Wes Montgomery (1923-1968) was an American jazz guitarist from Indianapolis, Indiana, one of the most influential players the instrument has ever known. That warm thumb-picked tone and those octave runs start with The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery (1960), an essential Riverside date. Shop Wes Montgomery vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Wes Montgomery (1923-1968) was an American jazz guitarist born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Largely self-taught, he developed a singular approach to the instrument and rose to prominence in the late 1950s and 1960s. He recorded acclaimed straight-ahead jazz for labels like Riverside before moving toward more orchestrated, pop-oriented recordings on Verve and A&M that achieved major commercial success. He died of a heart attack in 1968 at the height of his popularity.
Montgomery is celebrated for his warm tone, achieved by playing with his thumb rather than a pick, and for his pioneering use of parallel octaves and rich block-chord soloing. His fluid, melodic style influenced virtually every jazz guitarist who followed, and his blend of sophistication and accessibility made him one of the most beloved figures in the instrument's history.
Montgomery's Riverside and Verve recordings are highly collected, with The Incredible Jazz Guitar a prized title and audiophile reissues keeping his catalog in demand. Original pressings of his classic-era albums command strong interest among jazz collectors.
Listeners new to Wes Montgomery often start with The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery (1960). For related listening, see and .
