Reviewed: 2019-06-24
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: This new release surveys the music that guitarist Montgomery made in his hometown during the years before he rocketed to fame after signing with Riverside Records in 1959 and include embryonic versions of several of the numbers Montgomery would record at his early sessions for that label,
If You Like: George Benson, Tal Farlow
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
DISC 1
*1/ Four On Six (4:45) – bass starts> uptempo jam> guitar solo> piano solo> bass solo> brief solos traded all around> uptempo jam> fade
2/ Mr. Walker (3:45) – guitar starts> uptempo jam> guitar solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> slow fade
*3/ ‘Round Midnight (7:12) – piano starts strong> slow jam> guitar solo> piano solo> midtempo jam> crescendo end
**4/ So What (4:56) – bass starts> uptempo jam> guitar solo> piano solo> bass solo> uptempo jam> fad
**5/ The End Of A Love Affair (4:25) – guitar starts> uptempo jam> guitar solo> piano solo> bass solo> uptempo jam> crescendo & fade
***6/ Tune-Up (4:34) – piano starts> fast tempo jam> sizzling guitar solo> piano solo> fast jam with drum fills> crescendo end
7/ West Coast Blues (3:14) – guitar starts> uptempo jam> guitar solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> slow fade
*8/ Jingles (8:19) – organ starts> uptempo jam> guitar solo> organ solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
***9/ It’s You Or No One (4:29) – organ starts> fast tempo jam> guitar solo> organ solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
10/ Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You (5:56) – organ/guitar starts> midtempo jam> guitar solo> organ solo> midtempo jam> fade
*11/ Ecaroh (3:49) – guitar starts> uptempo jam> guitar solo> organ solo> organ/drummar/trade riffs> uptempo jam> quick fade
12/ Sandu (4:46) – horns start> uptempo jam> guitar solo> trombone solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
13/ Whisper Not (6:45) - guitar starts> midtempo jam> trombone solo> sax solo> guitar solo> piano solo> midtempo jam> slow fade & crescendo end
Disc 2
***14/ Stompin’ At The Savoy (7:26) – piano starts> fast tempo jam> guitar starts> guitar solo> piano solo> drum solo> fast jam> fade
**15/ It’s You Or No One (alternate version) (9:21) – piano starts> uptempo jam> piano /guitar duet> uptempo jam> piano/guitar trade riffs> crescendo end
16/ Opus De Funk (6:52) – guitar starts> midtempo jam> piano solo> bass/guitar duet> piano/guitar duet> quick fade
*17/ Summertime (9:38) – guitar starts> slow jam> piano solo> swings up to midtempo> guitar solo> bass solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
**18/ Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (4:51) – piano starts> lightning fast jam> guitar solo> piano solo> guitar & piano trade riffs> crescendo end
*19/ Easy Living (5:49) – piano starts> slow jam> piano solo> guitar solo> slow jam> quick fade
*20/ Four (5:36) – piano starts> uptempo jam> guitar solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick fade
**21/ I’ll Remember April (5:23) – piano/guitar starts> uptempo jam> piano solo> guitar solo> uptempo jam> fade
*22/ The Song is You (8:48) – piano starts> uptempo jam> guitar solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> fade