Portrait of Wes Montgomery
In the late 1960's I had been consumed with 2 personal musical goals; listening, learning, and practicing everything that Wes Montgomery played on the guitar as well as everything that Earl Scruggs played on the 5-string banjo! Those ambitions have since expanded into many other areas comprising at least one life’s work.
I read in the paper that Wes was playing at the old Half Note club in downtown Manhattan along with Wynton Kelly on piano, Wes’ brother, Monk, on bass, and a drummer who I am embarrassed to say I cannot recall. I called my guitar-playing friend, Bernie Coveney, and in we went.
Along with a few other clubs in the city at the time (some of them still there!), the Half Note embodied the jazz scene in NY. As we entered the club, the first thing we could see was the bandstand, and there was Wes’ signature guitar on its stand. Chills!!
Wow!
WOW!!
At that point I was so thrilled that I barely remember getting a table. The Half Note was about half full that night. And there he was! Wes Montgomery took the bandstand, picked up his guitar, and began…what?...tuning? He was really “riffing” and adjusting, getting comfortable. There was a jukebox against the wall opposite the bandstand. (You can imagine what musical gems were on that jukebox!) Someone chose Wes’ recording of “The Shadow of Your Smile”. As it played, Wes played along with it. As the chart developed, Wes developed an improv solo, an incredible moment that has lived in my musical soul since, Wes jamming along with his own recording. Live!
Listen…it just does not get any better.
He put his guitar back on the stand and it was apparent that there was some time before the first set was to begin. I gathered my soul somewhere in my throat and walked up to the bandstand. I remember that as I extended my hand I said something like, “Mr. Montgomery? I’m a huge fan and I live in NJ. My friend and I are at a table over there and we’d like to invite you to come over on a break if you can.” I can’t believe I actually said something like that!
Allow me to describe the demeanor, the essence of this man as I experienced him. Wes Montgomery was somewhat small in stature, good looking, smartly dressed, and he emitted the calm, confident presence of a man “on top of his game”. He extended his hand and smiled as he looked at me and gave me his attention. I knew then that this was among the most gracious of people that I was ever to meet! He thanked me and I drifted back to our table.
The rest of the quartet took the stand and suddenly they were playing.
The first set was magic from the first note till the last. It was the REAL DEAL! Relentless inventive jazz mastery. That thumb! Bernie and I kept looking at each other. How is he possibly doing that?
After the set the band dispersed, Wes got off the stand and went directly over to a table of Polytone amplifier reps. He was playing the gig through a Polytone and they were gathered for music biz reasons.
Anyway, it didn’t matter. Our expectations for the evening had already been met and surpassed…!!
The second set was another jewel. I am trying to find words to describe the experience of hearing Wes Montgomery playing live. All I can come up with is that 40 years later it remains a shining memory in my life experience.
Again Wes put his guitar on the stand, stepped off the bandstand, and headed directly toward…OUR TABLE!! As we stood, he smiled and shook our hands. He seemed happy to join us, to escape the biz for a few moments. For at least a minute, the words coming out of my mouth must have sounded like one of those Ralph Kramden nonsense moments, “homina homina homina!!” But I knew that I had to “pull it together” and I guess I did. Wes ordered a cup of tea.
I would guess he was with us for about 10 minutes. I asked him how and why he got started with playing with his thumb. Wes said that he did not even begin to play the guitar until he was around 17. He started practicing with a pick, but his mother said it was too loud at night, so he played with his thumb so he wouldn’t disturb anyone. And that is the explanation! It was that simple! He also expressed that he was very happy with the popularity of his recent recordings and that it was a major factor in his ability to support his family.
The rest of the conversation was a kind of blur at this point. We stayed for a third set and then Bernie and I floated through the Holland Tunnel back to NJ. And we are left with this indelible memory…of a decent and caring man, an innovator, and bearer of the one-syllable moniker, WES!
Addendum:
Years later when I heard that Wes’ famous L-5 guitar was “for sale” at the Mandolin Bros, in Staten Island, I just had to go check it out. I sat down with that guitar and played it for about an hour! It was a special musical/spiritual experience and filled me with this memory and with the realization of what a primary influence Wes Montgomery remains to ALL guitarists!
John Carlini
January, 2008
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