3 Reasons Wes Montgomery Is Amazing And Worth Checking Out
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- Опубліковано 30 лип 2024
- Wes Montgomery is the father of modern Jazz guitar, but it was not because he played with his thumb or used octaves. This video explores what is truly amazing about his playing.
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Content:
00:00 Intro
00:09 Hearing Wes For The First Time
01:20 An Unpopular Opinion on Wes?
02:09 #1 Not Afraid To Keep It Simple
03:02 #2 The Power Of Short Phrases
04:07 Are You a “Real” Wes Fan?
04:53 Metheny Is The New Wes?
05:28 #3 Repetition Legitimizes
05:59 The Secret to Wes' Phrasing
07:04 Did Wes Know Music Theory?
07:20 How Powerful Music Theory Really is
07:29 Like the video? Check out my Patreon page!
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My name is Jens Larsen, Danish Jazz Guitarist, and Educator. The videos on this channel will help you explore and enjoy Jazz. Some of it is how to play jazz guitar, but other videos are more on Music Theory like Jazz Chords or advice on how to practice and learn Jazz, on guitar or any other instrument.
The videos are mostly jazz guitar lessons, but also music theory, analysis of songs and videos on jazz guitars.
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Who Are The Important Jazz Guitarists? 😎
✅ The 5 Guitar Solos That Will Teach You Jazz:
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✅ Lessons on other great Jazz Giants:
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I’ve been obsessed with Jimmy Raney, especially his later trio work, like the album Momentum.
I really like Kenny Burrell's playing, particularly on his album God Bless the Child. And there's a guy named Ed Bickert that I haven't heard but who's supposedly one of the greats. Rik Emmett has spoken very highly of him. For two outside-the-box mentions, Chet Catallo's playing on those early Spyro Gyra albums was terrific, and there was a guy named Ted Hall who played in the most underrated fusion band in history, The Fents, in the early- and mid-80s. Their first album, First Offense, is actually here in its entirety on UA-cam. It's phenomenal if you like fusion with strong melodies and sophisticated playing. He passed away a few years ago, but Ted was a monster back in the day. Allan Holdsworth had high praise for that band. Oh, and Marlon McLain from the early Jeff Lorber Fusion could melt your face off with brilliant playing. Not so much on the records they made, but when they played live and stretched out, oh man! His choice of notes was fantastic. And of course, John McLaughlin has to be on any list of important jazz guitarists. I'll skip the rest of the obvious names that true jazzers know and more or less agree on.
Really nice video, Jens. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
@@Ken5244 as a kid, grew up listening to Ed B. You would have enjoyed him, haven't heard his name in a great many years.
@@Ken5244 He played with Oscar Peterson upon occasion, if memory serves me correct.
@@robertdouglas4293 Any specific albums of his that you'd recommend?
Wes was the highest level of improvisational music. Plenty of guitarists who are much more technical but none more musical. Great explanation why!
What fascinates me about wes's playing was he sense of articulation, timing, phrasing, tone, and groove. There is so much subtlety in his playing.
He´s just got it all.. and you are right in every respect, I wouldnt be able to say it better.. I even love to listen to his comping, an art in itself
Wes and grant are just so powerful. To many guitarist get lost bopping around losing the groove, and create unpleasant feel for non musical folks. Wes and grant just always in pocket building repeating lines into interesting response then lay back into the groove.
Wes is far beyond Grant ....
@@jean-lucbersou758
I agree that Wes was greater than Grant in many respects but Grant was also an influential guitarist with many unique qualities
I remember exactly where I was when I first heard Wes.
Wes is really the best of the best.It is unthinkable to not know and seriously study his catalogue.(If your serious about Jazz)
He fearlessly transcends the instrument.
Jens, the quality of your videos continues to skyrocket. The editing, humor, continuity of information- everything. Really outstanding stuff you’re doing and I appreciate it very much. Great work!
Thank you! Glad you think so!
I started playing guitar in 1958. By 1960 I was playing with a local big band. In 1963 I joined the Navy as a guitarist and was shown that there were more guitarists out there other than my local hero Charlie Byrd. I was born in D.C. I fell in love with Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Howard Roberts, Charlie Christian, and many more. So many colors out there to enjoy!
When I started college, I was playing the drums, wanting to play nothing but big band jazz, and majoring in jazz percussion. At some point we were doing a transcription and analysis of Wes’s solo on Bumpin’, one of those orchestral tunes 😀 and just fell in love with it. I had never paid attention to jazz guitar. Now I’m in my 50s and finally learning guitar and while I listen to lots of guitarists in many genres, Wes is still my primary inspiration! I think the fact that he did use a lot of big band phrasing might be one aspect of his playing that caught my attention.
Wes was the one and only. It doesnt really matter whether he played a guitar - he was a great musician first and foremost. He´s got it all.. most of all, an incredible rhythm feel.. (just his comping is out of this world), and building on that, the phrasing and melodic invention you cant find anywhere else... maybe only Charlie Parker ? You know..
it just flows so naturally.. like breathing
When I heard wes play stomping at the savoy it knocked me out.. He is smooth as silk
Montgomery was a genius at fine tuning the intricacies of a chord melody, which not only gave it a big band organish sound, but sounded as if a flow of different instruments stood out to scoop the sutile parts or highlight the melody as it progressed. Besides that, one of his tools was the flesh of his thumb and, I suspect, his palm to gently mute-release as he glided his thumb across the strings to magnify the jazzy archtotop tone several fold. But try as you wish, his thumb/palm method and all the jazz chords you can muster, without his ability to also hear and arrange songs, you will not sound so magical, from my experience.
Wes's "I Wish I Knew" is just so unbelievably perfect to me, no words in the song but I know exactly what he was feeling and the emotions he wanted to talk about... nobody does it even remotely like him ❤️
Yes, that is beautiful! Thanks for suggesting that!
Jens thank you for this amazing video on one of my Jazz Guitar heroes! It's so great to also see your love of Wes' playing, he's humility and his inventiveness is unparalleled! Wonderful video my friend.
P.S thanks for mentioning my video in your description, we had to upload again (the audio was out of sync in the last third) and lost all the original views unfortunately, so the support means a lot my friend! You Rock/Jazz!
@Frank Lee thanks ever so much!
Thank you so much for taking the time to make these amazing videos! When I was first learning jazz, one of my favorite contemporary guitarists was Ronny Jordan, I did not realize how much he adopted from Wes Montgomery’s style until I listened to more Wes Montgomery.
Glad you like them!
When Wes first recorded he was termed "'Just another Blues guitarist" by a reviewer ...this was noted on the sleevenotes on the reverse of one of his 1st albums by Orrin Keepnews, who was appalled. When George Benson asked Wes to show him some ideas Wes refused because , as he said "'I can'tt because i'm just learning myself". Humility is the key .
This video is pure gold, Jens! Thank you! Like you, my first guitar teacher recommended listening to Wes but he had created a 90-minute mix tape he called “Wes Montgomery Plays the Blues” for his students. I remember it had The Thumb, Sundown, West Coast Blues, etc. It was a really great way to introduce me to jazz and the more sophisticated sounds I wasn’t totally used to hearing yet.
That's a great idea!Glad you like the video :)
One of my buddies is starting to play now and really likes Hendrix and things of that nature and I do as well but I've been trying to get him to expand his horizons early and constantly talk to him about Wes and literally just tonight I texted him the No Blues version on Smokin' and the Four On Six version on Smokin' and Full House because I feel like those are songs that blues players can really like and find interesting. I also of course love West Coast Blues as well.
Thanks for the breakdowns on key elements of Wes' swing blues style. His call and response technique using short phrases, octaves and chord accent "bumps" is so accessible -- and memorable. Perhaps this is why we "discover him" over and over..
Great video. Relating Wes’ playing to Big Band arrangements is something I had in my mind, but I just couldn’t formulate it. You demonstrate it so well here.
This video is not only confirmation of the amazing guitarist and educator Jens Larsen is, but a testament that he has studied UA-cam and has become a masterful content creator. Standing ovation. Next level
Thank you very much Brent! 🙂 That is great to hear coming from you!
Very entertaining, great detailed information. recently got hooked on your channel. Thanx, keep jazzin!
I loved the video! Thanks Jens! Four On Six from Incredible Jazz Guitar album was my first video and means lot to me and I was totally into it not just because Wes technique but because of his sense of phrasing and groove, It is one of the main reasons that I'm playing jazz right now. Thanks again for your work Jens! I really appreciate it :)
Glad you like it Adrian. It is indeed an amazing solo 🙂
Wow everything on point! Wes always a master forever beloved of Jazz legends, any guitarist would sure hear him non stop, Pat metheny a complete revolutionary of our age keeping the essentials that make Jazz. Thanks!
Nice Lesson Jens. Learning anything Wes played is always worthwhile. He always played with feeling throughout his solos.
Very true!
Great video Jens .Wes had simplicity,coupled with sophistication.I grew up at the tail end of the "Big Band"era. (early"70's") Ellington was still playing ,as was Woody Herman,and Maynard Ferguson. (I had the honor of sitting in with Ferguson's band back then ).Back in that era Wes Montgomery was doing cross over songs. You could not listen to commercial a.m.radio without hearing Wes Montgomery every half hour . Wes was an introduction into a very "hip" sound for a lot of people ,at a very palatable level.He died way to young. We can only guess as to how he would' be played had he lived longer.Thanks for helping to keep these sounds alive !
To me the most important thing about Wes (and why he's the greatest player) is that he's like Pres. Not only is everything an idea, it's a great idea. Pure song, as though bullshitting were not even an option. Real jazz music. That's Wes to me.
Woooow, incredible and splendid Jens Larsen's technical knowledge about Wes Montgomery!!!
This is awesome. Wes is one of my all time favorite players and you just helped me put into words why.
Glad you think so :)
Fantastic analysis of the magical artistry of Wes Montgomery. Thank you
Wes's solo on No Blues on Smokin' at the Half Note is truly a master class on everything you are talking about. It might be has best recorded solo of all time!
The Four On Six solo on that album is absolutely outrageous but man I love the No Blues solo too and was literally just listening to it and playing along earlier. I would highly recommend you look up this alternate take of Four On Six from that album where Wes goes on an octave run that literally just seems inhuman. His talent was absolutely other worldly.
@@SimpleManGuitars1973 The solo on that version of 4 on 6 might be Wes's best ever studio recording. I've always thought of it as a perfect take (this despite Paul Chambers coming back in prematurely after some trades with Jimi Cobb, stepping ever so slightly on his drum solo).
@@happysaddington6488 I've read that the recording on that wasn't truly "live" and so it's crazy there would be a mistake like that.
Videos like this make UA-cam worthwhile for me. The breakdown of of phrasing by motif, call, and response, especially as applied to Bird, was great. Also interesting to know Wes didn't know theory and was just creating the structure of the solos intuitively. Fascinating.
Glad it was helpful!
I happen to love some of the stuff Wes did with an orchestra. Time has shown that they were wonderful arrangements and ripe with amazing musicianship. On top of that, you got Wes' inimitable stylings.
Sure! I agree that the arrangements are solid, but I still prefer the interaction and mood of the smaller groups personally :)
His more "mainstream" stuff sorta "paid the bills" for him but still if you listen to live stuff from that day he'll still melt faces.
Thanks Jens. You have put into words some of what I love about Wes' music but did not know how to express. Also, your guitar tone sounds brilliant!
Thank you 🙂
Superb video. Really gave me a lot to think about. Will review this multiple times.
Glad you like it 🙂
Great video and lesson, as always, Jens. You always put things so perfectly into context to make it all super-understandable. Incredible helpful for me as a learner. Thank you!
You're very welcome!
With my limited knowledge, jazz is like the days of the week, everyday may seem different, but the true beauty of reaching Sunday is appreciating how we got there, and hopefully smiling that day, and partway through.
Yeah Ive often made that connection between Wes's chordal work and big band horn lines..Thanks for putting this one out there Jens
Glad you like it! :)
Wes is and always has been my "Hendrix" - Great video Jens!!!
Jimi loved Wes and Third Stone From The Sun is straight up influenced by him.
this is really good one - all the not so obvious references and your analytical skills. gold.
Thank you! :)
I love your videos. They are always inspirational and sometimes really funny.
Wow., like a dream come true, never believed I could listen to Wes Montgomery & actually follow his music., of course, that’s the advantage we have as Jen’s Larson students.,
Super lesson Jens thanks. With bonus Mikko shout out :)
This is an eye opener. Thank you very much
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, no anger at all from me. I also discovered those concepts from him, thanks for giving and ensuring me some names for them. "Bock to Bock" from the Fingerpicking Record was his first solo I was mildly obsessed with. The chorus of the track is beautiful, the transitions from one solo musician part to the other, and then Wes' solo, so simple and clear, always going and ending up somewhere just to give away another elegant way to play around the harmonic framework afterwards. A great way for me to internalize this process was to really find and focus on when the phrase, or a "sentence" within the story actually ends, then analyzing how he got there and having the impression no note or space was wasted. And when I heard how he passed the ball to his piano player to finish the solo sections, ending on a somewhat open or vague note, and the piano player repeats his last words kind of and goes from there I was blown away. Really made me appreciate the craft of communicating ideas through music.
Glad you like it! I'll need to check Bock to Bock again. I have been listening to this album a lot lately: ua-cam.com/video/iyXjqMmHWHg/v-deo.html
Thank you! I was looking for that. Great. ☺
Glad you like it 🙂
Really wonderful! Informative, beyond belief. Thanks, Jens!
Glad you enjoyed it, Glenn!
This was another massive lesson. Thanks
Glad you like it 🙂
Thanks, I've always been amazed by old school jazz players. But there are some talents too today; Jesse van Ruler, Romain Pilon, Reinier Baas, Joey Alexander, Yohan Kim, Tohpati, Nelson Veras, are a few to name. Thanks for sharing sir. You are one of my favorite music teachers I know. 🙏
Great video , and some real great licks for the repertoire.
Glad you liked it!
I really enjoy how you've made these videos Jens. Informative, great cuts and focuses on the topic. I wish you had more views! Best wishes. :)
Glad you enjoyed it! Jazz Guitar is not a huge niche :)
Hey Jens, great video. You got it right from head to toes.
Glad you liked it!
I remember the first time I heard a Wes Montgomery song. I was in Rockford Illinois sitting in my uncle's basement. The song was Bumpin On Sunset I was completely blown away. His playing and sound were amazing. I hung on every note like never before. This is the moment I realized I truly loved and appreciated jazz music.
Generous as always with your videos. Thanks
My pleasure!
Funny, when I first listened to Wes, it wasn’t what I had imagined his sound to be which was off of an early Riverside recording. It wasn’t until I heard 4 on 6 and the recordings with Creed that I finally heard that warm full sound I had imagined in my head. Also interesting is that Wes rarely used his pinky finger when soloing if at all. Of course he used it on octaves but maybe his hands were so big he didn’t need it. Thanks for the vid!
Great video Jens!
Thank you 🙂
Great points and well-made video!
Glad you liked it!
Nice lesson Jens.
Thanks so much for share this video, blessings
You are so welcome
Enjoyed, thanks!
These videos and the commentary get better every year.
Thank you 🙂 Glad you like it
Thanks for this great lesson! Huge help to me.
You're very welcome!
Great vid. So clear, informative and well humored. WM was a genius and sooooo cool.
Glad you like it 🙂
Thanks Jens. Added Wes to my Spotify.
Great and respect to your always good job and talent. Best Regards.
Excellent video and those PDF clips are useful.
Glad you think so! Thank you!
Very interesting video - thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
40-50's rhythm&blues sax players surely put an art of one-note soloing to a higher level. So that idea was literally in the air.
I probably need another lifetime to enjoy the music the way it deserves.
Excellent lesson. Great to try to go back to simplicity. “Simplicity is a most complex form”. Duke Ellington.
Thank you Jens.
Go for it 🙂
Excellent video!
So helpful. Thank you!
You're very welcome! I am glad you like it! 🙂
You are a great teacher ,Jens. I will try my best to learn jazz.
My condolences to you. So sad what happened to your father.
Thank you, Francisco! Glad you like the videos 🙂
YES! WES! Thanks Jens for this great lesson!
Thank you, Nathan! :)
Great analysis, And really inspiring!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video Jens, I love Wes playing!!
Thank you Gio! Hope you had a great Christmas :)
@@JensLarsen Yes my friend, I hope you had the same. I almost sound like Benson with my new guitar.... yeah sure!!🤩🙄
Thanks so much.. 🙏Warm cheers😊
Good video , I love Wes Montgomery style of playing .
Impressions is an amazing track. Really adds life to that Coltrane melody.
Merry Christmas.
Atomic Mr. Basie is a killer record and your video is great. I love Wes.
Thank you 🙂
Thanks so much.. 🙏Warm cheers.. 😊
Kool…..dissection of Wes phrasing is on point…thanks!
Glad you like it!
Excellent video Jens - entertaining and inspiring - a must watch in 2022 to finally having a go at Jazz guitar - love the humour - Don't call me Shirley
Thank you! :)
Thanks for talking about Wes. The great Wes did go commercial at one point but I still loved him and the way he played those octaves. On Angel, he didn’t play octaves, a rare thing for that time. But his octave play is an unrivaled technique. I Hear you on his melodic phrasings and that's what I practice the most at this time. Great lesson, as usual!
Glad you like the video :)
The Exciting Daly Wilson Big Band (1972). Australia. Masterpiece jazz funk LP. Influential. Some of the band played in 1960's USA legacy big bands.
Love your insights and comments.
Thank you, Greg! Glad to hear that
Thanks, Jens, it has been a very interesting "lesson". 👍🏻
Glad you liked it!
great observations Jens! thank you.
Glad you like them!
Big fan of Wes's playing and your lessons, thanks 👍
Glad you like the videos! :)
Learned a lot from this one. Not just the Wes ideas, but that Skolnick has a podcast!!
It was actually amazing how I had to use different amp settings for the bits I played with my thumb 😄
How so? I’m curious. E
Mark Knopfler, another master of playing guitar sans a pick, once said, "There's no better amplifier than a pick!" and he was right! If you hooked up an oscilloscope to someone playing with a pick versus the flesh of his thumb alone, you'd get a very different profile of tonal generation. The thumb-generated sound is fatter and warmer, but also less filled with highs, less treble. And although I can't prove it, I know from playing with my fingers that when one uses the flesh of the finger on a guitar string, it maintains contact with the string longer in most instances than a comparable note with a hard pick. I'm not sure I'm making sense.... it is hard to describe. But .... long story short, it absolutely makes sense that you'd need different amp settings to play with a pick and without, or at least would have to make allowances in your attack, tone, etc. between the two.
There's a reason so few people play guitar with their thumb like Wes did. It is very tough to do well, and even more difficult than that to do at the level he attained. Ask me how I know!
Even Wes found it tough. Once, a music reporter or someone asked him about his practice habits, what he did alone to prepare for his performances, and Wes just laughed and said, "Yeah, every once in a while, I just open up the guitar case and throw in some meat!" Everyone laughed, but there was some truth there. The guitar is a harsh mistress if you play jazz....so if you aren't prepared to pay the price, you may be in trouble!
I'm from a small town and was never exposed to Wes. When I went away to college, I finally heard Wes. A live CD was being played at a late night party and I was hooked. After asking around, someone directed me to the host who showed me the CD cover. I couldn't get it out of my head and had to buy his music as soon as I could. The love affair continues. Fantastic video, Jens!
Which is really close to my story :) Glad you like the video!
Great video. A truly awesome channel indeed.
Glad you enjoyed it!
You are a great inspiration, Jens.
Thank you so much!
Very informative 😃 thank you sir
Most welcome
Hello Jens, Tons of thanks😊 Great lessons as always. Best wishes from Kobe, Masaki
My pleasure!
To me Wes' music is like a gateway drug to jazz guitar.
I think that is the case for a lot of guitarists :)
Great video. Wes is truly a master - I regret I didn’t “find” him earlier. A few non-Hulk comments:
a) I really think his “pop” records with a large orchestra are also fantastic. Great arrangements and sound, and filled with examples where Wes plays simple but super strong solos. Be sure to check them out.
b) As for a simple and strong solo, I think one of the best is on “Snowfall” from the “Groove Brothers” album. The theme is wonderful (Wes and Buddy on vibes playing chord melody), and Wes’ solo is a pure triad collection. Quite amazing.
The first jazz guitar I heard, at the age of probably 8 was tony Matolla. I asked my mom about that beautiful sound coming from the hi fi. I was hooked then but it wasn't until a friend and fellow musician introduced me to the "smoking at the half note" album. The improvisation by all of the musicians on it is spectacular but wes totally blew my mind,,, and 40 years later, still does. To me, he sets the standard
Your analysis is superb
Thank you!! :)
Wes is the best. Ive been really digging the Montgomeryland album lately! You can really hear a lot of four on six in summertime. Monk’s electric bass playing was wicked too!
I need to check that one out. I have been listening to this album a lot lately: ua-cam.com/video/iyXjqMmHWHg/v-deo.html
@@JensLarsen I’ll have to check it out :-D thanks a lot. Cheers from Canada, man
@@Meowah122456 You might also like the video that Produce Like A Pro did on Wes, it's a very detailed description of his life and music. I linked to it in the descriptipn
Nice video! Thank you
Glad you like it 🙂
Great video 🙌🙌🙌
Glad you liked it!!