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If you have never heard a recording of Wes you really are missing out on one of the most exciting and individual sounds in jazz guitar history.Wes was influenced mainly by his early idol Charlie Christian but later found his own unique sound mostly characterised by his extensive use of octave playing and the fact that he plucked the strings with his thumb rather than with a pick..On his last records he was restricted to playing mostly popular songs in octaves-which gained him mass appeal.For his best work however,try listening to his earlier recordings mostly made for the Riverside label.On these recordings you can get an idea of the brilliance of his playing -not just octaves but beautiful single note solos and block chords that will leave you breathless.There is always a logic to his playing but it is at the same time fresh and never dull.You can hear Wes in almost every jazz guitarist that followed him such was his influence.
I hope you will make the effort to listen to a Wes Montgomery record and maybe you too will become hooked.
