The Best of Wes

Performer: Wes Montgomery
Distributor: Gotham Distributing Corp.

Notes: A short-yet-potent budget-priced collection, EMI/Blue Note's THE BEST OF WES MONTGOMERY presents 10 classic tracks by the legendary jazz guitarist. The quality of the tunes here--including the energetic "Billie's Bounce," the gentle "Leila," and a vibrant take on the usually melancholy "Summertime"--is indisputable, with Montgomery's dazzlingly deft fretwork carrying every song. Given that this covers Montgomery's Blue Note years, it's pretty safe to assume that these tunes were recorded during 1957 and/or '58, but the lack of liner notes does tend to leave listeners without much to go on except the music itself, which is, of course, stellar. As a brief introduction to the artist, THE BEST OF WES MONTGOMERY is a good place to start, though Riverside's identically titled compilation or the guitarist's installment in Verve's FINEST HOUR series are other excellent options.

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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