WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES FROM WES, BILLY, AND TWO SURPRISE GUE
RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 11/30/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Five SWINGING Stars. This wonderful, surprising disc is much more than is presented in the title. True, there is guitar wizard Wes Montgomery and the effusive jazz piano master Dr. Billy Taylor and his protean trio (Ben Tucker on bass and Grady Tate on drums): all in GREAT form. But there is also the nonpariel jazz/blues vocalist Joe Williams with a whopping 8 tracks all to himself with Wes and Billy in non-solo support but 'comping' superbly, and then Wes and trumpeter/flugelhornist Clark Terry bring a hot quintet to these proceedings with 4 bonus tracks of extended performances.
We expected Wes and Billy and we got more! Lonehill Jazz has stuffed alot of music on one disc for our listening pleasure and basically kept some of it a surprise. It's not until we flip the CD jewel box over and look at the back cover, as we get into listening mode, that the totality of it all is revealed. All of which makes this a real bargain for the jazz fan. Thank you, LoneHill Jazz!
There are many Pieces De Resistance from beginning to end but here's a few. I have played "Body and Soul" over and over since purchase, and it has Wes in solo all the way with some dazzling runs (omitting the bridge on the first run and the first half of the bridge on the second run, providing another satisfying slant on this classic which is different from his two previously recorded renditions, all in 2 satisfying minutes and some change-"hit the repeat button again, please"); Taylor's beautiful ballad "Freedom" has Dr. Bill all the way, waxing rhapsodic with two-handed block chords and dancing single lines; a RIVETING Joe Williams makes the most of his 8 tracks and is in great voice especially on "Let's Make the Most of a Beautiful Thing", a stupendous "Alone Together", and "All My Life". Most tracks to this point are relatively short and satisfying performances with the performers cutting quickly but deeply into each song.
Wes and Clark Terry then arrive on the scene with an impressive Dutch rhythm section in tow for three stupendous 8 minute performances, and one great 14 minute performance of Ellington's "In A Mellow Tone", recorded LIVE in Europe. Which is great because Wes is well-known for his 'jacked-up' "live" performances, as evidenced by Thelonious Monk's "Straight, No Chaser" and "Wes Got Rhythm" (a re-weaving of Monk's "Rhythm-a-ning.") and he and Clark are on fire, both in solo or 'comping', probably giving the Dutch rhythm section the most memorable rides of their musical lives at that point in their careers. In all, an enjoyable, eclectic CD with fabulous jazz performers and performances in clear remastered sound (but some may find Wes' early tracks sound a little fuzzy but it didn't bother me), plus informative liner notes. Highly recommended. Five SURPRISING Stars!!!
(Notes:
*The Billy Taylor/Wes Montgomery/Joe Williams sessions are from November 1963 in New York.
*The Clark Terry/Wes Montgomery sessions are from April 1965 in Hilversum ("Media City"), the Netherlands.
*Total time: 79 minutes 50 seconds for 20 tracks on a 20-bit CD.)"
Billy and Wes: two masters of jazz.
J. Mitchell | Riverside, CA | 05/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album showcases the Billy Taylor trio with Wes Montgomery as feature
artist. The problem is Wes comes across more as a side man on the record
date. These recordings were done around the year 1963. From what I know
from other recording of that time, Wes had evolved to the pretty much
the height of his talents and genuis. For some unknown reason, little
of that is heard in these recordings. Wes' guitar seems to have some
tuning issues in places and his playing has a sort of haphazard quality
to it. Of the tunes recorded in 1965 with Clark Terry we hear closer
to the real Wes Montgomery mainly due to the live setting where Wes was
most comfortable. This album is definitly a must for Wes fans because
you get to hear him in settings rarely heard by the masses. Wes on a bad day could still out play any
other guitarist ever born on the planet."
Poor Sound and Not Enogh Wes
Ingerwulf | Oklahoma | 10/23/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"With so much Wes Montgomery out there, I would avoid this CD. The sound quality is poor, and on the Billy Taylor cuts the piano overly dominates. The live set with Clark Terry is much better, but the fifth track in the session is not included."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1