No Blues

Wes Montgomery (electric guitar), Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (double bass) and Jimmy Cobb (drums). From the album Smokin’ at the Half Note (1965).

In this album Wes Montgomery is accompanied by the rhythm section that Miles Davis had in his group from 1959 to 1963 and was recorded live at The Half Note club in New York in 1965. The track “Unit 7” became a standard. Montgomery had previously played with pianist Wynton Kelly’s trio, with Paul Chambers on double bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums, appearing together on the albums for the Riverside label Bags Meets Wes and Full House. In the summer of 1965, the quartet toured the main jazz clubs in the United States and participated in that year’s Newport Jazz Festival.

Montgomery’s dynamic live performances were considered the summit of his exceptional and influential way of playing the guitar. His interventions are creative and inspired with great energy and confidence. What sets him apart from other guitarists is not the fireworks or adventurous innovations, but the small details. The sound he brings out of his instrument has a deep and natural resonance. His notes, phrases and choruses are perfectly arranged in a lyrical and logical way.

The theme is brief and pleasant, and Montgomery enters right away presenting his solo with lots of swing and suggestive and melodic phrases that are accelerated in between. Then he starts using octaves in a well articulated and balanced way, demonstrating his authority and skill. He is followed by Kelly with an imaginative and spontaneous discourse that makes you move your feet and head while Montgomery accompanies him at times. After that, Chambers arrives playing in a friendly and carefree manner with ease and precision. To end, Montgomery reappears playing some phrases using octaves and the group finish in an apotheosic way.