I graduated from Wayne State University in the 90s. The head of the Jazz Department was Matt Michaels. A legend. He ran the local Kelly and Company band in the late 60s. They had Wes as a guest. According to Matt, Wes couldn’t even tell you the names of the chords. He knew songs, so he’d call a song and they’d sift through it for a few minutes and away they went. Wes didn’t start playing until he was 19. He ran on pure genius.
MY NAME IS NIELS ANDERSON ! I am a guitarist from Amsterdam the Netherlands ! Amd i started playing the guitarv when i was 12 years ols at the Folks muziek school after two years of reading and writing studies which i started at age 9 ! when I WAS ABOUT 15 YEARS I WAS SO FORTUNATYE THAT A NEIGHBOR WHO PLAYED THE DRUMS GAVE ME THE TRIPLE ALBUM "> THE GENIUS OF WES MONTGOMERY AR THESE DAYS I WAS JAMMING ALONG WITH ALBUMS OF SANTANA AND ASLVIN LEE BECAUSE THEY WERE SOUNDING NICE TO MY EARS ! BUT THERN WHAMM BENGG THENG ALONG CAME WES WHO HAD PASSED AWAY 10 YEARS BEFORE AND ABOUT THE SAME TIME I GOT WIND OF LARRY CARLTON STEVE LUKATHER LEE RITENAUR AND A BUNCH OF OTHER FANTASTIC GUITAR GODS AND THATS WHEN I I DECIDED TO MAKE THIS JAMMERWOOD MY LIFEBLOOD UNTILL TODAY I STILL STUDY WES CAUSE WHAST HE DID GIVES ANYBODY ENOUGH MATERIAL FOR LIFELONG STUDIES I NEVER FOUND SOMEONE ELSE CAPABLE TO THIS THUMB THING ALSO THE WAY HE PLAYS CARAVAN IS UNSURPASSED
I don't play jazz but for years I've heard and read other guitar players talk about Wes Montgomery, when I finally heard him I was blown away. He never plays an unnecessary note and makes it look easy. It's not!
Ha, that's the exact same thought I had when the vid first started.I was thinking he's like maximum efficiency, doesn't waste any energy on what isn't essential.
Wes is a maestro of guitar and gone too soon. I’m thankful we at least have some quality recordings. Jazz is a funny thing. It doesn’t get into a lot of people at first. As a musician I live for this stuff.
There's nothing more I can say or add to the comments here. Wes. WES. A one off. I can listen to this 24/7. And I'm a Bass Guitarist 😎 Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤
It's his accentation that distinguishes his sound. The chords and inversions are no mystery. After all they are charted. But how he gets the flow together between the up and down strokes with the slides, pull offs and hammers is the key. He never runs out of ideas either. Never plays the same solo twice on a tune. And he is totally on point in the sense that he never overplays yet is never afraid to try something that may or may not be ear candy. Amazing all night long.
This was outstanding....thank you. I particularly enjoyed the 1965 session in Hamburg....oh to have been there to hear them live. It's hard to believe that Martial Solal is still alive!
Looks like Wes was having a good time playing with these accomplished EUROPEAN jazz musicians.. they were all able to keep up with WES.. THANKS FOR POSTING THIS EXCELLENT VIDEO OF ONE OF THE GREATEST MODERN JAZZ GUITARIST / MUSICIAN OF THE 20th century.. AND SELF TAUGHT AT THAT.. JUST AMAZING!!!
Wes has taught the whole world what JAZZ is about. He's a black man interested in humans all over the world to come together and enjoy life together! American government and its CRONIES are dangerous folks who wants to end this world and enjoy alone! What kind of a world is that??? WES, has shown, through music the beauty of living together in PEACE in this God given world. This man and his colleagues or fellow musicians have hereby defined how to a human being and LOVE others through their music. We share life as humans, not GREEDINESS of the devilish few!!!
Not only was Wes a great guitarist & musician but just think of all the guitarists who were influenced by him & became great in their own right. One of my favorites, Pat Metheny, being one of them. His contributions to music & the world are immeasurable.
Ive seen the Dutch footage before but the footage with Ronnie Scott and the horn section is new to me....thanks for posting!! This is so cool to see. Any footage of Wes in action is just pure gold.
Look up jazz guitarists. There are quite a few you may have missed. You might start worth Bensons idol Lenny Breau , go through the brilliant Canadians, and work you way south. Wes was one of my favorites- there are many many others
Gregory I FEEL exactly and share what you say about WES .I've spent a long time listening to so many jazz guitarists and met some ... but WES MONTGOMERY concentrates all my long lasting dreams on a guitar and I remember the first film on French TV as a new day when we saw for the first time WES on the spot broadcast .
@@gregoryswift9573 if you put slash in miles later electric band he would be called a jazz guitarist. There is no practicing jazz musician that can explain what jazz means , but the inference is there a certain technical and conceptual mastery of one’s instruments and theory. For example, while Robert Johnson was a brilliant guitarist , hr would not be considered a jazz guitarist. Slash playing seems to indicates he knows his music as he is not bound like most rock guitarists by iterations of the pentatonic blues concepts and had a mastery of technique. That’s my opinion.
Thanx for sharing Hugo! Wes is the greatest and this bands are too!!! It doesn't matter if your black or white, yellow or red or green. The sound of all us human beeings together matters! Danke from Germany for this great, great Video! Love it...
This is the realest ish. I mean when you come to talk about acid jazz it doesn't get any better. Acid jazz existed in the 70s and probably even the 60s. The roots of Anyway. Wes' thumb technique was just so innovative. Get it, ameet
Just an amazing guitarist, and amazing docu. If i’m correct it’s Pim Jacobs on piano and brother Ruud on bass. About the drummer i’m not so sure. It might be Wessel Ilcken or Johnny Engels. But this here we have this master guitarist plus Dutch trio playing a great (tight) swingin’ gig. G’day & Cheers!
You can see in Wes' face that, he acknowledges their ability to play, but it's almost as though something's missing.... This is in reference to Nica's Dream
The contrast between Wes and the other musicians is like night and day. The other musicians are all good and technically proficient, and they play the right notes. But Wes is on another level. He actually tells a story through each of his solos. Each note is important, has a purpose, and sounds pleasant. The only other musician to achieve this in that video would be Pim Jacobs, props to him.
An accurate comment in accord with my thinking. I say this of Paco de Lucia in Flamenco, that he was musically way ahead of guys that had more ''knowledge'' - whom I also admire. It's a powerful lesson in music to realize that music is not all about the quantity. Quality is most important.
IMHO, the other ‘level’ you’re referring to is probably just because the top level players he was sitting in with in this doc weren’t his regular playing companions. I personally thought the other musicians stood up just fine. I saw a lot of joy, too.
That Solal arrangement of Green Dolphin was trying to throw shade on the visiting Wes and Johnny. Loved how they show the home team how to simply play the blues and all is well. Jazz and mathematics never feels good. Save it for Rachmaninoff, boys.
You cannot know Martial Sola'sl intentions. You're just making a projection of your own thoughts on him. He just played what was right for him. Martial Solal didn't have the same jazz background as Wes, the same gift, european jazz always is less bluesy than american jazz, whitch is quite normal, and european musicians are acostumed to complexity since early in their musical learning. And at that time Solal was as known and respected as Wes in Europe. Somehow he shared the reputation of the broadcast with Wes...
George has many guitars but now he has many Ibenezs built for him that aren't production models! West's guitar is worth thousands, at least 15k - 20k! That's cheap! I remember when a good Gibson jazz guitar like this L5 CES cost 2 grand! I could have bout a brand new Johnny Smith guitar for one thousand many 40 years ago. That same guitar brand new would be worth 5k - 8k depending who was selling it. I settle for a 1963 Gibson L4C which was sitting in a man's closet for $350 back in 1975. I still have that guitar which is worth at least 5k because it has the original finish!
Bennink seems to have been very well know in European jazz circles and often played when American jazz musicians went overseas without their own band. I'm fairly sure I have Bennink on some live European gigs playing for instance with Eric Dolphy.
@@xy7231 Yes, Han Bennink is the only one who still alive from that Dutch Jazz trio. At that time he was only 23 (born in April 17th, 1942). Ruud Jacobs (bassist) died in July 18th, 2019, and his brother Pim Jacobs (pianist) died in July 3th, 1996.
If you ain't seen yet and want to see take a look of two Wes' shows in Europe on 65, one in Belgium accompanied by Arthur Harper (bass), Harold Mabern (piano) & Jimmy Lovelace (drums); and another in London go: ua-cam.com/video/3yNmp2TqdgA/v-deo.html
Dubbed Jazz Heroes Wes Montgomery documentary starts at 47:14 you can see better (non dubbed) documentary here: ua-cam.com/video/Moiz4as_o14/v-deo.html
The “workshop” portion of the video is part of the most recently released Wes recording which is now available (streaming as well as on CD package with this rehearsal on Blue Ray) called “The NDR Hamburg Studio Recordings” It can’t be recommended highly enough… It’s quite stunning…as he typically is, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Notice the obviously unconventional, in no certain order: Wes used no guitar strap & all right hand strumming done on an electric guitar with just his thumb.
Strap super visible. I wear glasses. Wes has a strap on his guitar and it's attached to the headstock. When you can't see this you seriously need to check your eyesight and in the meanwhile don't drive a car and such.
Nobody is allowed today to play the guitar only with the right thumb ..... and the thumb of his left hand also raised instead of behind the neck .... ah ah awfull.
I graduated from Wayne State University in the 90s. The head of the Jazz Department was Matt Michaels. A legend. He ran the local Kelly and Company band in the late 60s. They had Wes as a guest. According to Matt, Wes couldn’t even tell you the names of the chords. He knew songs, so he’d call a song and they’d sift through it for a few minutes and away they went. Wes didn’t start playing until he was 19. He ran on pure genius.
MY NAME IS NIELS ANDERSON ! I am a guitarist from Amsterdam the Netherlands ! Amd i started playing the guitarv when i was 12 years ols at the Folks muziek school after two years of reading and writing studies which i started at age 9 ! when I WAS ABOUT 15 YEARS I WAS SO FORTUNATYE THAT A NEIGHBOR WHO PLAYED THE DRUMS GAVE ME THE TRIPLE ALBUM "> THE GENIUS OF WES MONTGOMERY AR THESE DAYS I WAS JAMMING ALONG WITH ALBUMS OF SANTANA AND ASLVIN LEE BECAUSE THEY WERE SOUNDING NICE TO MY EARS ! BUT THERN WHAMM BENGG THENG ALONG CAME WES WHO HAD PASSED AWAY 10 YEARS BEFORE AND ABOUT THE SAME TIME I GOT WIND OF LARRY CARLTON STEVE LUKATHER LEE RITENAUR AND A BUNCH OF OTHER FANTASTIC GUITAR GODS AND THATS WHEN I I DECIDED TO MAKE THIS JAMMERWOOD MY LIFEBLOOD UNTILL TODAY I STILL STUDY WES CAUSE WHAST HE DID GIVES ANYBODY ENOUGH MATERIAL FOR LIFELONG STUDIES I NEVER FOUND SOMEONE ELSE CAPABLE TO THIS THUMB THING ALSO THE WAY HE PLAYS CARAVAN IS UNSURPASSED
This is swinging man .. those cats are cookin' up brilliant ideas. Jazz at its best.
Wes’s the STAR but dem Dutch Dudes r off-the-wall good .. 1000% music!
I don't play jazz but for years I've heard and read other guitar players talk about Wes Montgomery, when I finally heard him I was blown away. He never plays an unnecessary note and makes it look easy. It's not!
Ha, that's the exact same thought I had when the vid first started.I was thinking he's like maximum efficiency, doesn't waste any energy on what isn't essential.
All that relaxed and with a smile...
That dude on the piano is ridiculous!...unbelievable!
Pim Jacobs
@@svenjansen2134 thanks!
One of my greatest heroes and one who deserves more attention today. Wes plays music without a "best by" date, his music is great forever.
More attention today ?.. more attention yesterday!!
Dude killin that bass! I'm impressed.
Awesome Documentary wes is always been one of my favourite guitarist he was the God father of cool the Golden thumb 👍 eternal memory ❤ 🙏
Wes is a maestro of guitar and gone too soon. I’m thankful we at least have some quality recordings. Jazz is a funny thing. It doesn’t get into a lot of people at first. As a musician I live for this stuff.
There's nothing more I can say or add to the comments here.
Wes. WES. A one off. I can listen to this 24/7. And I'm a Bass Guitarist 😎
Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤
Just incredible music. These cats are in the pocket fo sure.
It's his accentation that distinguishes his sound. The chords and inversions are no mystery. After all they are charted. But how he gets the flow together between the up and down strokes with the slides, pull offs and hammers is the key. He never runs out of ideas either. Never plays the same solo twice on a tune. And he is totally on point in the sense that he never overplays yet is never afraid to try something that may or may not be ear candy. Amazing all night long.
BS...you don't know nothing
That's amazing dude! His improv is on a whole nother level. Sheesh!
Spot on analysis!👍
This was outstanding....thank you. I particularly enjoyed the 1965 session in Hamburg....oh to have been there to hear them live. It's hard to believe that Martial Solal is still alive!
Ahhh nothing like the silky smooth jazz guitar of Mr. Wes Montgomery 🤩😎🙏
A MAN FOR ALL MEN TO REVERE.WES,..IVE PRAYED FOR YOU SINCE THE DAYYOU LEFT US ALL.YOU ARE STILL WITH US DAILY....!!!!!!
This is such a gift to those who love this music, and would never otherwise get to see this genius! Thank you Hugo!
Looks like Wes was having a good time playing with these accomplished EUROPEAN jazz musicians.. they were all able to keep up with WES.. THANKS FOR POSTING THIS EXCELLENT VIDEO OF ONE OF THE GREATEST MODERN JAZZ GUITARIST / MUSICIAN OF THE 20th century.. AND SELF TAUGHT AT THAT.. JUST AMAZING!!!
Why shouldn't he !
Not self taught. He had two brothers I'm sorry but he learned a lot from them.
Oh West Mont... everlasting spirit. Jazz eternity...
A true Master.
Wes has taught the whole world what JAZZ is about. He's a black man interested in humans all over the world to come together and enjoy life together! American government and its CRONIES are dangerous folks who wants to end this world and enjoy alone! What kind of a world is that??? WES, has shown, through music the beauty of living together in PEACE in this God given world. This man and his colleagues or fellow musicians have hereby defined how to a human being and LOVE others through their music. We share life as humans, not GREEDINESS of the devilish few!!!
Thank you Master Wes. You left behind a taste and legacy no-one
can compete.
JUST THE BEST EVER !!! UP LIFTING TACKES ME WERE I WANT TO BE FOREVER . LOST IN WES MAGIC.!!!
Not only was Wes a great guitarist & musician but just think of all the guitarists who were influenced by him & became great in their own right. One of my favorites, Pat Metheny, being one of them. His contributions to music & the world are immeasurable.
A young Rick Laird on bass way before Mahavishnu Orchestra!
Wes - one of the greatest musical geniuses ever, on any instrument!
Wes is always on my radar. Supreme talent!
Ive seen the Dutch footage before but the footage with Ronnie Scott and the horn section is new to me....thanks for posting!! This is so cool to see. Any footage of Wes in action is just pure gold.
Incredible band with Wes. Martial Solal (I think thats him) is incredible as well!
The most meldic and interesting guitarist ive ever heard.
Look up jazz guitarists. There are quite a few you may have missed. You might start worth Bensons idol Lenny Breau , go through the brilliant Canadians, and work you way south. Wes was one of my favorites- there are many many others
Gregory I FEEL exactly and share what you say about
WES .I've spent a long time listening to so many jazz
guitarists and met some ... but WES MONTGOMERY
concentrates all my long lasting dreams on a guitar
and I remember the first film on French TV as a new day when we saw for the first time WES on the spot
broadcast .
@@golds04 thanks sensei. I'll go ahead and educate myself. slash is considered jazz right.
@@jean-lucbersou758 concentrates all my long lasting dreams on guitar is a beautiful way of putting it.
@@gregoryswift9573 if you put slash in miles later electric band he would be called a jazz guitarist. There is no practicing jazz musician that can explain what jazz means , but the inference is there a certain technical and conceptual mastery of one’s instruments and theory. For example, while Robert Johnson was a brilliant guitarist , hr would not be considered a jazz guitarist. Slash playing seems to indicates he knows his music as he is not bound like most rock guitarists by iterations of the pentatonic blues concepts and had a mastery of technique. That’s my opinion.
Thanx for sharing Hugo! Wes is the greatest and this bands are too!!! It doesn't matter if your black or white, yellow or red or green. The sound of all us human beeings together matters! Danke from Germany for this great, great Video! Love it...
That's like such a beautiful guitar
And a beautiful man attached to it playing it very well.
Fantastic footage. These Dutch players are first class too.
TRES Cool
This is the realest ish. I mean when you come to talk about acid jazz it doesn't get any better. Acid jazz existed in the 70s and probably even the 60s. The roots of Anyway. Wes' thumb technique was just so innovative. Get it, ameet
Every day is wes montgomery day...I have been sad since the day he passed..wes,may god hold you in the palm of his hand for ever.
You are the best thing that ever came out. Of indiana.!!!!!!! I know it..!!!!!!!
wes is the best ..... so long my friend !!!!!!!!!!!
Wes is the Man!
Stellar
Just an amazing guitarist, and amazing docu. If i’m correct it’s Pim Jacobs on piano and brother Ruud on bass. About the drummer i’m not so sure. It might be Wessel Ilcken or Johnny Engels. But this here we have this master guitarist plus Dutch trio playing a great (tight) swingin’ gig. G’day & Cheers!
Han Bennick drums
@@cultugarvealgarve7380 Thanks! Cheers!
This is swinging man .. this cats are cookin' up brilliant ideas. Jazz at its best.
@@allen6924 Indeed! Be well, and be happy, G’day & Cheers!
That’s Jazz
You can see in Wes' face that, he acknowledges their ability to play, but it's almost as though something's missing.... This is in reference to Nica's Dream
A -mazing!
The British footage is phenomenal too. Martial Solal is astounding in "Green Dolphin Street"! All fantastic players.
wow!
...WOW!!!!
the pianist is awesome too
Wes was the best and most unique...! Amazing
Good job! rest in peace my brother!
Thanks for sharing this footage Hugo :)
With Wes it was always happening.
Wow if I only knew back than what I know now there is a God all those cats are the real deal swing baby just swing ❤️👍
Maravilhoso 🤩
Wonderful stuff!!
THE GREATEST
Haha; the New Four Brothers .. excellent!
Why is this listed as a documentary? It's a performance.
God Montgomery
Exlent , thank you.
Wes is the best!
The contrast between Wes and the other musicians is like night and day. The other musicians are all good and technically proficient, and they play the right notes. But Wes is on another level. He actually tells a story through each of his solos. Each note is important, has a purpose, and sounds pleasant. The only other musician to achieve this in that video would be Pim Jacobs, props to him.
Now that is the truth about Wes - very well stated. Thank you.
I agree My friend
An accurate comment in accord with my thinking. I say this of Paco de Lucia in Flamenco, that he was musically way ahead of guys that had more ''knowledge'' - whom I also admire. It's a powerful lesson in music to realize that music is not all about the quantity. Quality is most important.
The drummer ir amazing too.
IMHO, the other ‘level’ you’re referring to is probably just because the top level players he was sitting in with in this doc weren’t his regular playing companions. I personally thought the other musicians stood up just fine. I saw a lot of joy, too.
Best thing ever on Dutch TV lol
Wes' smile 😃
So gooooooooood
grande maestro
... best documentary ever?
There is a great Jaco Pastorius documentary The Lost Tapes.
This isn't even a documentary lol
Magnific piano solo 8;05 .
Pim Jacobs
That Solal arrangement of Green Dolphin was trying to throw shade on the visiting Wes and Johnny. Loved how they show the home team how to simply play the blues and all is well. Jazz and mathematics never feels good. Save it for Rachmaninoff, boys.
You cannot know Martial Sola'sl intentions. You're just making a projection of your own thoughts on him. He just played what was right for him. Martial Solal didn't have the same jazz background as Wes, the same gift, european jazz always is less bluesy than american jazz, whitch is quite normal, and european musicians are acostumed to complexity since early in their musical learning. And at that time Solal was as known and respected as Wes in Europe. Somehow he shared the reputation of the broadcast with Wes...
Jazz Employees having fun
Wes does use a strap contrary to the commentator, it’s obvious in some of the video! Great video by the way!
Anyone know the name of the jazz tone at 32:37?
I want his guitar. The last I heard,George Benson sold it to Pat Metheney. I wonder what it's worth now?
George has many guitars but now he has many Ibenezs built for him that aren't production models! West's guitar is worth thousands, at least 15k - 20k! That's cheap! I remember when a good Gibson jazz guitar like this L5 CES cost 2 grand! I could have bout a brand new Johnny Smith guitar for one thousand many 40 years ago. That same guitar brand new would be worth 5k - 8k depending who was selling it. I settle for a 1963 Gibson L4C which was sitting in a man's closet for $350 back in 1975. I still have that guitar which is worth at least 5k because it has the original finish!
@@ronaldboykin9755 50k at least
Does it play? I thought it was nearly lost in a fire
Yeah, the L5 rules. Am lucky 2 have acoustic one with that nice Venetian cutaway
Is that document somewhere whit out dubbing🤔?
Yes, you can see the video starting at 47'14" on in the following UA-cam video link: ua-cam.com/video/Moiz4as_o14/v-deo.html
They're all amazing. Who is that drummer? He is off-the-charts great!
Han Bennink
Bennink seems to have been very well know in European jazz circles and often played when American jazz musicians went overseas without their own band. I'm fairly sure I have Bennink on some live European gigs playing for instance with Eric Dolphy.
@@xy7231 Yes, Han Bennink is the only one who still alive from that Dutch Jazz trio. At that time he was only 23 (born in April 17th, 1942). Ruud Jacobs (bassist) died in July 18th, 2019, and his brother Pim Jacobs (pianist) died in July 3th, 1996.
If you ain't seen yet and want to see take a look of two Wes' shows in Europe on 65, one in Belgium accompanied by Arthur Harper (bass), Harold Mabern (piano) & Jimmy Lovelace (drums); and another in London go: ua-cam.com/video/3yNmp2TqdgA/v-deo.html
The hell kinda documentary is this? Great playing though.
Dubbed Jazz Heroes Wes Montgomery documentary starts at 47:14 you can see better (non dubbed) documentary here: ua-cam.com/video/Moiz4as_o14/v-deo.html
whattttt??.?.Martial Solal is better than many many others
Who knew,,,,,
Los pianistas americanos ni se acercan al concepto de trío de Solal…jajajaja no me jodas…
33:56
sure a great horn arrangement on West Coast Blues 42:00 . wonder who those cats are
The “workshop” portion of the video is part of the most recently released Wes recording which is now available (streaming as well as on CD package with this rehearsal on Blue Ray) called “The NDR Hamburg Studio Recordings”
It can’t be recommended highly enough…
It’s quite stunning…as he typically is, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Django d,origine Belge....!
Documentary? This is just footage.
@Easy Blues good if you're French, i seen this footage 6 years ago
@Easy Blues for me too lol
Too bad I don't speak french :(
just learn Like the rest of us we had to learn English
Julio DI CARLO it would be much better to just put subtitles.
Notice the obviously unconventional, in no certain order: Wes used no guitar strap & all right hand strumming done on an electric guitar with just his thumb.
He uses a strap but it's attached to the headstock.
Strap super visible. I wear glasses. Wes has a strap on his guitar and it's attached to the headstock. When you can't see this you seriously need to check your eyesight and in the meanwhile don't drive a car and such.
Nobody is allowed today to play the guitar only with the right thumb ..... and the thumb of his left hand also raised instead of behind the neck .... ah ah awfull.
thats why nobodys any good these days
Mejor quédate calladito…
English...please.!!!!!!!!
Turn off that annoying French . it turn this video into a bummer
Touvelle!