Wes Montgomery's first album as a leader – a relatively obscure set that has him playing in a trio with Indianapolis bandmates Mel Rhyne on organ and Paul Parker on drums – a mode that strongly recalls Montgomery's roots in the Indy scene at the time! If you only know the later, famous Wes Montgomery with bigger charts, you'll be surprised to hear him here in a cooking little combo – the kind of group that made Mel Rhyne a local Hammond hero in Indy, although it seemed to take decades for him to get any sort of larger recognition. The groove is straight and simple, but the real charm is Wes' chromatic lines on guitar – already quite distinctive among his contemporaries, and allowed ample room to express their voice in this setting. Titles include "Ecorah", "Missile Blues", "Too Late Now", "Jingles", and "Whisper Not". CD features 2 bonus tracks! CD

Additional material and unreleased from one of the greatest 60s recordings from the Wynton Kelly Trio – thanks to some wonderful guest work from guitarist Wes Montgomery! Montgomery's working here in a gusty, rootsy style that recalls his best soul jazz sides from the earlier years – and which have a feel that's quite different than his later, more largely-arranged work for Verve. The Kelly Trio is in perfect form – with Wynton's heavy left hand leading the group on the piano, and superb rhythm backing from the team of Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. This massive set marks the first official release of all these tracks that were recorded at the time, but not on the original Verve album Smokin At The Half Note – with work from Larry Ridley on bass on a number of tracks, and titles that include very long versions of "The Song Is You", "Star Eyes", "Four On Six", and "Cherokee" – plus takes on "Cariba", "Blues", "Laura", "Impressions", "Mi Cosa", "No Blues", and "All The Things You Are". CD

A double-header of sweet-styled early work from Wes Montgomery! First up is the album Fusion – a pretty darn important record for Wes – as it was his first session with the sort of larger arrangements that would later make him huge! Although Montgomery was mostly recording for Riverside in small combos, this session has him playing in front of larger backings by Jimmy Jones – not as sublime as later work by Don Sebesky or Gil Evans, but done in a way that definitely shows that Wes can do a lot with the guitar when freed from the need to stick with the rhythm strongly. Titles include "All The Way", "Pretty Blue", "Somewhere", "God Bless The Child", "Tune Up", and "Baubles Bangles & Beads". Next up is a batch of ballads and late nite tunes from his trio recordings of 1963 – titles that include "Dreamsville", "Yesterday's Child", "For All We Know", "Days Of Wine & Roses", "Too Late Now", "Whisper Not", and "For Heaven's Sake". LP, Vinyl record album

Additional material and unreleased from one of the greatest 60s recordings from the Wynton Kelly Trio – thanks to some wonderful guest work from guitarist Wes Montgomery! Montgomery's working here in a gusty, rootsy style that recalls his best soul jazz sides from the earlier years – and which have a feel that's quite different than his later, more largely-arranged work for Verve. The Kelly Trio is in perfect form – with Wynton's heavy left hand leading the group on the piano, and superb rhythm backing from the team of Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. This massive set marks the first official release of all these tracks that were recorded at the time, but not on the original Verve album Smokin At The Half Note – with work from Larry Ridley on bass on a number of tracks, and titles that include very long versions of "The Song Is You", "Star Eyes", "Four On Six", and "Cherokee" – plus takes on "Cariba", "Blues", "Laura", "Impressions", "Mi Cosa", "No Blues", and "All The Things You Are". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest 60s recordings from the Wyton Kelly Trio – thanks to some wonderful guest work from guitarist Wes Montgomery! Montgomery's working here in a gusty, rootsy style that recalls his best soul jazz sides from the earlier years – and which have a feel that's quite different than his later, more largely-arranged work for Verve. The Kelly Trio is in perfect form – with Wynton's heavy left hand leading the group on the piano, and superb rhythm backing from the team of Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. Tracks are longish, with some nice solos – and include the 13 minute original "No Blues", plus "If You Could See Me Now", "Unit 7", "Four On Six" and "What's New". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest 60s recordings from the Wyton Kelly Trio – thanks to some wonderful guest work from guitarist Wes Montgomery! Montgomery's working here in a gusty, rootsy style that recalls his best soul jazz sides from the earlier years – and which have a feel that's quite different than his later, more largely-arranged work for Verve. The Kelly Trio is in perfect form – with Wynton's heavy left hand leading the group on the piano, and superb rhythm backing from the team of Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. Tracks are longish, with some nice solos – and include the 13 minute original "No Blues", plus "If You Could See Me Now", "Unit 7", "Four On Six" and "What's New". CD

One of the greatest 60s recordings from the Wyton Kelly Trio – thanks to some wonderful guest work from guitarist Wes Montgomery! Montgomery's working here in a gusty, rootsy style that recalls his best soul jazz sides from the earlier years – and which have a feel that's quite different than his later, more largely-arranged work for Verve. The Kelly Trio is in perfect form – with Wynton's heavy left hand leading the group on the piano, and superb rhythm backing from the team of Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. Tracks are longish, with some nice solos – and include the 13 minute original "No Blues", plus "If You Could See Me Now", "Unit 7", "Four On Six" and "What's New". LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of sides cut in the early 60s by Wes for Riverside, collected later when the label was owned by ABC. There's a couple of cuts in a nice organ trio feature the great Mel Rhyne "Round Midnight" and "Yesterdays", plus several that feature his brothers Buddy and Monk or Johnny Griffin, Wynton Kelly and Paul Chambers. There's a total of 9 tracks, including "Love Walked In", "Darn That Dream", "The Lamp Is Low" and "One For My Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

Early greatness from Wes Montgomery – and a session that's got a gritty edge that takes Wes back to his Indianapolis roots! The album's one of the few of the time to feature the unsung Hammond hero Mel Rhyne – a player who worked with Wes at his start, but has only gotten stronger acclaim in recent decades as part of his comeback. Rhyne's a key force in the record – working alongside Montgomery's guitar and the drums of Jimmy Cobb – in a loose, open trio that has Mel participating as strongly in the rhythms as he does in the solo side of the album. Titles include a few Montgomery originals – "The Trick Bag" and "Fried Pies" – plus the tunes "Besame Mucho", "Dearly Beloved", "Days Of Wine & Roses", "Canadian Sunset", "The Breeze & I", and "For Heaven's Sake". LP, Vinyl record album

Early greatness from Wes Montgomery – and a session that's got a gritty edge that takes Wes back to his Indianapolis roots! The album's one of the few of the time to feature the unsung Hammond hero Mel Rhyne – a player who worked with Wes at his start, but has only gotten stronger acclaim in recent decades as part of his comeback. Rhyne's a key force in the record – working alongside Montgomery's guitar and the drums of Jimmy Cobb – in a loose, open trio that has Mel participating as strongly in the rhythms as he does in the solo side of the album. Titles include a few Montgomery originals – "The Trick Bag" and "Fried Pies" – plus the tunes "Besame Mucho", "Dearly Beloved", "Days Of Wine & Roses", "Canadian Sunset", "The Breeze & I", and "For Heaven's Sake". CD includes bonus tracks "Besame Mucho (take 2)", "Trick Bag (take 6)", and "Fried Pies (take 1)". CD

A great and groovy early album from Volker Kriegel – the German guitarist who'd cut some very trippy work for the MPS label in the 70s – but a player who steps out here in a sweet soul jazz mode at the end of the 60s! Volker's still got the same wickedly sharp style on guitar you'd know from his later fame – but here, it's turned towards the kind of soulful guitar work you'd hear on Verve Records at the time – somewhere in the territory of George Benson, or maybe a bit in that of Wes Montgomery – but also with some occasional freewheeling moments that hint at the changes to come! The group's a trio on side one – with Peter Trunk on bass and Cees See on drums – but side two moves into wilder material with a quartet that features vibes by Claudio Szenkar, who adds in just the kind of psychedelic touches to really make the music open up! These cuts are much more modal, and show Kriegel's growing love of Eastern sounds – and titles include "Na Na Imboro", "Morandi", "Interpunctuation", "Traffic Jam", and "With A Little Help From My Friends". LP, Vinyl record album

A loss leader type showcase compilation for Riverside, collecting a number of nice sides. 10 numbers in all: "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" by Thelonious Monk off the Thelonious Monk At The Blackhawk LP, "Mister Walker" by Wes Montgomery off The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery LP, "Wade In The Water" by Johnny Griffin's Big Soul Band off The Big Soul Band LP, "Pretty Memory" by Nat Adderley off the Work Song LP, "Stella B" by Bobby Timmons off the Soul Time LP, 'Del Sasser" by the Cannonball Adderley Quintet off the Them Dirty Blues LP, "Peri's Scope" by the bill Evans Trio off the Portrait In Jazz LP, "Blue SOul" by Blue Mitchell off the Blue Soul Lp, "Newkeep" by Jimmy Heath off The Thumper LP and "Something Different" by the Mangione Brothers Sextet off The Jazz Brothers LP. LP, Vinyl record album

Milestone 2-fer combining two of our favorite late 60s soul jazz LPs, that practically defined the genre – Work Song and That's Right! "Work Song" was a whopping hit for Nat, plus Cannonball's killer "Sack O Woe", played here by a firey group that includes the great Bobby Timmons on piano, and Wes Montgomery on guitar, making a rare non-leader group appearance. On the second set Nat's trumpet is backed up by a "big sax section" – a trio of reed players that includes Yusef Lateef, Jimmy Heath, and Charlie Rouse, plus some additional baritone work by Tate Houston. The groove's pretty swinging – kind of in the mode of early work with Cannonball Adderley in that it's not as "in the pocket" soul jazz wise, but still quite strong overall. Heath and Jimmy Jones did the arrangements, and the rhythm section features Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones, and Jimmy Cobb. 17 tracks in all, including "Tadd", "The Old Country", "Chordnation", "ESP", "Scrambled Eggs", "Pretty Memory", and "Fallout". LP, Vinyl record album

Classic work from Chuck Wayne – one of the most overlooked jazz guitarists of his day! The album's a very laidback trio set – just guitar, bass, and drums – and Chuck plays in these blocks of color and tone – very much like Wes Montgomery, but a bit more fast paced and with some weird touches that make the album more interesting than you'd expect. Titles include "See Saw", "Shalimar", "Alone At Last", "The Song Is You", "Lovely", "I'll Get Along", and "Lil Darlin". CD

An excellent bit of soul jazz – completely rare in the original pressing, and one of the few early albums ever cut by organist Melvin Rhyne! Rhyne first came to prominence as the organist with Wes Montgomery – and he hailed from Montgomery's hometown of Indianapolis, and had the distinction of appearing on an early trio album with Wes. This rare side as a leader has Rhyne heading up an all-star cast that includes Blue Mitchell, Johnny Griffin, Andy Simpkins, and Albert Tootie Heath – plus fellow Indiana resident Gene Harris, who plays piano on the session, which makes for a very unusual combination next to the organ! The tracks are all quite long – and the session's a lot more down-and-dirty than the usual work that was recorded on the Jazzland and Riverside labels, stretching out at an open-ended soul jazz pace that was much more the territory of Prestige Records. Tracks include "Blue Farouq", "Shoo Shoo Baby", and "Barefoot Sunday Blues". CD

A trio of funky guitar gems – all served up in a single set! Black Velvet is a stone laidback set from O'Donel Levy – one of the greatest soul jazz guitarists of the 70s, and a player who sounds fresher and fresher to us over the years! This album's a bit more laidback than some of Levy's other sets for Groove Merchant – with larger arrangements that feature Charles Covington on electric piano and organ, Fats Theus on tenor and flute, and Billy Skinner on trumpet – but the approach actually works well, as the slow-moving tracks trip out over a lot of space, giving O'Donel plenty of room to craft his uniquely spacious and chromatic solos. Titles include versions of "Watch What Happens", "Love Story", "Call Me", "You've Made Me So Very Happy", and "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time", plus the originals "Granny" and "Nature's Child", both of which have a nice little groove! Windows is a great later album from O'Donel Levy – recorded after his initial flurry of work for the Groove Merchant label, but still plenty darn nice! The sound here is slightly smoother and a bit more electric than before – with Levy's sweet guitar work snaking out over some larger backings that almost have a funky soundtrack feel. The groove is still great, and O'Donel brings plenty of his trademark chromatic lines to the set – guitar parts that almost sound even better in this setting! Titles include "Moisturizer", "Green Machine", "Panama Red", and a track called "I Believe In Miracles", which is not the Jackson Sisters' hit, but a nice mellow groove with vocals that sounds like some of the George Duke soul cuts! Dawn Of A New Day features totally wicked guitar work from the mighty O'Donel Levy – easily one of the hippest talents to ever work for the Groove Merchant label! Levy's got a sound here that's a bit like Wes Montgomery on some of his late 60s sides, but also a fair bit funkier overall – a style that's steeped in soul and schooled on advancements in the 70s generation of funk fusion and blacksploitation soundtracks. Backings are relatively large – arranged by Manny Album, with players who include Charles Covington on organ and electric piano and Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet. Tracks include covers like "I Wanna Be Where You Are", "People Make the World Go Round", and "Maiden Voyage" – plus some nice originals, like "Dawn Of A New Day" and "Baa Waa". CD