A wonderfully natural improviser, Wes Montgomery’s octave playing was more like the sound of the jazz frontline saxophone and trumpet, rather than that purely of a guitarist. He had a double-jointed thumb that enabled him to play up and down strokes effortlessly –– he chose not to use a plastic pick because he felt it got in the way. As a jazz musician, his personal habits were as unique as his playing in that he didn’t drink or do drugs. In fact, at one point some of his fellow musicians even called him Reverend Montgomery.
The first two videos were recorded in Belgium in 1965. John Coltrane’s Impressions (top) features Montgomery on guitar, Arthur Harper on bass, Jimmy Lovelace on drums, and Harold Mabern playing piano.
Here’s That Rainy Day (left) features the same group as above … however, Four On Six (below) was recorded in England with Rick Laird on bass, Jackie Dougan playing drums, and Stan Tracey on piano.
