his recording career veered increasingly into commercial realms. Montgomery could tear off exhilarating solos with effortless grace, and in his relatively brief career he left an enduring legacy of brilliant playing.

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