ENDEIT
Wes Montgomery
Photo: Published by A&M Records. Photographer uncredited and…, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Guitarists · 1923–1968

Wes Montgomery

American jazz guitarist (1923–1968)

Born
6 March 1923
Indianapolis
Died
15 June 1968
Indianapolis
Country
United States
Record labels
Verve Records, Riverside, A&M Records, Pacific Jazz Records
Discography
36 albums

Biography

Wes Montgomery was a jazz musician who played guitar. Wes Montgomery was born on 6 March 1923 in Indianapolis and died on 15 June 1968 in Indianapolis. The music is usually filed under jazz, jazz fusion and hard bop. Record labels: Verve Records, Riverside, A&M Records and Pacific Jazz Records. The discography here lists 36 albums, from “The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery” (1960) to “The Complete Full House Recordings” (2023).

John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. He is most known for his unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and for his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a distinctive sound. Montgomery often worked with his brothers Buddy (Charles F.) and Monk (William H.), as well as organist Melvin Rhyne. His recordings up to 1965 were oriented toward hard bop, soul jazz, and post bop, but around 1965 he began recording more pop-oriented instrumental albums that found mainstream success. His later guitar style influenced jazz fusion and smooth jazz.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery 1960 · Riverside Movin' Along 1961 · Riverside So Much Guitar! 1961 · Riverside Full House 1962 · Live · Riverside Boss Guitar 1963 · Riverside Fusion! 1963 · Riverside Movin’ Wes 1964 · Verve Bumpin’ 1965 · Verve Smokin’ at the Half Note 1965 · Live · Verve Straight, No Chaser 1965 · Live California Dreaming 1966 · Verve Goin’ Out of My Head 1966 · Verve Tequila 1966 · Verve A Day in the Life 1967 · A&M Records Down Here on the Ground 1967 Road Song 1968 · A&M Records Willow Weep for Me 1969 · Verve Solitude Part 2 1973 · Live · BYG Records Impressions 1978 · Live · Affinity Live At Jorgies 1980 · Live · VGM Records Live in Paris, 1965 1988 · Live · France’s Concert Live in Europe 1992 · Live · Philology Body & Soul 1996 · Live · Ronnie Scott's Jazz House
Smokin' at the Half Note Vol. 2 1998 · Live
Complete Live in Paris 1965 2003 · Live · Definitive Records The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery 2004 · Live · Definitive Records
Complete Live at the Half Note 2005 · Live
The Unissued 1965 Half Note Broadcasts 2013 · Live · Jazz On Jazz Records One Night in Indy 2016 · Live · Resonance Records
Smokin’ in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse 2017 · Live
In Paris: The Definitive ORTF Recording 2018 · Live · 2xHD
Live At The BBC Studios 1965 2018 · Live
The NDR Hamburg Studio Recordings 2020 · Jazzline Classics Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings 2023 · Live · Resonance Records The Complete Full House Recordings 2023 · Live · Craft Recordings
Live at the Half Note · Live

Also plays on

Albums where Wes Montgomery is credited as a sideman

1959 A Good Git-Together — Jon Hendricks with Pony Poindexter & The Montgomery Brothers guitar, electric guitar
1960 Cannonball Adderley and the Poll-Winners — Cannonball Adderley feat. Ray Brown & Wes Montgomery guitar
1960 Work Song — Nat Adderley electric guitar
1960 Montgomeryland — Monk Montgomery, Wes Montgomery, Buddy Montgomery, Harold Land, Pony Poindexter, Louis Hayes, Tony Bazley guitar
1960 West Coast Blues! — Harold Land guitar
1962 Bags Meets Wes! — Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery guitar
1966 George Shearing and the Montgomery Brothers — George Shearing & The Montgomery Brothers guitar
1966 Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo — Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery guitar, performer
1969 Further Adventures of Jimmy and Wes — Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery electric guitar, guitar, performer
1988 Vara Radio 1965 — Clark Terry, Wes Montgomery guitar
1993 Fallen Angel — Larry Coryell electric guitar
2006 Riverside Profiles — Chet Baker guitar
2013 Millenium — Larry Coryell electric guitar

Standards written by Wes Montgomery

TitleKeyFormGroove
West Coast Blues B♭ major AA · 36 Jazz waltz
Four On Six G minor A · 16 Up-tempo swing
S.O.S. C minor ABCBD · 40 Up-tempo swing
Full House F minor AABA · 56 Jazz waltz
Twisted Blues D♭ major A · 19 Medium-up swing
Road Song G minor AABA · 32 Latin
Leila C major AABA · 32 Slow swing
Sun down A major A · 12 Medium swing

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Wes Montgomery play?

Wes Montgomery is known for playing guitar.

When and where was Wes Montgomery born?

Wes Montgomery was born 6 March 1923 in Indianapolis.

What are Wes Montgomery's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery (1960), Movin' Along (1961), So Much Guitar! (1961), Full House (1962) and Boss Guitar (1963).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.