The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery＜限定盤＞

親指でピッキングするようなメロウな演奏で有名な伝説のギタリスト、ウェス・モンゴメリーの1960年録音の代表作でもある1枚。

オクターブ奏法、親指ピッキングなどがサックス奏者のキャノンボール・アダレイに感銘を与え、生まれたという本作品。ソニー・ロリンズの明るい「Airegin」をさらに高みへと昇華させ、スリリングで陽気な衝動を吹き込んでいる。それとは対照的に、彼自身の曲である「West Coast Blues」は、ブルージーであることの意味を拡張するような物思いにふけった曲である。モンゴメリは音の錬金術師であり、ダウンテンポのポピュラー・スタンダード「Polka Dots and Moonbeams」を独特の心地よい抱擁へと変貌させずにはいられなかった。

このアルバムについて、AllMusicは 「他とは一線を画し、この録音によってモンゴメリはこの時代で最も手強いモダン・ギタリスト、ひいては最も影響力のあるギタリストとしての地位を確立した 」と述べている。2017年、このアルバムはその文化的、芸術的、歴史的関連性から、米国議会図書館のナショナル・レコーディング・レジストリに登録されたほどだ。

〈パーソネル〉Wes Montgomery (g) Tommy Flanagan(p) Percy Heath (b) Albert Heath(ds)

The incredible Wes Montgomery of 1960 was more discernible and distinctive than the guitarist who would emerge a few years later as a pop stylist and precursor to George Benson in the '70s. On this landmark recording, Montgomery veered away from his home Indianapolis-based organ combo with Melvin Rhyne, the California-based Montgomery Brothers band, and other studio sidemen he had been placed with briefly. Off to New York City and a date with Tommy Flanagan's trio, Montgomery seems in his post- to hard bop element, swinging fluently with purpose, drive, and vigor not heard in an electric guitarist since bop progenitor Charlie Christian. Setting him apart from the rest, this recording established Montgomery as the most formidable modern guitarist of the era, and eventually its most influential. There's some classic material here, including the cat-quick but perhaps a trifle anxious version of the Sonny Rollins bop evergreen "Airegin," the famous repeated modal progressive and hard bop jam "Four on Six," and Montgomery's immortal soul waltz "West Coast Blues," effortlessly rendered with its memorable melody and flowing, elegant chiffon-like lines. Flanagan, at a time shortly after leaving his native Detroit, is the perfect pianist for this session. He plays forcefully but never overtly so on the bop tracks, offering up his trademark delicacy on the laid-back "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and easy-as-pie "Gone with the Wind." With the dynamic Philadelphia rhythm section of brothers Percy Heath on bass and drummer Albert Heath, they play a healthy Latin beat on the choppy and dramatic melody of Montgomery's original "Mr. Walker." Montgomery is clearly talented beyond convention, consistently brilliant, and indeed incredible in the company of his sidemen, and this recording -- an essential addition to every jazz guitarist fan's collection -- put him on the map. ~ Michael G. Nastos