It’s a frigid winter morning with temperatures below zero and a fine gray mist of snow filling the view from my studio windows. It would be easy to mope around on a morning like this but I am in the mood for something light. Airy and alive. I flip around looking for something thta fits the bill and settle on a little Wes Montgomery, the late jazz guitarist who died way too early and was one of the most influential players ever, spurring on guitarists of many genres with his distinct playing.
You can easily see the unusual stance of his right hand as he plays, splayed out and set in one position against the body of the guitar while his ultra-flexible thumb does all the dancing on the strings. It was said that he had a corn-like callous on his thumb that acted as a pick, the hard parts of providing sharper tones and the softer parts the more mellow sounds. It’s the style of a self-taught artist, which I appreciate. That and the fact that he, much like BB King, could not read music. Amazing.
Wes Montgomery died in his home in Indianapolis from a heart attack in 1968. He was only 45 and at the peak of his career. Makes you want to take advantage of every moment, not knowing what you will leave undone when your time comes.
Here’s a track called Jingles from Wes Montgomery in 1965. Enjoy!
Redtree Times 