Wes Montgomery & Cooper Mountain Pinot Noir

John Leslie “Wes” Montgomery was born on March 6, 1923 in Indianapolis IN. He’s one of my favorite jazz guitarists and was a superb improviser. Wes learned to play the guitar by studying Charlie Christian and playing his music by ear. Like several other jazz greats, he never played with a pick but used his thumb instead. You hear a lot of his influence in the styles of countless guitarists today, especially when they use his technique of playing octaves while soloing.

From 1948 to 1950 he toured with the outstanding vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, but returned to Naptown (Indianapolis for those of you not familiar with its nickname) where he joined up with his brother Monk (bass) and Buddy (vibes) and began recording for the Pacific Jazz label. He began to move away from straight jazz and crossed over to a more pop/jazz style where he became immensely popular. In 1966 he won a Grammy Award for “Best Instrumental Jazz Performance. He won his second Grammy Award in 1969 in the same category. Unfortunately, he wasn’t around to receive it, because at the height of his career on June 15, 1968, he died of a heart attack.

Montgomery was a jazz and guitar giant who left a legacy of style that is copied by practically every virtuoso guitarist today.

Round Midnight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOm17yw__6U

Impressions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQi48T4YWh4

Bumpin on Sunset: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqn3PF_DcSg

Windy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBGZgyl72_g

A day in the life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ooeMXnPuIg

West coast blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0sipEKhIhc

Round Midnight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pbp2FhdKyg

Twisted Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVVhJkeCF04

California dreaming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMm1X2sBJVk

All the things you are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyVjDHaBPAc

The days of wine & roses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JadIhIihTFw

The Joker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXpOjTbVif4

Live in concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLWlqBH9nrU

The elegance of Wes Montgomery’s playing calls for an equally elegant wine, so I suggest a 2010 Cooper Mountain Reserve Pinot Noir ($23.00 from Shaw’s off Copley Place in Boston). My wife and I enjoyed a bottle as we relaxed in our hotel room after hearing my son’s successful defense of his doctoral thesis at Harvard Med. Now there are two Dr. Olives in the family. The Cooper Mountain Pinot has subtle aromas of bright cherries and black tea. Likewise the palate is full of tart cherry joined by nuances of black raspberry, nice acidity and light tannins. It’s quite dry and refreshing and perfect for the occasion because the weather in Boston was unseasonably warm. It’s perfect for listening to the music of a musical giant like Wes.

Cheers!

Wes Montgomery & Domaine du Pas de l'Escalette

Hump day and tonight I’m featuring one of the greatest jazz guitarist ever. Wes Montgomery was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1925 and took up the electric guitar at age nineteen. He taught himself how to play by memorizing Charlie Christian solos off records. Once he had his chops down pat, he got his first job playing in a local band where, by his own account, his job was to play the Charlie Christian solos.

By 1948 he got a job in the Lionel Hampton big band and went on the road with Hampton for two years. Montgomery left The Hampton band in 1950 and returned to Indiana where he worked with his brothers and other local bands, including his own trio. He recorded his first record as a leader in 1959 when he made “The Wes Montgomery Trio.” Between 1959 and 1963 a succession of his recordings appeared that to this day represent some of his best work. Among these recordings were “The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery,” “The Wes Montgomery Trio” and “Full House.” During this same period he made a set of recordings with his brothers that remain jazz classics today.

After 1963, Montgomery began recording for Verve and A & M Records and the recordings took on a very different production quality aimed more at the mass music markets. Orchestration was added, more pop tunes were covered, and in 1965, he won a Grammy for his recording of “Going Out Of My Head.”

Wes Montgomery had a superb sense of melody and made common jazz standards sound fresh. His improvisational skills were second to none. His characteristic tone was achieved by using his thumb rather than a pick. Wes died suddenly of a heart attack in 1968, leaving behind a legacy that changed the guitar's place in popular culture. I love his style and you will too.

Round Midnight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOm17yw__6U

Windy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBGZgyl72_g&feature=related

Bumpin on Sunset: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqn3PF_DcSg&feature=related

West Coast blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEayXTdRsEc&feature=related

Twisted blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTMfSBRvfiw&feature=related

Blue Monk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLdcBqzjDVw&feature=related

Jingles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXOrj7QAc8M&feature=related

Full House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a1W3Wtqdj8&feature=related

Impressions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXvdU7f-q7I&feature=related

Nicas Dream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbXrdm63OAA&feature=related

Four on six: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9j47_LchaA&feature=related

Besame mucho: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQHepZ2u7a4&feature=related

Born to be blue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc8sX5EQ_UY&feature=related

With a classic like Wes, I’d like to introduce you to another classic, yet little known wine,  the 2009 Domaine du Pas de l’Escalette from the fledgling estate owned by Julien Zernotte in the Terrasses du Larzac in the Rhone valley of France. The wine is featured in Pierre Gagnaire’s 3-star Michelin restaurant and is on the wine list of arguably the greatest restaurant in the world, Chez Bras. The wine is deep ruby colored with aromas of black cherry, spice, and pepper. It’s silky and concentrated with flavors of dark berries, cherry cream, and a smooth texture. The long finish makes your mouth water for more, and at $14.00 a bottle, it should be illegal. All in all, an excellent wine and the perfect accompaniment to one of the greatest jazz guitarist of all time, Mr. Wes Montgomery. Enjoy!

Cheers!