The Complete Riverside Recordings

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Wes Montgomery - The Complete Riverside Recordings (1959-1963) is a stunning collection of jazz guitar music. It showcases Wes Montgomery’s early work on the Riverside label, where he became a legend of melody, harmony, and rhythm. He had a unique style of playing with his thumb instead of a pick, giving him a warm and distinctive tone that inspired many guitarists. He also used octaves and chords in his solos, making them rich and complex, but also easy to enjoy. This box set has 12 CDs and 157 songs, with 15 new performances, six re-edited versions, and 29 alternate takes. It covers Montgomery’s best and most influential recordings from 1959 to late 1963, before he switched to the Verve label. The box set also features many other jazz stars, such as Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley, Ray Barretto, Jimmy Cobb, Milt Jackson, George Shearing, Johnny Griffin, Tommy Flanagan, Buddy Montgomery, Wynton Kelly, Barry Harris, Milt Hinton, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, and more. Some of the highlights are Montgomery’s only live Riverside show (Full House), his versions of classics like 'Round Midnight, Body and Soul, I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face, and In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, his own songs like West Coast Blues, Four on Six, Jingles, and S.O.S., and his duets with vibraphonist Milt Jackson on Bock to Bock and S.K.J.. The box set has great sound quality for its age. The remastering is done with care and respect. The packaging is also beautiful and strong. The box set comes with detailed liner notes by producer Orrin Keepnews and Jim Ferguson, session notes, and photos. Keepnews and Ferguson were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Album Notes. The CDs are in three 4-CD cases that fit in a 12-inch box. This box set is a must-have for Wes Montgomery fans or jazz guitar lovers. There is no 'aural' junk food or filler, this is (sorry you vegetarians out there) this is the musical equivalent of filet mignon for your ears. was is amazing is the amount of soul that Wes Montgomery was able to translate and transmit from his heart to his head, and then to his hands on that arch top guitar. This should be required listening for anyone who plays guitar, or anybody who loves the sound of the guitar. Wes' playing is clean, pure and unadulterated music from his heart and soul. This box set shows Wes Montgomery’s brilliance and legacy as one of the greatest jazz guitarists ever.

via Last.fm