Wes Montgomery

Wes Montgomery (1925 - 1968) was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1925. At age nineteen he took up the tenor guitar and moved almost immediately to the six-string electric. As a part of his efforts to learn the guitar he memorized Charlie Christian solos off records. These solos got him his first job playing in a local band. By 1948 he had progressed significantly because he got a job in the Lionel Hampton big band and went on the road with Hampton for two years. His appearances on the studio recordings were limited to rhythm playing. But every now and then he got a short solo on some of the broadcast recordings. Montgomery left The Hampton band in 1950 and returned to Indiana where he worked with his brothers and other local bands, including his own trio. He recorded his first record as a leader in 1959 when he made The Wes Montgomery Trio. Between 1959 and 1963 recordings appeared that still represent some of his best work. After 1963, Montgomery began recording for Verve and A & M Records. The recordings in this second period were more significant for their commercial success than for the music. Some say they were over produced and did not have the same power of his small group recordings. They remain somewhat unpopular with jazz guitarist today. However, they made Wes Montgomery a household name and helped elevate the guitar to a whole new level. Wes Montgomery was a superb melodist who made the head of the most common jazz standard sound fresh. His improvisational skills were second to none, and he was an amazing supporting musician. Wes Montgomery had a warm sweet sound achieved by using his thumb rather than a pick. I find that to be my most favorite part about him as a musician. Wes Montgomery died suddenly of a heart attack in 1968. He left behind a legacy that included changing the guitar's place in popular jazz and culture. As for the jazz guitarist, he changed the course and direction of jazz guitar and left an unsurpassed musical legacy.

References: http://www.classicjazzguitar.com/artists