JAZZ MEETS GUITAR: WES MONTGOMERY
As you know from our recent blog posts, the month of April is Jazz Appreciation Month. However, this month houses room for many celebrations, including International Guitar Appreciation Month. When we think of Jazz most think of the saxophone, trumpet, and trombone; but what about the even popular string instrument, the guitar? One of Jazz' most prominent guitarists came from Indianapolis, Indiana, Wes Montgomery.
Early Life
Wes Montgomery came from a large, musical family, and early on his parents split apart. Wes moved with his father and siblings to Ohio, where life was a lot harder with less income to rely on. His older brother, Monk, actually dropped out of school to make money, and he ended up buying Wes his first guitar with his savings. The four-string guitar was from a pawn shop, and Wes spent a lot of time getting to know the instrument before moving onto the six-string guitar.Musical Talent
Wes Montgomery was most famously known for playing without a pick, instead using his thumb. This gave him an unusual sound for his time, attracting listeners to his revolutionary methods. The story behind the technique is an odd and admirable one. By playing with his thumb, the instrument was much quieter than it would be when using a pick; this kept the noise down and kept his neighbors happy. Who knew Wes' people-pleasing way would become his signature?
Montgomery is entirely self-taught and couldn't read music. Talk about inspiration for new coming players! Wes was a family man and did everything he could to provide for his wife and children. He worked full-time at an electronics factory in the morning to afternoon, took a small break, and went straight into gigs and production sessions.
Take a listen and watch this live performance of Montgomery from 1965, just three years before his untimely death at age 45. His passion for music and his musical companions can not only be heard in his music, but also in his words and actions.
Wes Montgomery was a hardworking man that left lasting impressions on the jazz world from his 21 years of music production. They are impressions that seem to be lasting a lifetime for the genre, and for good reason. It pays off to find the way to play that works for you; you never know when it could be something you're known for forever.
Awards and Recognitions
Wes Montgomery has numerous awards and nominations to his name. This includes 2 Grammys out of 5 nominations, Best Jazz Guitarist by DownBeat (a whopping 6 times), and Most Promising Jazz Instrumentalist by Billboard.
Wes Montgomery was a hardworking man that left lasting impressions on the jazz world from his 21 years of music production. They are impressions that seem to be lasting a lifetime for the genre, and for good reason. It pays off to find the way to play that works for you; you never know when it could be something you're known for forever.