Sidebar-Can you imagine sitting down with the band, in a studio, and lighting up a smoke today? They'd call the Police and have you hauled out in chains...
@lefan4992 Solo starts 1:06 he starts of by interpreting the melody in his own way (that's the way jazz is, no one will play the same song the same way twice)... and also he is soling over the whole form of the song
This is why Wes still is the king of all guitars...the minurte he touches the guitar pure music..music...melody...soul...groove..and more ..more...just gushes out....ask all guitar players....most will tell you this is the sound they are after...forever....A nice Gibson L-5 using his thumb and a Sdandell amp...pluged in with no extra tricke except your soul and your touch......
A lot a guys think they've surpassed Wes after trying to emulate him for years. I won't mention names but, I will say no one sounds and plays liek Wes did.
@jbowden66 Whomever 'they' are....they are quite deceived by their own egos....No one surpasses Wes for his creativity and style...I dont care if 'They' think they are more technical or whatever...he was and will always be the best.....sheer joy to hear!
it was a bland out whenever Wes was in town by all accounts. Chapter and verse in the rhythm section, although some of the rhythm section had lost loved ones fighting the Germans, no matter r
@NowMyPoundsHaveRunOu Get off Obama's fucking dick. What the fuck does Obama have to do with this piece of music by Wes Montgomery. You silly fuckin bigots just can't get over the fact he's president. Get over it bitch and worry about your own sad fuckin life and stay off his dick.
Do you happen to have Wind Song? I've been looking for someone to post that Wes Montgomery song for a long time. If you have it, would be awesome to post.
@simsdogg92 No He doesn't. I used to play with a sax player who played on Wes' first two albums and he told me that Wes didn't do drugs or drink. He did smoke cigarettes.
@wesm65 he always spoke of how kind Wes was. remembering my friend Waymon "Punchy" Atkinson's mother was ill in the hospital Wes made sure to visit with her when he was in town. It was my first real jazz cat to play with and he always stressed making sure i played every song in chord melody and I believe he got that from Wes. There is a you tube of me playing Road Song with a big band the Don Sebesky version in honor of Wes if you'd like to check it out.. Wes is King!
@teddypantelas: Teddy, just saw your video and it is really very nice... well-done! Playing guitar in a big band is a lot of fun, isn't it? Provided you don't have to sight read, that is! I'd like to hear you play that tune on an archtop guitar with flat-wound strings, although you can also get a nice jazzy, Wes-style tone with the right touch and amp settings. If feedback is a problem, a Telecaster with flat-wounds works very well as a jazz axe if you set up your amp properly. Keep playing!
@GeorgiaBoy1961 I'm glad you saw the video and enjoyed it. I feel the tone I get from my strat doesn't sound like a strat at all. That's the way I like it to sound and the touch of it is amazing. I do have a beautiful Black 1957 Gibson ES 175 D That I put Thomastick Classic S flatwounds which are the best flatwounds I've ever seen. No noise at all. The guitar sounds exactly like Wes' on Boss Guitar.
@teddypantelas: Teddy, I used to have a 175 myself, and you can get a very nice jazz tone out of them. I now play a custom-made L5 knock-off, which is a high-end guitar. However, on a big-band gig, I might use my Telecaster (which has a humbucker instead of the front p/u) with Thomastik-Infeld flatwounds - so I didn't feed back from the amp. My main amps are a Fender Twin vintage reissue, and a Polytone, usually the former.
@GeorgiaBoy1961 very nice. I use a fender ultra chorus with stereo chorus and a polytone clean running them stereo so they have two different sounds and doesn't overwhelm the chorus. reverb on both amps. on the strat SI use sliver bullets 9's ont he ES I useTthomastick Clasic s 10 - 38. because of the old guitar the bass is amazingly strong and the touch is like a feather.
@teddypantelas: I play with my thumb and first two fingers like Kevin Eubanks, on slower tunes; on chord solos or chord melodiesI play entirely with the thumb. The tone you get playing with your fingers is very nice, but you have to work alot harder to project your sound than with a pick. When I play pick-style, I rotate it perpendicular to the strings like George Benson to get that tone and attack. I also like to use alot of slides, glisses, and slurs in my playing to make it more horn-like.
@teddypantelas - Thanks for the memories of Wes - he sounds like a true gentleman, by all accounts. Waymon Atkinson was on some of Wes's earliest recordings(excluding Hampton), if I remember correct. He was a fine tenor player. I enjoyed your video of Road song - great playing! Good to see that you are keeping Wes' memory alive!
@wesm65: The other thing I know how to do is play hybrid-style - pick with two fingers - but I use that mostly on a solid body with slinky strings, and not usually playing jazz. I occasionally use the techique to add interest to my comping. When I play a duet, I will walk a bassline with my RH thumb, and play chords or fills above it with my fingers, ala Barry Galbraith, and other masters of this style.
@teddypantelas: Wes' nickname was "Preacher" because of his tee-total, no drugs, no parties lifestyle and devotion to his family. He loved to eat, and smoked very heavily, which eventually killed him, however, way too soon. I stil mourn his death, which was a tremendous loss to the world and jazz alike. One of the greatest jazz musicians ever, on any instrument.
@GeorgiaBoy1961 I believe Wes died from a broken heart. He did his gigs doing giant steps and his great originals but people were yelling out play Windy, Going Out Of My Head. His comercial hits. I feel it got to him. in a great biography on Wes by Adrian Ingram he mentions that Wes stopped taking his blood pressure meds intentionally. That blew me away . Don't get me wrong I think everything wes played was Golden including the comercial music. Who could play one chorus on Yesterday like him!
@teddypantelas: I've read Ingram's bio. as well as many other comments about Wes's final days, from fellow musicians like Joe Pass, for example. The "died of a broken heart" idea doesn't square with the fact that with his commercial success, Wes was at long last able to support his family as he wished and enjoy a few comforts. Myself, I think Wes died too soon because he smoked, was obese and worked himself to death. Treatments for heart conditions were more primitive then also.
@teddypantelas: We lost him too soon! The good really do die young. I know some old-time jazz cats in Chicago that saw Wes back in the 1960s, and to a man, they see it was like a religious experience how transported they were. Wes died when I was seven so I missed out. Just gald we've got his recordings, some film of performances and You Tube. As long as people love jazz, Wes' music will be heard and appreciated.
yes, he does say "kinda real" at the start, the rest is about as good it gets in the jazz plank spanking department your honour.....what is 'jazz plank spanking' Mr Farquar Nincompoop...?
I'm so grateful to YouTube for having this LIVE content of one of my all-time guitar heroes. I used many of his instrumentals for Break-songs in my bands in the '60s & would incorporate octaves, Hendrix riffs, free-form scale /arpeggios and any funky thing that crossed my mind. Got married in '68, got home, and a fellow guit said Wes had died!!! When I realized he was serious I just couldn't believe it was true. Shattered my world.
@BatoLoco696 - When I started my active involvement playing straight-ahead Jazz in 2003, (rather than just listening to it), I started almost immediately running into the then small vanguard of savvy Post-Millenial Jazz cubs who were busy absorbing Wes's music like sponges. That trickle has grown into a torrent. Your children, grand children and great-grandchildren living in the 22nd Century will hear Jazz, and this particular flavor will be incredibly prominent in the mix.
This is one of my most favorite performances by Wes, and is the GO-TO JAM clip when I practice Nica's Dream on my guitar. Conveniently, the Real Book in C has this tune in this key, not in the original Silver's key. I love the intro and this entire arrangement in promptu. Is this video available on DVD somewhere?
We all know that Wes was a virtuoso/genius, but now we see he is a really nice person who loved to play with others. I suspect that his heavy smoking may have contributed to his early heat attack.
drummer takes brief call on mobile phone between 1:00 and 1:03...."sorry mate can't talk am jamming with Wes....you know, Wes? Montgomery? Gotta rush..ciao..."
Are you serious? It's obvious that the drummer was not familiar with the tune. For him to catch that much was pretty amazing. You can tell by his swing and solo that he is one of baddest motherfuckers. Don't you know anything about jazz man.
@guitarlak Agreed, I got the feeling that teh drummer had never heard or played this tune before - so you are totally right - to play what he did just by feel was incredibly on point!!!!
@ROCKINJAZZMETAL: Rockin, I was once a serious jazz man, and I spent years - literally years - playing only with my fingers. No one of which I am aware has ever managed to play upstrokes with their thumb (or downstrokes) as well as he did. I got close using thumb plus index and middle fingers for single lines (like Kevin Eubanks), and played thumb-only on slower tunes.... you are right, it is extremely difficult to do well. He was able to do this in part because of the corn on his thumb tip.
@ROCKINJAZZMETAL: To continue my previous remark, the thing I hear in Wes' playing is that popping, horn-like articulation - like Clifford Brown except on guitar. Wes clearly studied and emulated horn players, and you can hear it in his playing... his ghosted notes, slurs, glisses, and also his double-time passages. Wes' playing stands up to repeated listening better than almost anyone, IMO - his music never gets old. You can hear the melody in his improvisations, which are beautifully done.
why does stand up bass always sounds of out pitch when they hit the notes??? i dont get it, is it suppose to be like that or is it tricky to hit the notes?
@ollecarlsson: Jazzmen call the drums and bass the "engine room," because w/o them, nothing can swing. Upright bass takes a good ear for pitch, because as you noted, there are no frets to guide finger placement - but you learn hand positions to accomodate that. Having those "notes between the notes" - ones that don't fall precisely on one of the 12 tones - helps give accoustic bass that hip sound in the right hands. You gotta have strong hands to play upright, too!
@ollecarlsson The upright bass, like violin or cello, has no frets (like a guitar), so it is totally reliant on the ear of the player, and his/her muscle memory of where to finger the note on the fingerboard. In that way, all but the very best will be ever so slightly out of tune. But that's what jazz is all about! Also walking basslines use a lot of passing notes outside of the chord scale, which could possibly sound out of key to the unaccustomed ear.
Simple....who sold more record and influenced more people Wes Montgomery or Victor whats his name....Thats easy. I hate it when someone comes on here and tries to diss a true master of their skill.
Simple....who sold more record and influenced more people Wes Montgomery or Victor whats his name....Thats easy. I hate it when someone comes on here and tries to diss a true master of their skill.
No no...the coolest guy who ever walked on this planet is Victor van Kampen.... and a lot better than this guy who never learned how to play with a pick.... Remember....Victor Van kampen...!
@jazzmunky I refuse to check out this Van Kampen on the principle that alzhammer1 is cluttering up a comment board that should be devoted to celebrating Wes. Cheers jazzmunky
@alzhammer1: Nice try, pal, but your playing isn't worth the gum stuck to the bottom of Wes's shoe. He was a genius, you are just a wanna-be jikacking this thread. At least try to show some class and go self-promote someplace else.
@dethman32: Congratulations dethman on pursuing jazz guitar and good luck, but plan on working harder than you have ever worked, if you hope to reach anything near his level. In my opinion, Wes is the greatest jazz guitarist ever to live, and among the handful of best jazz artists ever on any instrument. Just remember - you can't "be" anyone else musically, only yourself - the trick is to make the most of whatever talent you've been blessed with.
I love how Wes just enjoys himself out there on stage! Really though, to play as wonderful as him you have to love it, and enough so to practice just endlessly! I think that he probably enjoyed the music he was making just as much as we have! Joey Vaughan "World Blues Attack"
On the bonus tracks of "Smokin at the Half Note" Wes briefly discusses with Allan Grant his recent trip to Europe and how much he enjoyed it. This segment seen here must have been filmed during that trip.
What strikes me once again is Wes's generosity and warmth of spirit; happily playing with a trio of unknown (at the time) foreign kids who were undoubtedly a bit nervous about their chops and keeping Wes happy. Not a drop of snobbism in him. The same might not be said of some other American jazz geniuses; Monk, Bird, Mingus...these were guys who were a little tough on fellow musicians if they didn't measure up even slightly.
@comateensnyc: comateensync, you are very right; many top-level jazz players are exremely tough on up-and-coming players. I played for a while in the Chicago jazz scene, and if you want to sit in with the top dogs, you'd better have your act together - or be prepared to get egg all over your sorry face. It's a very Darwinian world - dog-eat-dog, survival of the fittest. Wes came up in a time when there were lots of opportunities to play, and he exploited them - and of course, he had his talent.
@comateensnyc: If you are interested in the old days, and what the "cats" expected out of a newbie, read the late Ray Charles' autobiography "Brother Ray" sometime. Ray came up just a little bit after Wes, and knew many of the same people. The cats would call "Cherokee" at a blistering tempo, modulating through all 12 keys. Wes was that rarity; a humble genius - not only a talent for the ages, but a kind and gentle man. I've always heard that spirit in his playing. I miss him terribly.
@comateensnyc you're so right about the kindest of Wes. He was all about the music and the joy in playing with other. Him making them feel good helped them play better too. The pianist took a really nice solo. Wes will always be king in my book. I'm so glad the europeans videod these historic moments. with out it we'd have no real footage of Wes other than him playing Windy with a background track.
@twixttime We are blad you took it seriously and documented the Master. Wes was a world figure a voice the whole world was suppose to hear. It really wasn't americans lending , it was meant to be and I for one am so glad others had the sense to film him playing the music that meant so much to him. Even without his band it didn't matter as we hear here, The master Wes Montgomery!
@twixttime Is that video with his own band. They had a strong chemisty. it may hve been on the tune Impressions. There is also another verion of that same group on a compilation of guitarists on a dvd (Legends of Jazz Guitar,one of the volumes) where is solo is longer and even more intense. Check it out. Also is stellar version of Round Midnight.
han is excellent to be sure - his swing feel and dynamics are great, especially for such a young guy. but, to say he "make[s] the session" is a bit of a stretch. it's easy to sound good while playing with someone as astoundingly talented as wes montgomery (8:45). wes had such a great sense of rhythm to start with - he, not han, counts off the song in the beginning - that a competent drummer could basically follow his lead. pim jacobs is also immense - his bop lines and comping are excellent.
Iti's great to see Wes with these very fine musicians and it is very sorry that we do no have more recording with the Pim Jacobs trio seeying Wes full of joy. If you watch the whole DVD you will notice that the first three numbers with the Pim Jacob trio are by far the best. The producer of the DVD noticed that as well. With the rest of the DVD the other musicians are just mediocre.
quite awesome, never heard of this before, I have always been a fan of the weird time thing,(brubeck, zappa, etc) one of my new favorites.
halloranedward 12 hours ago
Sidebar-Can you imagine sitting down with the band, in a studio, and lighting up a smoke today? They'd call the Police and have you hauled out in chains...
toddallenhooper 1 week ago
FANTASTIC
viniguitarjazz 3 weeks ago
is he using roundwounds here?otherwise it sounds very bright for a flatwounds+thumb combo.
Eurobubble70 4 weeks ago
I know now that God exist
JECKOfficial 4 weeks ago
"niggas dream" wtf?
GigglingGirI 1 month ago
1:00 "yeah I'll call you right back"
1dermamic 1 month ago
@1dermamic
Yeah, sorry about that. I didnt know he was doing a gig at the time.
I was ringing him to ask if he wanted to fill in for Ringo Starr during the Tour of Holland.
Needed a quick answer.
Wont happen again.
taketimeout2 1 month ago
Comment removed
TheMillersTale2001 1 month ago
Comment removed
TheMillersTale2001 1 month ago
BTW in case anyone didnt realise the lady at the very end is talking to the drummer as he is today!
I worked in Holland some years back and learnt Dutch.
She is a presenter and he is the drummer.
Onsettend eh?
Lucky man to have such experience with Wes.
And vica versa cos Wes obviously dug him.
twixttime 2 months ago
Comment removed
watski 1 month ago
@twixttime I'm not sure who the guy at the end is but it isn't Han Bennink
watski 1 month ago
@watski
Sorry, oor.
Neem me niet Kwalijk.
Ik dacht het kerel op die eeind was het drummer.
That is my attempt to excuse me giving what might be the wrong info but it sure looks like what I imagine he would be like today.
Plus the lady addresses him as though he is one of the musicians.
Maybe he was the cleaner lucky enough to empty Wes's ash trays.
Now that would be a full time job,!
(Cant sign in as Twixtime anymore as Youtube seems to be getting more compromised by Hackers).
taketimeout2 1 month ago
@taketimeout2 google this: dwdd han bennink, you'll get a vid of him in 2009
12245488 1 month ago
@12245488
Lol,Lol,Lol!
That was all I had to do.
Didnt think of that.
It would have been too obvious(the excuse of the dumb, like myself)!
taketimeout2 1 month ago
Mastery.
shorttermmelody 2 months ago
0:01 "gonorrhea"
constipatedlecher 2 months ago
Comment removed
JackBootCharlie 2 months ago
can someone tell me when he starts the solo? also is he just soloing over the A section (no bridge)? sorry I'm new to jazz. thanks!
lefan4992 2 months ago
@lefan4992 Solo starts 1:06 he starts of by interpreting the melody in his own way (that's the way jazz is, no one will play the same song the same way twice)... and also he is soling over the whole form of the song
freekazoid8489 2 months ago
@lefan4992
I think he started that solo back in about 1940, when he first picked up the guitar!
Everything he played was a solo.
Just happened to, sometimes, need other musicians around to add a little extra color.
He was two/three men playing at once on one guitar.
Best explanation I can give, I'm afraid!
twixttime 2 months ago
if anyone knows the chord progressions for this video?? it would be greatly appreciated!
lolcudlol 2 months ago
Genius
goodresonance 2 months ago
damn - this music feels good!
Dontdrinkthatwater 3 months ago
More drummers need to scat during their solos.
vdeferens 4 months ago
best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4956uxarzvw 4 months ago
This band SWINGS...
NYTNinAmerica 4 months ago
These guys were like, "did he just say the N word?!"
MsMarc1234 4 months ago in playlist Wes Montgomery
that poor drummer...
Macktones 4 months ago
i thought at the beginning he said ''lets try some n*ggas dream'' then i read the title of the video
DajaWaja 4 months ago 27
When I need inspiration I just have to listen to Wes what more can I say.
theWarriorUnknown 5 months ago
This is why Wes still is the king of all guitars...the minurte he touches the guitar pure music..music...melody...soul...groove..and more ..more...just gushes out....ask all guitar players....most will tell you this is the sound they are after...forever....A nice Gibson L-5 using his thumb and a Sdandell amp...pluged in with no extra tricke except your soul and your touch......
motreby 5 months ago
dat thumb
quarentine99 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
freedom is jazz!
the piano is great! as well
grantgre 6 months ago
freedom is jazz!
the piano is great!
grantgre 6 months ago
freedom is jazz!
grantgre 6 months ago
A lot a guys think they've surpassed Wes after trying to emulate him for years. I won't mention names but, I will say no one sounds and plays liek Wes did.
jbowden66 6 months ago 8
@jbowden66 Whomever 'they' are....they are quite deceived by their own egos....No one surpasses Wes for his creativity and style...I dont care if 'They' think they are more technical or whatever...he was and will always be the best.....sheer joy to hear!
paulyrulo1 2 weeks ago
Comment removed
MrVasanth777 7 months ago
画像の割に、音が良いですね！いーね！
jazzgoogoo 8 months ago
the drummer should had panic ,who wouldn,t playing with such a giant,,,
darzil007 8 months ago
it was a bland out whenever Wes was in town by all accounts. Chapter and verse in the rhythm section, although some of the rhythm section had lost loved ones fighting the Germans, no matter r
NowMyPoundsHaveRunOu 9 months ago
he never fired a five iron pin high but that's alright the Rupert Brook of the arch top generation a best-kept secret, blabbermouth me,,,,
NowMyPoundsHaveRunOu 9 months ago
Obama, hang your head in shame, now that's a real president
NowMyPoundsHaveRunOu 9 months ago in playlist NIca and Wes 2
@NowMyPoundsHaveRunOu Get off Obama's fucking dick. What the fuck does Obama have to do with this piece of music by Wes Montgomery. You silly fuckin bigots just can't get over the fact he's president. Get over it bitch and worry about your own sad fuckin life and stay off his dick.
CHC4669 6 months ago
drummer looks like adam sandler! lol
osborl12 9 months ago 2
@osborl12 haha, i was thinking that
jsrarbel 8 months ago
ウエス・ごきげんだね！
gonsukegontyan 9 months ago
Thanks so much for uploading this! =D
Djavidus 10 months ago
THANK YOU!
paulaalexandre75 10 months ago
Do you happen to have Wind Song? I've been looking for someone to post that Wes Montgomery song for a long time. If you have it, would be awesome to post.
vbdrsd 11 months ago
One of the greatest jazz musicians, ever, period.
stratguy1688 1 year ago
they were having shome shexy fun with Wes in Holland, yesh?
justhavingmydinner 1 year ago
is it just me, or does wes look high as hell in this video? lol. but good shit tho
simsdogg92 1 year ago
@simsdogg92 No He doesn't. I used to play with a sax player who played on Wes' first two albums and he told me that Wes didn't do drugs or drink. He did smoke cigarettes.
teddypantelas 11 months ago
@teddypantelas Did the sax player have any other stories about Wes?
wesm65 11 months ago
@wesm65 he always spoke of how kind Wes was. remembering my friend Waymon "Punchy" Atkinson's mother was ill in the hospital Wes made sure to visit with her when he was in town. It was my first real jazz cat to play with and he always stressed making sure i played every song in chord melody and I believe he got that from Wes. There is a you tube of me playing Road Song with a big band the Don Sebesky version in honor of Wes if you'd like to check it out.. Wes is King!
teddypantelas 3 months ago
@teddypantelas: Teddy, just saw your video and it is really very nice... well-done! Playing guitar in a big band is a lot of fun, isn't it? Provided you don't have to sight read, that is! I'd like to hear you play that tune on an archtop guitar with flat-wound strings, although you can also get a nice jazzy, Wes-style tone with the right touch and amp settings. If feedback is a problem, a Telecaster with flat-wounds works very well as a jazz axe if you set up your amp properly. Keep playing!
GeorgiaBoy1961 3 months ago
@GeorgiaBoy1961 I'm glad you saw the video and enjoyed it. I feel the tone I get from my strat doesn't sound like a strat at all. That's the way I like it to sound and the touch of it is amazing. I do have a beautiful Black 1957 Gibson ES 175 D That I put Thomastick Classic S flatwounds which are the best flatwounds I've ever seen. No noise at all. The guitar sounds exactly like Wes' on Boss Guitar.
teddypantelas 3 months ago
@teddypantelas: Teddy, I used to have a 175 myself, and you can get a very nice jazz tone out of them. I now play a custom-made L5 knock-off, which is a high-end guitar. However, on a big-band gig, I might use my Telecaster (which has a humbucker instead of the front p/u) with Thomastik-Infeld flatwounds - so I didn't feed back from the amp. My main amps are a Fender Twin vintage reissue, and a Polytone, usually the former.
GeorgiaBoy1961 3 months ago
@GeorgiaBoy1961 very nice. I use a fender ultra chorus with stereo chorus and a polytone clean running them stereo so they have two different sounds and doesn't overwhelm the chorus. reverb on both amps. on the strat SI use sliver bullets 9's ont he ES I useTthomastick Clasic s 10 - 38. because of the old guitar the bass is amazingly strong and the touch is like a feather.
teddypantelas 3 months ago
@teddypantelas: I play with my thumb and first two fingers like Kevin Eubanks, on slower tunes; on chord solos or chord melodiesI play entirely with the thumb. The tone you get playing with your fingers is very nice, but you have to work alot harder to project your sound than with a pick. When I play pick-style, I rotate it perpendicular to the strings like George Benson to get that tone and attack. I also like to use alot of slides, glisses, and slurs in my playing to make it more horn-like.
GeorgiaBoy1961 3 months ago
@teddypantelas - Thanks for the memories of Wes - he sounds like a true gentleman, by all accounts. Waymon Atkinson was on some of Wes's earliest recordings(excluding Hampton), if I remember correct. He was a fine tenor player. I enjoyed your video of Road song - great playing! Good to see that you are keeping Wes' memory alive!
wesm65 3 months ago
@wesm65 Thanks for checking it out. I appreciate it. Wes is the reason I play jazz guitar.
teddypantelas 3 months ago
@teddypantelas That's great. I can't think of a better reason to play! Wes was a true legend!
wesm65 3 months ago
@wesm65: The other thing I know how to do is play hybrid-style - pick with two fingers - but I use that mostly on a solid body with slinky strings, and not usually playing jazz. I occasionally use the techique to add interest to my comping. When I play a duet, I will walk a bassline with my RH thumb, and play chords or fills above it with my fingers, ala Barry Galbraith, and other masters of this style.
GeorgiaBoy1961 3 months ago
@teddypantelas: Wes' nickname was "Preacher" because of his tee-total, no drugs, no parties lifestyle and devotion to his family. He loved to eat, and smoked very heavily, which eventually killed him, however, way too soon. I stil mourn his death, which was a tremendous loss to the world and jazz alike. One of the greatest jazz musicians ever, on any instrument.
GeorgiaBoy1961 3 months ago
@GeorgiaBoy1961 I believe Wes died from a broken heart. He did his gigs doing giant steps and his great originals but people were yelling out play Windy, Going Out Of My Head. His comercial hits. I feel it got to him. in a great biography on Wes by Adrian Ingram he mentions that Wes stopped taking his blood pressure meds intentionally. That blew me away . Don't get me wrong I think everything wes played was Golden including the comercial music. Who could play one chorus on Yesterday like him!
teddypantelas 3 months ago
@teddypantelas: I've read Ingram's bio. as well as many other comments about Wes's final days, from fellow musicians like Joe Pass, for example. The "died of a broken heart" idea doesn't square with the fact that with his commercial success, Wes was at long last able to support his family as he wished and enjoy a few comforts. Myself, I think Wes died too soon because he smoked, was obese and worked himself to death. Treatments for heart conditions were more primitive then also.
GeorgiaBoy1961 3 months ago
@teddypantelas: We lost him too soon! The good really do die young. I know some old-time jazz cats in Chicago that saw Wes back in the 1960s, and to a man, they see it was like a religious experience how transported they were. Wes died when I was seven so I missed out. Just gald we've got his recordings, some film of performances and You Tube. As long as people love jazz, Wes' music will be heard and appreciated.
GeorgiaBoy1961 3 months ago
@simsdogg92 he could just be tired from traveling a lot too
simsdogg92 11 months ago
@simsdogg92 Well he was in AMsterdam right? :)
vdeferens 4 months ago
This could be my favorite! :?)
Bamiofar 1 year ago
One of the best vids on youtube. Everything is totally chill and totally right on!
Hill88Studios 1 year ago
wtf was that at the end?
thegodlessatheist 1 year ago
I heard a noise during the drum soo does anyone know what it was
maxxxamt 1 year ago
yes, he does say "kinda real" at the start, the rest is about as good it gets in the jazz plank spanking department your honour.....what is 'jazz plank spanking' Mr Farquar Nincompoop...?
CameronsFag 1 year ago
I'm so grateful to YouTube for having this LIVE content of one of my all-time guitar heroes. I used many of his instrumentals for Break-songs in my bands in the '60s & would incorporate octaves, Hendrix riffs, free-form scale /arpeggios and any funky thing that crossed my mind. Got married in '68, got home, and a fellow guit said Wes had died!!! When I realized he was serious I just couldn't believe it was true. Shattered my world.
BatoLoco696 1 year ago
@BatoLoco696 - When I started my active involvement playing straight-ahead Jazz in 2003, (rather than just listening to it), I started almost immediately running into the then small vanguard of savvy Post-Millenial Jazz cubs who were busy absorbing Wes's music like sponges. That trickle has grown into a torrent. Your children, grand children and great-grandchildren living in the 22nd Century will hear Jazz, and this particular flavor will be incredibly prominent in the mix.
JCJasion 1 year ago
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
itosanjesusprpriedad 1 year ago
The sound quality is excellent as well as the playing of course!
jazz1bro 1 year ago
at 6:28 the drummer quotes that little asian beat. ahaha
soccercude 1 year ago
That's genial! innate talent! what a premature death! anyway, it is always the same story. "the bad seed never dies"
bracico 1 year ago
This is THE best Jazz I have EVER HEARD!! TY!
southsaturndelta220 1 year ago
This is one of my most favorite performances by Wes, and is the GO-TO JAM clip when I practice Nica's Dream on my guitar. Conveniently, the Real Book in C has this tune in this key, not in the original Silver's key. I love the intro and this entire arrangement in promptu. Is this video available on DVD somewhere?
mikisjazz 1 year ago
Does anyone know if Wes recorded this on an album? Or was this just a song he only played live?
Fu345 1 year ago
We all know that Wes was a virtuoso/genius, but now we see he is a really nice person who loved to play with others. I suspect that his heavy smoking may have contributed to his early heat attack.
angeloamericano 1 year ago
Oh man...he just had sooo much fun.....
exsoundus 1 year ago
is it me or is that drummer using a flip fone for split second?
Psychotronic100 1 year ago 2
drummer takes brief call on mobile phone between 1:00 and 1:03...."sorry mate can't talk am jamming with Wes....you know, Wes? Montgomery? Gotta rush..ciao..."
Not bad considering it was 1965....
filtecuk 1 year ago 91
@filtecuk hahahaha :) looks like it!
nomonkeymind 1 year ago
Are you serious? It's obvious that the drummer was not familiar with the tune. For him to catch that much was pretty amazing. You can tell by his swing and solo that he is one of baddest motherfuckers. Don't you know anything about jazz man.
guitarlak 1 year ago 2
@guitarlak Agreed, I got the feeling that teh drummer had never heard or played this tune before - so you are totally right - to play what he did just by feel was incredibly on point!!!!
vdeferens 4 months ago
@filtecuk Yeah he's on the phone! Or is checking his dope is still here above his ear.
societyforrealmusic 11 months ago
@filtecuk Am I misunderstanding any sarcasm, or did you really not notice it's actually his drumstick? :']
Djavidus 10 months ago
@Djavidus he's joking..duh!
vicmal2112 9 months ago
@filtecuk This was not his last excentricity. Just type "Han Benninck" in youtube and you'll see.
cyberprimate 9 months ago
Thank you so very much for posting this performance and for your above commentary which I found to be very informative. I will never forget Wes.
irishsetterarchie 1 year ago
Originators of True art ,these forms hold the standard and are rarely surpassed today,Absolutely Pure....
DYNODRUM 1 year ago
I'm 6 and a half and i adore this song
MelodiousThunk93 1 year ago 3
I love that thumb technique! I tried to play like that and its fricken difficult at that speed. He must have had some serious cramps in his thumb!
ROCKINJAZZMETAL 1 year ago
@ROCKINJAZZMETAL he must have had a serious thumb
TheWishingFish 1 year ago
@ROCKINJAZZMETAL
you know his thumb was flexible right?
:)
CustomBumpMaker 1 year ago
@ROCKINJAZZMETAL: Rockin, I was once a serious jazz man, and I spent years - literally years - playing only with my fingers. No one of which I am aware has ever managed to play upstrokes with their thumb (or downstrokes) as well as he did. I got close using thumb plus index and middle fingers for single lines (like Kevin Eubanks), and played thumb-only on slower tunes.... you are right, it is extremely difficult to do well. He was able to do this in part because of the corn on his thumb tip.
GeorgiaBoy1961 1 year ago
@ROCKINJAZZMETAL: To continue my previous remark, the thing I hear in Wes' playing is that popping, horn-like articulation - like Clifford Brown except on guitar. Wes clearly studied and emulated horn players, and you can hear it in his playing... his ghosted notes, slurs, glisses, and also his double-time passages. Wes' playing stands up to repeated listening better than almost anyone, IMO - his music never gets old. You can hear the melody in his improvisations, which are beautifully done.
GeorgiaBoy1961 1 year ago
waw, friends, thanks so much wes. so pure, so real. he was talking wiht his guitar... and always his smile.
theHellzapoppin 1 year ago 2
That's Han Bennink? Cool; I've heard of him, but I'd never heard him play.
Reaper2k 1 year ago
This was the smile of the night for me! Thanks for posting it, and where did you find it?
markamarkemarki 1 year ago
why does stand up bass always sounds of out pitch when they hit the notes??? i dont get it, is it suppose to be like that or is it tricky to hit the notes?
ollecarlsson 1 year ago
@ollecarlsson
Its super trick, there is no frets, you have to guess really well or know what your doing and this guy is preety good.
ihatethisusername132 1 year ago
@ollecarlsson: Jazzmen call the drums and bass the "engine room," because w/o them, nothing can swing. Upright bass takes a good ear for pitch, because as you noted, there are no frets to guide finger placement - but you learn hand positions to accomodate that. Having those "notes between the notes" - ones that don't fall precisely on one of the 12 tones - helps give accoustic bass that hip sound in the right hands. You gotta have strong hands to play upright, too!
GeorgiaBoy1961 1 year ago
@ollecarlsson The upright bass, like violin or cello, has no frets (like a guitar), so it is totally reliant on the ear of the player, and his/her muscle memory of where to finger the note on the fingerboard. In that way, all but the very best will be ever so slightly out of tune. But that's what jazz is all about! Also walking basslines use a lot of passing notes outside of the chord scale, which could possibly sound out of key to the unaccustomed ear.
vdeferens 4 months ago
He was amazing! If you like this and Joe Pass-style jazz, check out my song "Seventh Blues".
RocknPak 1 year ago
that lick he plays at 1:26 is just sooooo good!!!
...i listend a lot wo wes' music, but this guitar solo is one of his best - sooo fresh und exiting!
ZerGermany 1 year ago
Nica,s Dream....Jongens? ..Ja Ja
JMMusicdrums 1 year ago
So relaxing...
Aner1993 1 year ago
Simple....who sold more record and influenced more people Wes Montgomery or Victor whats his name....Thats easy. I hate it when someone comes on here and tries to diss a true master of their skill.
raphyelrosby 1 year ago
Simple....who sold more record and influenced more people Wes Montgomery or Victor whats his name....Thats easy. I hate it when someone comes on here and tries to diss a true master of their skill.
raphyelrosby 1 year ago
Unfortunately I am not Victor van Kampen, I would kiss his feet If I ver meet him cause he's the greatest guitarist who ever walk on this planet....
alzhammer1 1 year ago
Fantastic! Must be a recording in Holland, with the Pim Jacobs trio! Pim already died years agoo as well!
pietpont 1 year ago
grande!!!!
MyBrixen 1 year ago
WES WAS BEST..HIS TIMMING ON HANS SOLO WAS MASTERFUL.
wardcop 1 year ago
WES: lets try some Nicas Dream
BASS: your's! who's?
WES: Nicas...
cejasize 1 year ago
No no...the coolest guy who ever walked on this planet is Victor van Kampen.... and a lot better than this guy who never learned how to play with a pick.... Remember....Victor Van kampen...!
alzhammer1 1 year ago
@alzhammer1 stop spamming all the wes vids! Who the hell's Van Kampen anyways...YOU perhaps???!!!?
jazzmunky 1 year ago
@jazzmunky I refuse to check out this Van Kampen on the principle that alzhammer1 is cluttering up a comment board that should be devoted to celebrating Wes. Cheers jazzmunky
listen2this 1 year ago
@alzhammer1: Nice try, pal, but your playing isn't worth the gum stuck to the bottom of Wes's shoe. He was a genius, you are just a wanna-be jikacking this thread. At least try to show some class and go self-promote someplace else.
GeorgiaBoy1961 1 year ago
Love how they lock in at 3:18. Feel the groove.
steve51704000 1 year ago
5 assholes disliked it
19bluesman87 1 year ago
@19bluesman87 They probably liked Lady Gaga, and other shits. The world's musical taste is getting worse... :(
KarsaViktor 1 year ago 2
It's great the way Wes just loves to play!
thrip 1 year ago
just started learning jazz guitar. This is what I'm shooting for. this and four on six are my favorite Wes songs.
dethman32 1 year ago
@dethman32: Congratulations dethman on pursuing jazz guitar and good luck, but plan on working harder than you have ever worked, if you hope to reach anything near his level. In my opinion, Wes is the greatest jazz guitarist ever to live, and among the handful of best jazz artists ever on any instrument. Just remember - you can't "be" anyone else musically, only yourself - the trick is to make the most of whatever talent you've been blessed with.
GeorgiaBoy1961 1 year ago
my hero the best guitarist ever period...
armagedontoulon 1 year ago
gorgeous
theacousticguitarist 1 year ago
still peeling the onion on this one..wonderfully fun song to play.
gentleken 1 year ago
very cool Dutch guys....
nadirsharav 1 year ago 2
real nice
nadirsharav 1 year ago
I didn't know about his thumb!
jakeham1 1 year ago
I love how Wes just enjoys himself out there on stage! Really though, to play as wonderful as him you have to love it, and enough so to practice just endlessly! I think that he probably enjoyed the music he was making just as much as we have! Joey Vaughan "World Blues Attack"
cjoey39 1 year ago
On the bonus tracks of "Smokin at the Half Note" Wes briefly discusses with Allan Grant his recent trip to Europe and how much he enjoyed it. This segment seen here must have been filmed during that trip.
aarfeld 1 year ago
Boy, what I wouldn't give to be able to pick up a guitar and play effortlessly like Wes Montgomery, like this guy seems to be able to do ;^)
comateensnyc 1 year ago
@comateensnyc Your soul, mate.
jonjonz91 1 year ago
What strikes me once again is Wes's generosity and warmth of spirit; happily playing with a trio of unknown (at the time) foreign kids who were undoubtedly a bit nervous about their chops and keeping Wes happy. Not a drop of snobbism in him. The same might not be said of some other American jazz geniuses; Monk, Bird, Mingus...these were guys who were a little tough on fellow musicians if they didn't measure up even slightly.
comateensnyc 1 year ago 17
@comateensnyc: comateensync, you are very right; many top-level jazz players are exremely tough on up-and-coming players. I played for a while in the Chicago jazz scene, and if you want to sit in with the top dogs, you'd better have your act together - or be prepared to get egg all over your sorry face. It's a very Darwinian world - dog-eat-dog, survival of the fittest. Wes came up in a time when there were lots of opportunities to play, and he exploited them - and of course, he had his talent.
GeorgiaBoy1961 1 year ago
@comateensnyc: If you are interested in the old days, and what the "cats" expected out of a newbie, read the late Ray Charles' autobiography "Brother Ray" sometime. Ray came up just a little bit after Wes, and knew many of the same people. The cats would call "Cherokee" at a blistering tempo, modulating through all 12 keys. Wes was that rarity; a humble genius - not only a talent for the ages, but a kind and gentle man. I've always heard that spirit in his playing. I miss him terribly.
GeorgiaBoy1961 1 year ago
@comateensnyc you got that! people say he was a gentle soul
nomonkeymind 1 year ago
@comateensnyc you're so right about the kindest of Wes. He was all about the music and the joy in playing with other. Him making them feel good helped them play better too. The pianist took a really nice solo. Wes will always be king in my book. I'm so glad the europeans videod these historic moments. with out it we'd have no real footage of Wes other than him playing Windy with a background track.
teddypantelas 11 months ago 11
@teddypantelas
Yeah ,we 'europeans' are pretty glad we did too!
Thanks for lending him to us, americans.
You made him for all the world to marvel at.
Thanks Guys.
twixttime 2 months ago
@twixttime We are blad you took it seriously and documented the Master. Wes was a world figure a voice the whole world was suppose to hear. It really wasn't americans lending , it was meant to be and I for one am so glad others had the sense to film him playing the music that meant so much to him. Even without his band it didn't matter as we hear here, The master Wes Montgomery!
teddypantelas 2 months ago
@teddypantelas
Woof!
Sorry, just love watching bounce off that drummer.
When they play together on another film Wes really puts the pedal to the metal.
Never seen him turn up the heat so high on any other film of him.
What a man!
Thanks Teddy.
twixttime 2 months ago
@twixttime Is that video with his own band. They had a strong chemisty. it may hve been on the tune Impressions. There is also another verion of that same group on a compilation of guitarists on a dvd (Legends of Jazz Guitar,one of the volumes) where is solo is longer and even more intense. Check it out. Also is stellar version of Round Midnight.
teddypantelas 2 months ago
@teddypantelas
Will do!
thanks again.
twixttime 2 months ago
@comateensnyc Not to mention the ultimate 'jazz dictator' BUDDY RICH!...OH! BUT WHAT A GENIUS!
xem727 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Wes is one of those amazing players who seems incapable of hitting a wrong note. And boy does he make it look easy
leibelcohen 1 year ago
Wes is one of those amazing players who seems incapable of hitting a wrong note. And boy does he make it look easy
leibelcohen 1 year ago
Amazing! Han as a younster!
skangadang 1 year ago
This collection of talent is just so good it's ridculous
Jazzyteach65 1 year ago
Thank you for uploading this fantastic video! I love it.
toshirobirthday 1 year ago
How Cool
landart67 1 year ago
@landart67
Wes=The Best
paulyrulo 1 year ago
sounds like he had some fresh strings in this take.
GretnaBlast 2 years ago 2
This set including the very young Han Bennik demonstrate how the drummer can make a session.
s0niac 2 years ago
han is excellent to be sure - his swing feel and dynamics are great, especially for such a young guy. but, to say he "make[s] the session" is a bit of a stretch. it's easy to sound good while playing with someone as astoundingly talented as wes montgomery (8:45). wes had such a great sense of rhythm to start with - he, not han, counts off the song in the beginning - that a competent drummer could basically follow his lead. pim jacobs is also immense - his bop lines and comping are excellent.
codyr222 1 year ago
Definitive pioneers, all of them.
diegofitzgerald 2 years ago
Hey Hans,What are you doing there?
bela2ives 2 years ago
Iti's great to see Wes with these very fine musicians and it is very sorry that we do no have more recording with the Pim Jacobs trio seeying Wes full of joy. If you watch the whole DVD you will notice that the first three numbers with the Pim Jacob trio are by far the best. The producer of the DVD noticed that as well. With the rest of the DVD the other musicians are just mediocre.
rik1261 2 years ago 2
as vezes sinto que nasci na época errada...kkk muito bom Wes
musiculto 2 years ago 2
add to favourits right away, find your own voice cool cats" fuckin cool!!!
mrmattstrat 2 years ago 2