Wes Montgomery’s “Smokin’ At The Half Note,” recorded in June and September 1965, represents a significant moment in jazz history, showcasing his guitar mastery alongside Wynton Kelly’s Trio. Despite misconceptions about its recording venue, the album reflects the transient nature of jazz life, with notable performances and early deaths of three of the musicians involved.
On This Day: Wes Montgomery Wins Grammy Award, 1967
Wes Montgomery won a Grammy for “Goin’ Out Of My Head” at the 9th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 1967, transforming his career. Produced by Creed Taylor, the track achieved commercial success, reaching #7 on the Billboard R&B chart. Despite criticisms of “selling out,” Montgomery remained true to his artistry until his untimely death in 1968.
Thumb Produces Green for Wes Montgomery
On this day in 1923, jazz guitarist #WesMontgomery was born, known for his successful crossover from jazz to popular music. Before his death, he played a multi-night gig at the Living Room in Cincinnati, revealing a lucrative shift to commercial music without forgoing his jazz roots, supported by a quintet featuring his brothers.
His innovative playing, transcending genre boundaries, appealed to varied music followers, cementing his legacy. Wes Montgomery’s defining success and distinctive style were celebrated up until his performances just months before he passed away.
Verve and all that Jazz
For Vinyl album crate diggers and junkies looking to get into the 1960’s jazz vibe, some of the best value albums are from the short lived “Verve Return Engagement” series. I was reminded of this series yesterday when I restarted digitizing my vinyl collection. While there are lots of good Wes Montgomery compilations, still my favorite by far is his […]