This 1963 Riverside release has also now been remastered and captures Wes with Melvin Rhyne (organ) and Jimmy Cobb (drums) on April 22nd of that year. Although this album finds him in a studio as opposed to a live audience there is far more life, vitality and drive than there was on the previous year’s ‘Full House’, with the organ also filling out the sound and the drums being kept very busy indeed. He does share the lead role with Rhyne, but it is when Wes is in full flow that the band really shines. Whereas the previous album was somewhat looking backwards, this has a focus on what was coming and there are times when the music can almost be described as fusion, with intricate slips and tricks which keep the listener coming back for me.
Montgomery recorded more than 20 albums in the Sixties as well keeping up a hectic gigging schedule and one can only wonder if that lifestyle had an impact on his health given his early death from a heart attack in 1968 when he was recognised as one of the most important jazz guitarists around. This album is a fine example of his influential style, and there cannot be many people who have two songs written about them by Stevie Wonder, which shows just what an impact he had at the time. This trio were really cooking and consequently this is well worth discovering.
Rating: 8/10
Links:
https://craftrecordings.com/