Wes was playing at the Carousel Lounge in Atlanta, circa 1966, to a light crowd who really didn't have a clue who he was. It was a week day, and I'm sure the crowd got larger, and hopefully hipper later in the week. When he took a break he accepted my invitation to buy him a drink. He sat down across the table from me. (that was like God sitting across the table), and asked me how his new amp sounded. I was floored. God asking a mere peon to pass judgement. He was as warm as his playing. One of the most memorable few moments in my nearly 70 years on the planet. We all lost him just a couple of years later. I cried. Still brings tears to my eyes.
I used to play with Punchy Adkinson who played with Wes on his first two albums. Punchy sounded like John Coltrane. It was an honor for me to play with him, but the greatest thing about it was hearing stories about Wes, like yours. Story after story about how beautiful this man really was and how hehad a big heart, always giving of himself and never having a bad thing to say about somebody else. You could hear that in his playing, that's what drew me to him when I first heard Wes was just heart coming out in those strings.
For me there is no other guitarist. He is the biggest. all the guitarists of the world study it without ever reaching to equal it and less to overcome it. he is the secret of study of all jazz guitarists, his melodic and rhythmic sense is from another world. you were a privileged being for having seen, known, spoken, and shared with the angel of jazz. I envy him in a good way. I write to you from Venezuela, a country beaten by communism, but that of its people appreciates good things and jazz is the best of all. A hug
First, Wes teaches the song to his accompanist, and then he gives it up for him to do whatever he wants with it. It’s all is so beautiful to be a witness to
Yes nowadays it seems like magic, but thats how far we’ve regressed unfortunately. Can you believe this guy was popular and sold records compared to the garbage you hear on the radio. Kinda shocking how dumbed down we’re all getting
That's exactly how I felt the first time I heard Wes. Are used to play with punchy Adkinson to play run his first two albums. All the stories I heard about him we're basically went to beautiful human being he was. I had to share this with you.
the ears of Wes and the pianist are great....just to have that skill to hear the chords and sync with Wes'S brilliant sense of timing is amazing, watched this 30 times this week
I have seriously been praying since i was little for God to make me a musician. Please. 56 now. These are musicians. At least I have the opportunity to praise Him for making people like these.
He doesnt make you a musician, boy. You maken decision to become one and you put in the work. I hope you still find it in you to make that decision.. i bet you have something great to offer the world!
The whole greatest thing when referring to musicians is like skating on thin ice. Wes was- is- a master. So are several other jazz guitarists- so I have to disagree. It really isn't 'end of story'- rather it should be the beginning of a story of discovery and of appreciation of a whole diverse field.
George Benson ... a close second; a very close second. Most only know him from Breezin, Weekend in LA but listen to his early days with Jack Macduff and GB is right up there!👏
@@paulgibby6932 Yes, they are great, but don't forget that this was a standard pop song for that era. The guys knew the tune, and had probably played it many times, before. They just had to pick up how Wes did it.
So cool being able to see them work through the song. So much of Wes' character comes through in this video, his sense of humor and the calm yet confident direction he provides to his fellow musician. This makes me love the man even more.
This is my favorite part of the DVD. Watching Wes teach these guys this song. It blows out of the water the theory that wes didn't know anything about music and just played although being self talk. It's great seeing him explain these chord changes and his famous going up halfstep 2 - 5 changes. This is priceless.
My thoughts exactly, he knows what chords he’s playing and that alone tells you everything you need to know about his thorough understanding of what he is doing.
Yes Wes had a very comprehensive understanding of music theory and harmonic structures. He may not have known how to read music but he fully understood what he was doing and playing.
Not reading music ain't the same as not knowing music. The likes of Errol Garner, Tal Farlow and Bela Fleck were/are not readers, but you'd be hard pressed to find more harmonically-rhythmically sophisticated musicisns.
I know I'm six years late on this, but what DVD are you referring to? I'd love to see it. And in regard to him being self taught, I've never believed that about Wes. He may not have taken formal lessons, but somebody showed him stuff about how to play, music theory, etc.
Watched so many docs where our great black American musicians of the early to mid 1900s would discuss their time:tours in Europe, and how they enjoyed it, some relocating there. Not to say European whites were without issues but I sense the respect wes was given even from this clip. He was talking to a human being and was being talked back to as a human being. I sense the freedom and calm in his demeanor.
from experience: in jazz we don't see race ever... as its about the music. and those that like to claim its a black thing are woefully ignorant and extremely racist.
@@baycman yeah you’re right. Ive read so many stories about how Monk, Bird, Oscar, Miles, Coltrane, and other of our greats would sit at the feet of the great European jazz inventors, not to mention the other jazz creators of Asian decent. I even heard that Louis Armstrong trekked to some remote village outside Guadalajara, Mex and there, got the idea to start improving over traditional American pop standards. But I’m sure you knew that already. Got another secret too, although you prob already know but-Hip hop? R and B? Blues? Gospel?-All Germanic in terms of their roots… @baycam, I’ve consulted the board members and you are hereby banned from speaking and typing until further notice. Now Go stare at the corner until I call your name.
Thank you, WES MONTGOMERY for doing your part to help tame and save mankind with your gift, talent and exposing to the rest of us on how it's supposed to be done. Your legacy is sealed. In the meantime, I'll keep the music playing.
I've listened to the greatest from Charlie Christian to Rosenwinkel, but Wes is my favourite of all. Great timing, great tone and beautiful, expressive, logical phrasing with no over playing, no tricks, no effects, only a great harmonic and melodic taste and knowledge. And a big big soul, the kindest musician of his time.
I witnessed in that footage a genuine genius on the piano who picked up improvised rehearsal without a sheet music , what an incredible team of geniuses with Wes , that surely helped elevating his work !
All the great jazz musicians who I ever heard say anything about Wes was always the same thing. Bewilderment; whether it was about his personality or his guitar technique or his jazz phrasing or his intricate harmonic movements. Everything about Wes wsa wonderful. And have never been duplicated.
One of his bassists, I can't recall who, said of Wes: "He's got something only God can give a man." I believe it was Larry Ridley, another jazz great from Indianapolis - but not 100% sure. Talent like Wes had comes along so seldom; I feel fortunate to be alive in a time when his beautiful recordings are preserved for future generations to enjoy and marvel at. My only regret is that I didn't get to see him live. I was only seven years old when he died.
@@donkotouc8377 - Re: "Who sounds like Wes today? Nobody..." That's the true measure of his enormous talent - how singular and unique he was, how rarely individuals with that kind of genius come along. I'm a musician myself - guitar and bass - and play jazz, and I've been a fan of great music even longer than that. Over the years, I've heard this-or-that player touted as "sounding like Wes Montgomery" or "the next Wes Montgomery," and it has never been even remotely true. That's not a knock or a criticism on the many brilliant players in the idiom, it is just a statement of fact. No one has ever managed to duplicate his sound and style successfully. He is like Charlie Parker or John Coltrane in that respect; there can be only one. George Benson and Pat Martino,both very young and starting off their own legendary careers as greats of jazz guitar, were proteges of Wes during the 1960s. Benson and Martino have both spoken of asking Wes how he played a certain passage or what he was doing in a given tune, and Wes answering, "I don't know..." He couldn't really explain what he did or why he did it. He just did it. It's like that with the real geniuses, people at the highest level of their field of endeavor. Most of them have a hard time explaining what they have done or why they did it. That's how Wes was. He just understood music at the deepest, most-profound level - almost instinctively. That's not to minimize how hard he worked to master his craft; he worked extremely hard, according to those who knew him - it is just that he possessed an innate aptitude which was inexplicable. All-time jazz piano great Erroll Garner was similarly-gifted. As a child, very shortly after learning piano, he was playing advanced pieces, and although he never learned to read music, at his height he knew more than one-thousand songs/tunes from memory and could play them in any key. Once, Garner attended a classical piano recital of some length, a half hour or more. He later astounded his friends at home, by playing most of it perfectly and entirely from memory. Guys like that, they're operating on a whole different musical plain than most people - even most musicians.
@@donkotouc8377 - Wow, I envy you, Don, if you got to see/hear the greats back in the day..... that must have been amazing! If you loved music, that post-war era c. 1945-1969 or so - was absolutely a wonderful time to be alive. Some older friends of mine describe the club scene years ago in Chicago (where I lived for a long time, in N. Illinois) as being just street after street jammed with clubs playing live music. Tons of great shows, gigs for musicians to learn their craft and entertain audiences at the same time. Indianapolis was that way, too, which is how the Montgomery Brothers learned to play.
This is so great! A little before the 6 minute mark Wes starts to throw in those ii - V progressions that he loved so much. My guitar teacher/mentor in the '70s, Ted Dunbar, was friends with Wes. He once described Wes as a gorilla with no teeth - a very strong and extremely kind and gentle man. Wes was one of a kind, a musical genius, and my all time guitar hero.
I'm not surprised you're a Wes man, George. You are so musical & funky! After I graduated Indiana, David Baker suggested I give Rutgers a try. I corresponded w Mr. Dunbar, but decided to move to NYC, and try to be a rock-n-roller, instead. I could've learned a lot, if I'd chosen his tutledge.
@@johnengland2996 Hey, John, nice to hear from you! Yeah, Wes is my all time favorite. I don't try to play like him, but I get such inspiration from listening. I think you did fine doing what you did. I hope you're doing well - stay safe and stay healthy - hope to see you one day soon!
I've seen so many great jazz videos on YT, and the majority come from Europe. France, Holland, Spain, Italy...such a wonderful, natural way of presenting the music.
Wow no charts and they came out with this gem! How astute was piano guy and how cool were the bassist and drummer while Wes broke it down ? Gotta love musicians.
My Lord - there’s no words. Just no words. I’ve heard extended versions of this as well. I am so bloody grateful these video recordings still exist. Truly, this is magical.
To whom is may concern. Thank you, for introducing me to this very talented creative musician. Sounds beautiful I can listen to his music all day if clouds had musical sound it would be this. 🤗🙋🏽♀️👸🏽♉💯🤎✌🏾✊🏾🌎❤️🕊️👍🏽😁 Life is Beautiful.😎 Jazz at it's best.
all the greats are humble in my experience; the ones with attitude are usually befuddled by jealousy or envy and can't get beyond themselves; but not the greats! at least in my 50+ years of playing.
Thanks for posting! Footage of the masters playing live is rare enough, but it's even rarer to see someone teaching the other players the tune, offering little suggestions, working it out. Love watching the piano player; he knows he's good and can cut the gig, but he's also excited to be playing with someone like Wes Montgomery, he's literally wide-eyed. Fun and fascinating. Again, thanks. I'll be watching this more than once.
Very interesting to watch these jazz cats learning this song on the spot, it's beautiful how everything unfolds and Wes must have been the kindest man to work with, so much talent !!!
To this day listening to Wes still gives me goose bumps, because his thinking on what he wants to do next, is simply astounding, there are, and mostly likely will be in the future great guitarist, that's a fact, however Wes was simply a blessing from above, no more, no less...
Man this was incredible! I’ve never heard Wes Montgomery speak before. And his playing so effortless and beautifully perfect 😎 so sad that he died just three years after in 1968… 45 incredible years of life and music
The one and only...there’s never going to another one like him...that sound...his sound. Genius! Found an old cassette tape in some street market in Tel Aviv 30 years ago called “bumping on sunset”, didn’t know who it is... still fresh
Have always and will always love this guy. It is such a joy to watch these guys work. You can feel the musical love between them. The thing that brought us musicians together as people in the 60's and 70's.
Great art gets to me. My throat tightens. My eyes water. That happens when witnessing artistic aptitudes unthinkable to the common creative mind. Here we see this. While Wes is broadly understood to be among the greats, the piano player is on another level too. What a blessing this video is. Beyond amazing. I'm sitting here shaking my head, left and right. From nothing, they create something that makes generations to follow sit in stunned silence.
Just being in the same band with Wes Montgomery - being good-enough to be in the same band! - is an amazing accomplishment all by itself. Pim Jacobs on piano is a revelation - or at least he was to me, when I first heard him - and the bass and drums were equally wonderful. They compared favorably with Wes' best bands back in the 'States. They had a real connection.
What a GREAT story! I was in 7th grade when we lost Wes... My mom told me the news just as my dad and I were walking in the front door from a guitar lesson... It was the first time someone important to me had passed away.
I had a temporary event around the time Wes went to the other side; I had a vinyl record with him lying in our rehearsing room that I had forgot on top of a vocal amp, and it got bent from the heat; I do not know why...but I became so sad about it..and said to my friend....It is almost like someone had died..I do not know why I felt that way...I usually would not be too much offended by such a thing...and later in a day or two I heard that he had died...I think he died before that happened. Just a thing that makes me wonder sometimes.
My Bro. and me too! We'd been out of High School a few years... some cats in the Barber Shop were saying Wes had died. Utter denial and unbelieving settled in..... we still talk about him in present tense.... Peace.
As old as I am and never mind how many times I have been around the musical block it is always pure joy and eye opening education for me every time I listen to the remarkable, gifted and wonderful Wes Montgomery. .
This is great footage 👍jazz cats putting it together, legendary musicians here,all top of class, love this stuff,I can hear what they speak, suggesting half step chromatic walk down ,its like ur there,phenom bassist, I'm gonna search for more of these
I've heard people say Wes Montgomery didn't know any theory. And here he is explaining in musical terms how to play the tune to these guys. Geez louise.
Wes knew jazz music at the absolute most-elite level possible; at the level of the all-time greats in jazz. He didn't attend formal music school, but he did something even better (at least for learning to play jazz) - he performed five nights a week for years on end as a member of the fertile Indianapolis, Indiana jazz scene - both as a sideman and also leading his own groups. Until European classical music, which has an extensive written component in music notation, jazz is primarily an aural art. Although certain jazz musicians are expert sight-readers, such as many arrangers, composers and horn players, it is possible to become a high-level jazz musician without reading music - as Wes did, and without having formal instruction. Wes was blessed with "big ears," as the cats call them, and an innate aptitude for understanding the structure and form of music. He picked up a lot of knowledge from the cats he played with - especially pianists and organists, since these are also polyphonic instruments. But at his level of talent, you don't need to attend music school. Errol Garner, the great pianist - neither read nor wrote music notation - but had a half-century long career as one of the finest pianists in all of jazz and knew more than a thousand songs by memory. When you have that kind of genius, all sorts of things are possible.
It was recorded in Holland in 1965, during the rehearsal for a local radio program. In other words, it was meant a radio show, not a TV one. The musicians: Wes Montgomery (Guitar), Pim Jacobs (Piano), Ruud Jacobs (Bass), Han Bennink (Drums).
The Pim Jacobs Trio must be one of the most-underrated groups in jazz history! They were simply wonderful. And add in the genius of Wes Montgomery on top of that? Simply amazing.
I'm kinda curious. When Wes starts playing the melody, Pim Jacobs asks, "What's the name of it?" and Wes says, "I don't know." He's played this song before, most notably on the album A Dynamic New Sound. I wonder if that was just a song he learned on the fly during the recording date of that album or something. Despite that, he's amazing Also, notice how kind Montgomery is. He always responds with a "yea" or something positive. Whenever Jacobs plays a wrong chord, Montgomery kindly tells him how to correct it. He's one of the best guitarists this world has ever seen, yet, he was the kindest guy on the planet. I have nothing but admiration for "The Man" Wes Montgomery. This also shows how good his ear was and the knowledge he had on music theory. Idc what anyone says about Montgomery not knowing theory, this video proves that he actually did know music theory. If those people actually listened to his playing, his music was a combination of hard work and knowledge; just as much as it was pure talent.
Yeah! After Wes stopped to show a turn of a major seven and a ninth chord ..the piano player says...let´s do it in a faster tempo!! that impressed even Wes..he laughs amazingly.
Wes is playing with some fine musicians and it makes him shine even more. We went down to Hermosa Beach to the Light House to see him play, the place was packed, we didn't stay.
I had heard rumors Wes didn't even know chord names or qualities, in this clip you can hear him calling out changes and their qualities thus dispelling that rumor once and for all.
@ Cliff Works: Adrian Ingram, the British guitarist, jazz educator and author of a biography of Wes Montgomery, confirmed in his research that Wes - though formally unschooled - studied a great deal on his own to learn and understand the musical language of jazz. Not to the extent of reading notation, but in order to be able to communicate effectively with his fellow performers. He was helped in no small way by his brothers, Monk (bass) and Buddy (piano, vibes), who were superb musicians in their own right, as well as by other players with whom he came into contact. Due to his innate and deep understanding of music by ear, Wes may have reversed the usual order/progression of learning tunes and theory; he probably knew tunes for years before knowing how to explain their chord progressions or whatever theory he knew. Which is right-and-proper, because unlike classical music tradition, the jazz traditional is first and foremost aural in nature, i.e., playing by ear, whereas especially in recent centuries, classical music has become focused on the written score to the exclusion of improvisation and playing solely by ear. Whatever the case, there's no doubt whatsoever what a genius Wes was!
I can almost bet that Wes couldn't play a simple folk song with a three cord progression! He just didn't live in that world, in his world music came from, make it up as you go, and play through your heart, another example of that would be Hendrix or BB King, or Eddie van Halen! And why even bother to do anything else because they were never gonna play in any style except for their own!!
This is so kool! When u play live with other great musicians one must take note on how humble these guys are coz that attitude keeps everyone easy to work with amazing rehearsel Wes & team thankyou up there in heaven (RIP) X
My parents listened to music, danced, and went to more concerts than anyone I knew. They had pretty eclectic taste when it came to music. Everything from Rock to Opera was played daily in my house. As a kid I didn’t think to much of their music but as an adult I have admit some songs from the past are timeless works of art That will be the day - Buddy Holly Unforgettable - Nat King Cole Mack the knife - Ella Fitzgerald
Awesome to see Montgomery and band members interacting. There's something unique in his playing ... Montgomery can never be copied ... like a fingerprint. So much soul in his playing. Good to see the patience and mutual respect. The great guitarist George Benson always speaks about Wes's musicality and the great respect he has for Wes. Benson has moulded his playing on Wes. Benson is another who is something of a jazz guitar legend. Great footage by the way - a gem of a find on YT. Hoping we can find something similar on trailblazer, Charlie Christian?
So glad you posted this ... sure dont know too many welders that sound like this ... what an amazing snapshot of of an amazing legacy ... this vid is really a treasure
Out of HS in 1963, and slowly becoming aware of jazz, primarily on an L.A radio station with DJ Johnny Magnuson. Heard Mose Allison, Lambert, Hendricks, and Yvonne, Coltrane, etc. But became smitten with Wes and his guitar.
These two might as well be negotiating world peace, designing a rocket ship… Fascinating! Brilliant language they’re speaking, music that is … Much Respect! 🤓🤘
Wes was playing at the Carousel Lounge in Atlanta, circa 1966, to a light crowd who really didn't have a clue who he was. It was a week day, and I'm sure the crowd got larger, and hopefully hipper later in the week. When he took a break he accepted my invitation to buy him a drink. He sat down across the table from me. (that was like God sitting across the table), and asked me how his new amp sounded. I was floored. God asking a mere peon to pass judgement. He was as warm as his playing. One of the most memorable few moments in my nearly 70 years on the planet. We all lost him just a couple of years later. I cried. Still brings tears to my eyes.
I used to play with Punchy Adkinson who played with Wes on his first two albums. Punchy sounded like John Coltrane. It was an honor for me to play with him, but the greatest thing about it was hearing stories about Wes, like yours. Story after story about how beautiful this man really was and how hehad a big heart, always giving of himself and never having a bad thing to say about somebody else. You could hear that in his playing, that's what drew me to him when I first heard Wes was just heart coming out in those strings.
For me there is no other guitarist. He is the biggest. all the guitarists of the world study it without ever reaching to equal it and less to overcome it. he is the secret of study of all jazz guitarists, his melodic and rhythmic sense is from another world. you were a privileged being for having seen, known, spoken, and shared with the angel of jazz. I envy him in a good way. I write to you from Venezuela, a country beaten by communism, but that of its people appreciates good things and jazz is the best of all. A hug
What a fantastic story. Thanks for this.
Beautifull story. Hope you still alive Steve or if not, hope you can hear and watch Wes and other legends on a daily basis.
What a lovely anecdote.
The comments under jazz music is so civilized and chill, its the developed world part of you tube.
A diverse bunch of people who look for a little peace with music.
There's only room for appreciation around here.
that's debatable hahaha,
chillest place haha jazz does that to ya
😂
First, Wes teaches the song to his accompanist, and then he gives it up for him to do whatever he wants with it. It’s all is so beautiful to be a witness to
The ears on Wes and the pianist are simply top level! What a gift given to two humans!
This is absolutely amazing, the musical level his just stratospherical !
💥🔥🔥🔥🔥🎶🎹❤️🙏🏾
Yes nowadays it seems like magic, but thats how far we’ve regressed unfortunately. Can you believe this guy was popular and sold records compared to the garbage you hear on the radio. Kinda shocking how dumbed down we’re all getting
Don't forget the bassist, who's 🔥 I don't know about drumming 😂
The pianist is Pim Jacobs. Dutch piano player who passed away in 1996.
Wes seems like such a great guy. You can hear the warmth in his playing.
Indeed he was.
Great personality..great character Wes has it given!
That's exactly how I felt the first time I heard Wes. Are used to play with punchy Adkinson to play run his first two albums. All the stories I heard about him we're basically went to beautiful human being he was. I had to share this with you.
the ears of Wes and the pianist are great....just to have that skill to hear the chords and sync with Wes'S brilliant sense of timing is amazing, watched this 30 times this week
Definitely repeat worthy
I couldn't agree more!
One of a kind .❤
And not forgetting the other two lads on bass and drums, they also did a wonderful job in delivering this amazing sound. Kudos to them all
Loving the drummer and bassist watch Wes teaching their piano how to play the tune. Such a gracious and kind man..no arrogance whatsoever..
My Dad loved Wes until he Bought me a guitar like Wes made by local Guitar .. its not bad always out of tune.. haha..
My guitar instructoer played with Wes on 2 occasions in the 60s he said he was th ekindset man he ever met.
@@harveydents pl
He was such a nice person.. the welder 😊
I have seriously been praying since i was little for God to make me a musician. Please.
56 now.
These are musicians.
At least I have the opportunity to praise Him for making people like these.
He doesnt make you a musician, boy. You maken decision to become one and you put in the work. I hope you still find it in you to make that decision.. i bet you have something great to offer the world!
Greatest Jazz Guitarist ever. End of story.
The whole greatest thing when referring to musicians is like skating on thin ice. Wes was- is- a master. So are several other jazz guitarists- so I have to disagree. It really isn't 'end of story'- rather it should be the beginning of a story of discovery and of appreciation of a whole diverse field.
@@oldsyphilitic so true , let’s say he is the ‘gold standard’
George Benson ... a close second; a very close second. Most only know him from Breezin, Weekend in LA but listen to his early days with Jack Macduff and GB is right up there!👏
Oh OK 🤭🤭
Yes for all the high flying jazz cats he was on another plane completely
How many people are glad Wes gave up his welding job ?
we all know wes is king. dude on the piano is slick.....bass is ON POINT....the whole band is insanely talented
Sidenote: he strums with his thumb only?!?!? 😢😥😭😭😭💀💀💀💀
B. Chan I have a good gut..Something tells me you can make this magic yourself.
Yes! I was all impressed how fast the piano guy picked it up. Then realized how the bass player was ON it from the beginning. Great session
@@paulgibby6932 Yes, they are great, but don't forget that this was a standard pop song for that era. The guys knew the tune, and had probably played it many times, before. They just had to pick up how Wes did it.
@@BChan1991 Jim Mullen!
Watching Wes Montgomery show Pim Jacobs the changes is priceless. Pim is quick, a competent keyboard cat and his brother Ruud, on Bass a favorite too.
WE MISS YOU WES, NO ONE CAN PLAY LIKE THIS MAN. AFTER WATCHING THIS EVEN A NON MUSICIAN CAN SEE THAT THIS MAN WAS A REAL ORGANIC GENIUS.
So cool being able to see them work through the song. So much of Wes' character comes through in this video, his sense of humor and the calm yet confident direction he provides to his fellow musician. This makes me love the man even more.
This is my favorite part of the DVD. Watching Wes teach these guys this song. It blows out of the water the theory that wes didn't know anything about music and just played although being self talk. It's great seeing him explain these chord changes and his famous going up halfstep 2 - 5 changes. This is priceless.
My thoughts exactly, he knows what chords he’s playing and that alone tells you everything you need to know about his thorough understanding of what he is doing.
Yes Wes had a very comprehensive understanding of music theory and harmonic structures. He may not have known how to read music but he fully understood what he was doing and playing.
@@rickjensen2717 Exactly
Not reading music ain't the same as not knowing music. The likes of Errol Garner, Tal Farlow and Bela Fleck were/are not readers, but you'd be hard pressed to find more harmonically-rhythmically sophisticated musicisns.
I know I'm six years late on this, but what DVD are you referring to? I'd love to see it. And in regard to him being self taught, I've never believed that about Wes. He may not have taken formal lessons, but somebody showed him stuff about how to play, music theory, etc.
The creativity of Wes is amazing. It makes you look at your inner self.
Watched so many docs where our great black American musicians of the early to mid 1900s would discuss their time:tours in Europe, and how they enjoyed it, some relocating there. Not to say European whites were without issues but I sense the respect wes was given even from this clip. He was talking to a human being and was being talked back to as a human being. I sense the freedom and calm in his demeanor.
from experience: in jazz we don't see race ever... as its about the music. and those that like to claim its a black thing are woefully ignorant and extremely racist.
@@baycman yeah you’re right. Ive read so many stories about how Monk, Bird, Oscar, Miles, Coltrane, and other of our greats would sit at the feet of the great European jazz inventors, not to mention the other jazz creators of Asian decent. I even heard that Louis Armstrong trekked to some remote village outside Guadalajara, Mex and there, got the idea to start improving over traditional American pop standards. But I’m sure you knew that already. Got another secret too, although you prob already know but-Hip hop? R and B? Blues? Gospel?-All Germanic in terms of their roots…
@baycam, I’ve consulted the board members and you are hereby banned from speaking and typing until further notice. Now Go stare at the corner until I call your name.
Thank you, WES MONTGOMERY for doing your part to help tame and save mankind with your gift, talent and exposing to the rest of us on how it's supposed to be done. Your legacy is sealed. In the meantime, I'll keep the music playing.
I started to learn Jazz guitar because of him at 18 in 1979. God bless Wes!
I've listened to the greatest from Charlie Christian to Rosenwinkel, but Wes is my favourite of all. Great timing, great tone and beautiful, expressive, logical phrasing with no over playing, no tricks, no effects, only a great harmonic and melodic taste and knowledge. And a big big soul, the kindest musician of his time.
I witnessed in that footage a genuine genius on the piano who picked up improvised rehearsal without a sheet music , what an incredible team of geniuses with Wes , that surely helped elevating his work !
If only I could ever be 1/100th the musician these guys are. Sure wish Wes was still around. Taken from us so young.
Wes was one of a kind... Nearly impossible to believe that rehearsal was on the same hour....
What an accomplished Master. It never ceases to amaze me watching him play. Beyond any words, definitions, assessments etc.
What to say? Wes was a genius. He is the reason why I picked up the guitar at the age of 10 and started playing jazz. Thanks, Wes!
All the great jazz musicians who I ever heard say anything about Wes was always the same thing. Bewilderment; whether it was about his personality or his guitar technique or his jazz phrasing or his intricate harmonic movements. Everything about Wes wsa wonderful. And have never been duplicated.
One of his bassists, I can't recall who, said of Wes: "He's got something only God can give a man." I believe it was Larry Ridley, another jazz great from Indianapolis - but not 100% sure. Talent like Wes had comes along so seldom; I feel fortunate to be alive in a time when his beautiful recordings are preserved for future generations to enjoy and marvel at. My only regret is that I didn't get to see him live. I was only seven years old when he died.
Who sounds like Wes today? Nobody...
@@donkotouc8377 - Re: "Who sounds like Wes today? Nobody..."
That's the true measure of his enormous talent - how singular and unique he was, how rarely individuals with that kind of genius come along. I'm a musician myself - guitar and bass - and play jazz, and I've been a fan of great music even longer than that. Over the years, I've heard this-or-that player touted as "sounding like Wes Montgomery" or "the next Wes Montgomery," and it has never been even remotely true. That's not a knock or a criticism on the many brilliant players in the idiom, it is just a statement of fact. No one has ever managed to duplicate his sound and style successfully. He is like Charlie Parker or John Coltrane in that respect; there can be only one.
George Benson and Pat Martino,both very young and starting off their own legendary careers as greats of jazz guitar, were proteges of Wes during the 1960s. Benson and Martino have both spoken of asking Wes how he played a certain passage or what he was doing in a given tune, and Wes answering, "I don't know..." He couldn't really explain what he did or why he did it. He just did it.
It's like that with the real geniuses, people at the highest level of their field of endeavor. Most of them have a hard time explaining what they have done or why they did it. That's how Wes was. He just understood music at the deepest, most-profound level - almost instinctively. That's not to minimize how hard he worked to master his craft; he worked extremely hard, according to those who knew him - it is just that he possessed an innate aptitude which was inexplicable.
All-time jazz piano great Erroll Garner was similarly-gifted. As a child, very shortly after learning piano, he was playing advanced pieces, and although he never learned to read music, at his height he knew more than one-thousand songs/tunes from memory and could play them in any key. Once, Garner attended a classical piano recital of some length, a half hour or more. He later astounded his friends at home, by playing most of it perfectly and entirely from memory.
Guys like that, they're operating on a whole different musical plain than most people - even most musicians.
I appreciate your comments; musicians like Wes and Garner are generational players. I feel fortunate to have heard and seen them play...
@@donkotouc8377 - Wow, I envy you, Don, if you got to see/hear the greats back in the day..... that must have been amazing! If you loved music, that post-war era c. 1945-1969 or so - was absolutely a wonderful time to be alive. Some older friends of mine describe the club scene years ago in Chicago (where I lived for a long time, in N. Illinois) as being just street after street jammed with clubs playing live music. Tons of great shows, gigs for musicians to learn their craft and entertain audiences at the same time. Indianapolis was that way, too, which is how the Montgomery Brothers learned to play.
I got into Jazz and it started with Mingus in the early 70's and someone turned me on to Wes...just beautiful
Just goes to show how great a good pianist is. Instant learning of a tune.
I agree. Quite amazing to witness!
Wow…I have no words…blown away…geniuses..Wes so humble…the warmth they exude ❤
This is so great! A little before the 6 minute mark Wes starts to throw in those ii - V progressions that he loved so much. My guitar teacher/mentor in the '70s, Ted Dunbar, was friends with Wes. He once described Wes as a gorilla with no teeth - a very strong and extremely kind and gentle man. Wes was one of a kind, a musical genius, and my all time guitar hero.
I too studied with Ted for too short a time in the mid 70s. No slouch of a musician or person either...
Ted was a great man and a fine musician. I miss him.
I'm not surprised you're a Wes man, George. You are so musical & funky!
After I graduated Indiana, David Baker suggested I give Rutgers a try. I corresponded w Mr. Dunbar, but decided to move to NYC, and try to be a rock-n-roller, instead. I could've learned a lot, if I'd chosen his tutledge.
@@johnengland2996 Hey, John, nice to hear from you! Yeah, Wes is my all time favorite. I don't try to play like him, but I get such inspiration from listening. I think you did fine doing what you did. I hope you're doing well - stay safe and stay healthy - hope to see you one day soon!
A gorilla with no teeth? Thats sounds racist as hell. What kind of bull shit is this?
Brilliant!!! That was fun to watch professional musicians figure out a song!!! No big egos to boot!!! Love it!!!! Just pure joy playing the music!!!!
I've seen so many great jazz videos on YT, and the majority come from Europe. France, Holland, Spain, Italy...such a wonderful, natural way of presenting the music.
Because America is Racist and petty and resented Black genius. The Europeans appreciated good music whoever created it🙄
The entire band ensemble is fantastic. But Wes is on a whole nother level
"Nother" is not word. Try "whole other."
Wow no charts and they came out with this gem! How astute was piano guy and how cool were the bassist and drummer while Wes broke it down ? Gotta love musicians.
That looks like Pim Jacobs behind the piano.
My Lord - there’s no words. Just no words. I’ve heard extended versions of this as well. I am so bloody grateful these video recordings still exist. Truly, this is magical.
To whom is may concern.
Thank you, for introducing me to this very talented creative musician.
Sounds beautiful I can listen to his music all day if clouds had musical sound it would be this. 🤗🙋🏽♀️👸🏽♉💯🤎✌🏾✊🏾🌎❤️🕊️👍🏽😁 Life is Beautiful.😎 Jazz at it's best.
This is huge. I thought I knew Wes pretty well. I didn’t. What a pure musical genius. And so humble and kind. Thanks for posting this beautiful video.
all the greats are humble in my experience; the ones with attitude are usually befuddled by jealousy or envy and can't get beyond themselves; but not the greats! at least in my 50+ years of playing.
What a beautiful thing this was....the man and his musical ability.💙
Thanks for posting! Footage of the masters playing live is rare enough, but it's even rarer to see someone teaching the other players the tune, offering little suggestions, working it out. Love watching the piano player; he knows he's good and can cut the gig, but he's also excited to be playing with someone like Wes Montgomery, he's literally wide-eyed. Fun and fascinating. Again, thanks. I'll be watching this more than once.
Very interesting to watch these jazz cats learning this song on the spot, it's beautiful how everything unfolds and Wes must have been the kindest man to work with, so much talent !!!
Amazing to behold. I agree.
So spontaneous in their musical wisdom -great moment.
An absolute genius on the guitar. His technique and knowledge of the guitar and being so relaxed about it….
To this day listening to Wes still gives me goose bumps, because his thinking on what he wants to do next, is simply astounding, there are, and mostly likely will be in the future great guitarist, that's a fact, however Wes was simply a blessing from above, no more, no less...
amen
Wow never realized what a challenging tune "End of a Love Affair" is and Wes breaks it down and the other guys pick it up so fast. Amazing 😊
Thank you for mentioning the song title. Great tune indeed.
Love the way Wes demonstrated the chords on hid own instrument for the piano. Shows a lot
Man this was incredible! I’ve never heard Wes Montgomery speak before. And his playing so effortless and beautifully perfect 😎 so sad that he died just three years after in 1968… 45 incredible years of life and music
Wonderful archive showing a meeting of souls making music on the spot. Pianist looks like Yehudi! (he did some jazz too)
The one and only...there’s never going to another one like him...that sound...his sound. Genius! Found an old cassette tape in some street market in Tel Aviv 30 years ago called “bumping on sunset”, didn’t know who it is... still fresh
Have always and will always love this guy. It is such a joy to watch these guys work. You can feel the musical love between them. The thing that brought us musicians together as people in the 60's and 70's.
Wes was always so melodic...
Don Kotouc Absolutely
Capturing a genius in the moment.....Love it...
Great art gets to me. My throat tightens. My eyes water. That happens when witnessing artistic aptitudes unthinkable to the common creative mind. Here we see this. While Wes is broadly understood to be among the greats, the piano player is on another level too. What a blessing this video is. Beyond amazing. I'm sitting here shaking my head, left and right. From nothing, they create something that makes generations to follow sit in stunned silence.
Just being in the same band with Wes Montgomery - being good-enough to be in the same band! - is an amazing accomplishment all by itself. Pim Jacobs on piano is a revelation - or at least he was to me, when I first heard him - and the bass and drums were equally wonderful. They compared favorably with Wes' best bands back in the 'States. They had a real connection.
Beautiful comment my friend...exactly how I feel
Fantastic to watch at this, thanks. The musical level is just mind numbing.
Simply beautiful!!
Watching a brilliant player explain what he needs out of his accompanist is so cool and them let's him fly.
He tells him to "just jump on top of the piano!' Amazing...these boys not "Fkn" around....vicious...all about business...
What a GREAT story! I was in 7th grade when we lost Wes... My mom told me the news just as my dad and I were walking in the front door from a guitar lesson... It was the first time someone important to me had passed away.
I had a temporary event around the time Wes went to the other side; I had a vinyl record with him lying in our rehearsing room that I had forgot on top of a vocal amp, and it got bent from the heat; I do not know why...but I became so sad about it..and said to my friend....It is almost like someone had died..I do not know why I felt that way...I usually would not be too much offended by such a thing...and later in a day or two I heard that he had died...I think he died before that happened. Just a thing that makes me wonder sometimes.
My Bro. and me too! We'd been out of High School a few years... some cats in the Barber Shop were saying Wes had died. Utter denial and unbelieving settled in..... we still talk about him in present tense.... Peace.
Wow. Watching these two masters communicate is breathtaking. And of course, the subsequent jam resulting is out of this world. Made my day...
As old as I am and never mind how many times I have been around the musical block it is always pure joy and eye opening education for me every time I listen to the remarkable, gifted and wonderful
Wes Montgomery.
.
Bla,blA,bLa ... listen to what these guys PLAY !! Wonderfull,the bassplayer is GREAT & Wes is enjoying himself !! Superb !!
This is great footage 👍jazz cats putting it together, legendary musicians here,all top of class, love this stuff,I can hear what they speak, suggesting half step chromatic walk down ,its like ur there,phenom bassist, I'm gonna search for more of these
Beautiful interchange between a skilled guitarist & pianist. Thanks.
I've heard people say Wes Montgomery didn't know any theory. And here he is explaining in musical terms how to play the tune to these guys. Geez louise.
Elk Cerveza I know, right
Wes knew jazz music at the absolute most-elite level possible; at the level of the all-time greats in jazz. He didn't attend formal music school, but he did something even better (at least for learning to play jazz) - he performed five nights a week for years on end as a member of the fertile Indianapolis, Indiana jazz scene - both as a sideman and also leading his own groups. Until European classical music, which has an extensive written component in music notation, jazz is primarily an aural art. Although certain jazz musicians are expert sight-readers, such as many arrangers, composers and horn players, it is possible to become a high-level jazz musician without reading music - as Wes did, and without having formal instruction. Wes was blessed with "big ears," as the cats call them, and an innate aptitude for understanding the structure and form of music. He picked up a lot of knowledge from the cats he played with - especially pianists and organists, since these are also polyphonic instruments. But at his level of talent, you don't need to attend music school. Errol Garner, the great pianist - neither read nor wrote music notation - but had a half-century long career as one of the finest pianists in all of jazz and knew more than a thousand songs by memory. When you have that kind of genius, all sorts of things are possible.
He knew music theory intimately but didn’t sight read. He had an unbelieveable memory too.
That’s super cool tks for sharing
Just magic...
and a charming rehearsal
It was recorded in Holland in 1965, during the rehearsal for a local radio program. In other words, it was meant a radio show, not a TV one. The musicians: Wes Montgomery (Guitar), Pim Jacobs (Piano), Ruud Jacobs (Bass), Han Bennink (Drums).
The Pim Jacobs Trio must be one of the most-underrated groups in jazz history! They were simply wonderful. And add in the genius of Wes Montgomery on top of that? Simply amazing.
Thanks for posting! I was looking to see who the amazing pianist was. What a gem of a video
Awesome fly on the wall sharing.Killer!
I'm kinda curious. When Wes starts playing the melody, Pim Jacobs asks, "What's the name of it?" and Wes says, "I don't know." He's played this song before, most notably on the album A Dynamic New Sound. I wonder if that was just a song he learned on the fly during the recording date of that album or something. Despite that, he's amazing
Also, notice how kind Montgomery is. He always responds with a "yea" or something positive. Whenever Jacobs plays a wrong chord, Montgomery kindly tells him how to correct it. He's one of the best guitarists this world has ever seen, yet, he was the kindest guy on the planet. I have nothing but admiration for "The Man" Wes Montgomery. This also shows how good his ear was and the knowledge he had on music theory. Idc what anyone says about Montgomery not knowing theory, this video proves that he actually did know music theory. If those people actually listened to his playing, his music was a combination of hard work and knowledge; just as much as it was pure talent.
It really doesn’t get any better than this.
Good insight on watching the master work. Yes amazing too how the pianist can pick out things just from Wes's cues just relying on his ear.
Yeah! After Wes stopped to show a turn of a major seven and a ninth chord ..the piano player says...let´s do it in a faster tempo!! that impressed even Wes..he laughs amazingly.
Well, it is kinda the point but Inwas impressed with both piano man's ears and, as always, Wes
Wes is playing with some fine musicians and it makes him shine even more. We went down to Hermosa Beach to the Light House to see him play, the place was packed, we didn't stay.
Now this is truly "unforgettable in so many ways."
He says "Why don't you take control?" telling the piano player to set the tempo.
Wes left the world with more joy in his short lifetime than most ever do! May we all find that same passion - even if it's not jazz guitar
What a great video for understanding (a tiny little bit) how jazz players understand it, the great Wes at their head.
Certainly one of the best of all time.
Nothing else sounds like this, just amazing!
I had heard rumors Wes didn't even know chord names or qualities, in this clip you can hear him calling out changes and their qualities thus dispelling that rumor once and for all.
Cliff Works Well, he didn’t sight read. Didn’t need to, or want to. But he knew music theory intimately.
@ Cliff Works: Adrian Ingram, the British guitarist, jazz educator and author of a biography of Wes Montgomery, confirmed in his research that Wes - though formally unschooled - studied a great deal on his own to learn and understand the musical language of jazz. Not to the extent of reading notation, but in order to be able to communicate effectively with his fellow performers. He was helped in no small way by his brothers, Monk (bass) and Buddy (piano, vibes), who were superb musicians in their own right, as well as by other players with whom he came into contact. Due to his innate and deep understanding of music by ear, Wes may have reversed the usual order/progression of learning tunes and theory; he probably knew tunes for years before knowing how to explain their chord progressions or whatever theory he knew. Which is right-and-proper, because unlike classical music tradition, the jazz traditional is first and foremost aural in nature, i.e., playing by ear, whereas especially in recent centuries, classical music has become focused on the written score to the exclusion of improvisation and playing solely by ear. Whatever the case, there's no doubt whatsoever what a genius Wes was!
I can almost bet that Wes couldn't play a simple folk song with a three cord progression! He just didn't live in that world, in his world music came from, make it up as you go, and play through your heart, another example of that would be Hendrix or BB King, or Eddie van Halen! And why even bother to do anything else because they were never gonna play in any style except for their own!!
This is so kool! When u play live with other great musicians one must take note on how humble these guys are coz that attitude keeps everyone easy to work with amazing rehearsel Wes & team thankyou up there in heaven (RIP) X
Top notch musicians the way the piano player just picked up Wes qwerty rhythm.
This is just one of our many contributions to america, wes was one who helped make america great again............
All great musicians!!!
This is wonderful. ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.
I love note and tune searching. My mom STILL does this at 92 yo.
this is amazing footage.
Nice to see the Dutch Pim Jacobs playing piano with Wes 👌🏼. Love it.
It's the dutch piano player Pim Jacobs.
Anyone else notice how Wes and Jimi Hendrix have the same type of talking pattern?
...great collaboration.
" Didja ever just know something?".......
That's how it was all th time with these guys...just astounding😎🎸🎹🎶
My parents listened to music, danced, and went to more concerts than anyone I knew. They had pretty eclectic taste when it came to music. Everything from Rock to Opera was played daily in my house. As a kid I didn’t think to much of their music but as an adult I have admit some songs from the past are timeless works of art
That will be the day - Buddy Holly
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
Mack the knife - Ella Fitzgerald
This shows the genius of the legendary Wes Montgomery, and what a great band who were able to capture what he wanted to hear
Incredibly interesting! Thanks for posting!☘
Man was such a professional!
Imagine the tone is soooooo good that it makes my crummy speakers sound like a million bucks.
Awesome to see Montgomery and band members interacting. There's something unique in his playing ... Montgomery can never be copied ... like a fingerprint. So much soul in his playing. Good to see the patience and mutual respect. The great guitarist George Benson always speaks about Wes's musicality and the great respect he has for Wes. Benson has moulded his playing on Wes. Benson is another who is something of a jazz guitar legend. Great footage by the way - a gem of a find on YT. Hoping we can find something similar on trailblazer, Charlie Christian?
Watching this video is the coolest way I have ever learned a tune it's like Wes is teaching it to me!
So glad you posted this ... sure dont know too many welders that sound like this ... what an amazing snapshot of of an amazing legacy ... this vid is really a treasure
Out of HS in 1963, and slowly becoming aware of jazz, primarily on an L.A radio station with DJ Johnny Magnuson. Heard Mose Allison, Lambert, Hendricks, and Yvonne, Coltrane, etc. But became smitten with Wes and his guitar.
Wow !! Amazing Wes. Interesting to see how those musicians work... I would be so lost :-)
Great video, Thanks !
The pianist he knows quite a lot 'bout progressions. Great! " The end of a love affaire" is a tremendous tune ! And WES!!!
Bro, what the hell did I just stumble onto........ mean improv sesh 👏👏👏
These two might as well be negotiating world peace, designing a rocket ship… Fascinating! Brilliant language they’re speaking, music that is … Much Respect! 🤓🤘
More than a great musician - a great human.