Wes Montgomery: Boss Guitar [ORIGINAL JAZZ CLASSICS/RIVERSIDE]

Why you'll love it

Boss Guitar puts Wes Montgomery's warm, thumb-picked octaves front and centre in a tight, grooving trio, the perfect showcase for one of jazz's greatest guitarists.

This edition

• Original Jazz Classics series
• Stereo mix

About the album

Wes Montgomery played with his thumb instead of a pick, which explains that round, singing tone you can spot in a couple of notes. On Boss Guitar he's the only lead voice, backed by organist Melvin Rhyne and drummer Jimmy Cobb, and it's just about perfect.

"Besame Mucho" glides on a lovely Latin groove, "Days of Wine and Roses" swings with elegance, "Canadian Sunset" (a tune any Canadian should own) is gentle and lush, and his originals "The Trick Bag" and "Fried Pies" cook.

As All About Jazz put it, Montgomery was always at his best as the sole lead instrument, and this record proves it. Mind you, Rhyne and Cobb hardly let the side down.

Also at Kops: more Wes Montgomery on vinyl · browse Classic Jazz

Tracklist

Listen

On Riverside / Original Jazz Classics (cat# OJC-261), a reissue of the 1963 album.