#22 of 25
· Cratewise Editorial
The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery
Year
1960
Genre
JazzLabel
Riverside
Format
Vinyl LP
“Thumb-picked octaves that no one has replicated. 'Four on Six' is the benchmark for jazz guitar. Every guitarist you love studied this record.”
Wes Montgomery (1923-1968) was an American jazz guitarist who became one of the most influential and commercially successful jazz artists of his era. Born in Indianapolis, Montgomery developed his distinctive style largely through self-teaching and listening to records. He began his professional career in the late 1940s, initially performing locally before gaining national recognition in the early 1960s. His career spanned two decades, during which he recorded over 20 albums, many considered classics. Montgomery's later work shifted toward more accessible, soul-jazz and pop-influenced sounds, which broadened his audience significantly and influenced the direction of jazz during the 1960s.
Style
Wes Montgomery was a jazz guitarist known for his innovative use of octaves and block chords, creating a warm, lyrical sound that became his trademark. His playing style bridged straight-ahead jazz improvisation with accessible, soulful melodies, blending bebop sophistication with blues influence.
Significance
Montgomery's recordings are essential to jazz vinyl collections, particularly his Riverside and A&M Records releases. His influence on electric guitar jazz and his role in popularizing soul-jazz among mainstream audiences made him a pivotal figure whose records remain highly sought-after by collectors for both their musical innovation and sound quality.
Released in 1960, "The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery" showcased the Indianapolis-born guitarist's revolutionary thumb-picking technique and harmonic sophistication. Montgomery recorded extensively for Riverside Records during this period, working with producer Orrin Keepnews who championed his development as a recording artist. The album features Montgomery's distinctive sound—using his thumb instead of a pick to produce a warm, woody tone—across interpretations of standards and jazz compositions. His collaborators included pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Jimmy Cobb, among others, creating intimate small-group settings that highlighted Montgomery's lyrical melodic approach and his innovative use of parallel octaves and block chords that would influence generations of jazz guitarists.
Historical Context
The early 1960s marked Wes Montgomery's emergence as a major jazz voice, though he remained relatively unknown outside jazz circles compared to contemporary pop guitarists. This album arrived during a fertile period for Riverside Records, which was documenting the modern jazz mainstream. Critics and fellow musicians immediately recognized Montgomery's originality—his approach bridged the sophistication of bebop with an accessibility that would later lead to mainstream success. The album helped establish him as one of the most important jazz guitarists of the era, though his greatest commercial success wouldn't come until later in the decade with electric arrangements.
Pressing Notes
First pressings were released by Riverside Records (RLP 1156) on 12-inch vinyl. The original pressings featured Keepnews's detailed liner notes and are prized by collectors. Riverside was eventually acquired by Fantasy Records, which later reissued the album. Various editions exist with different cover variations and pressing qualities. Collectors should seek out original Riverside pressings for superior sound quality and collectible value. The album has been reissued multiple times on both LP and CD, but original mono or early stereo pressings remain most sought after by vinyl enthusiasts interested in authentic 1960s jazz documentation.
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