In Paris: The Definitive ORTF Recording

Album review

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Saturday, March 27, 1965. The man who takes the Parisian concert venue by storm does it with delicacy and cool. His playing has however revolutionized his instrument, in a violent way even… Since Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt, guitar hadn’t been abused this way. Especially since here, the instigator of this tsunami both stylistic and formal performs in a configuration that resembles him, without ornamentation, nor commercial decoration. The Wes Montgomery from this unprecedented live performance is frightening and especially great, it is also extremely sophisticated…

Surrounded by pianist Harold Mabern, double bass player Arthur Harper and drummer Jimmy Lovelace, the guitarist from Indianapolis finds the perfect balance between his extraordinary skills (to die for on To Wane, a theme penned by Mabern in tribute to Wayne Shorter) and the great originality of his melodic approach. On Full House, ‘Round Midnight and Blue 'N Boogie/West Coast Blues, Wes even welcomes tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, in order to make the party even more memorable. As for the repertoire, he revisits themes from his studio albums for the label Riverside (Jingles, 'Round Midnight, Twisted Blues…), but of which he gives here deeper interpretations. It’s a recording that is as much intended for the guy’s aficionados as for the novices wanting to grasp the art of a great colorist that is gone far too soon, in 1968 at only 45… © MZ/Qobuz