It’s ’59 and he’s on the best form of his life. I can’t think of any other settings in which Wes does this.Įveryone is on absolutely top form and I couldn’t live without this great record.Ģ) Kenny Burrell – A Night at the Vanguard – 1959: Kenny rarely recorded in a trio situation which makes this a special record. Some of the solos are more exposed than on other recordings of his, especially in ‘Never Will I Marry’ when it’s just down to bass, drums and guitar while Victor crosses from piano to vibes. Wes slots in so well and it sounds like he’s being playing with these guys all his life. His solo on ‘The Chant’ is, for me, one of the high points in the history of recorded jazz! From this springboard he launches into some of the most exciting improvisations I’ve heard from him. Some of the material is very familiar to Cannonball, with tracks like ‘Never Will I Marry’ (which he also recorded with Nancy Wilson) and Azule Serape but that’s just fine and I feel only adds to the comfortable zone he finds himself in. It’s recorded brilliantly, capturing Cannonball, Wes, Victor Feldman (on piano and vibes), Ray Brown and Louis Hayes perfectly. It’s an absolute masterpiece, brimming with vitality and utterly burning swing yet with moments of genuine tenderness. Sometimes these things that look good on paper don’t turn out as well as they ought to but not in this case. 1) Cannonball Adderley and the Poll Winners – 1960: In my quest to find everything that Wes Montgomery had ever recorded, my search took me here.Ĭannonball Adderley was the guy who effectively ‘discovered’ Wes so this is a record that was always going to happen.

Oscar peterson trio reverb lp