Just when you thought you had everything by Wes Montgomery…
Back in 1965, when Wes Montgomery was putting out pop albums, he went into the NDR studios in Hamburg, Germany and for Old Time Sake, he met up with a mix of ex-pats and locals (like Hans Koller/as, JohnnyGriffin/ts, Ronnie Scott/ts, Ronnie Ross/bs, Martial Solal/p, Michel Gaudry/b and Ronnie Stephenson/dr) for a “live recording”. Not only was it recorded, but it was also FILMED! Line up for the show!
Wes mixes and matches quartet with larger ensembles throughout. He is stupendous on “West Coast Blues” and digs in with the trio on “ Four On Six” with Solal in excellent form. Monty was in a Monkish mood, playing around with “Blue Monk” and having fun with “The Leopard Walks” while the horns swing and sway on “Opening 2” and “Blue” while “Twisted Blues is an absolute hoot”. This is the Wes we all love, relaxed, confident and relentlessly swinging. The 34 minute Blu-Ray is manna from heaven, and includes the extra “On Green Dolphin Street” as well. Have you ordered it yet?