Wes Montgomery - Boss Guitar [Original Jazz Classics]

Recorded in April 1963 at Plaza Sound Studios in New York City, Boss Guitar is Wes Montgomery's eighth album for the legendary Riverside label. This reissue is part of the Original Jazz Classics Series, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI with all-analog mastering from the original tapes at Cohearent Audio by Kevin Gray. The trio format features organist Mel Rhyne and drummer Jimmy Cobb, creating an intimate setting that allows Montgomery's distinctive thumb-picked octaves and fluid single-note lines to shine. The album finds Montgomery at the height of his creative powers, effortlessly combining dazzling technique with unshakable groove and warmth.

The program balances inventive originals like "Fried Pies" and "The Trick Bag" with expressive readings of standards such as "Besame Mucho" and "Days of Wine and Roses." Montgomery's interpretation of "Canadian Sunset" demonstrates his melodic sensibility, while "For Heaven's Sake" closes the album with elegant phrasing. The trio delivers a fluid, soulful set that bridges Montgomery's lyrical phrasing with the deep swing of organ jazz. The organ-guitar-drums configuration became a hallmark of Montgomery's Riverside period, with Rhyne's supportive Hammond work and Cobb's tasteful drumming providing the perfect foundation for Montgomery's explorations.

This audiophile reissue features all-analog mastering from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and is pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI. The pressing is housed in a Stoughton tip-on jacket, delivering the premium presentation quality befitting this essential jazz recording. The Original Jazz Classics series has garnered critical praise, with Record Collector Magazine declaring the sound "out of this world." The meticulous mastering process captures the warmth of Montgomery's guitar tone and the natural dynamics of the trio, offering listeners the closest experience to the original session tapes.

• Format: Black Vinyl LP
• Standout tracks: "Besame Mucho," "Days of Wine and Roses," "Fried Pies"
• Pressing details: Audiophile, Original Jazz Classics Series, 180-gram vinyl pressed at RTI, All-Analog Mastering from Original Tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, Stoughton Tip-On Jacket
• Genre/style: Jazz, Hard Bop, Guitar Jazz, Soul Jazz
• UPC: 888072587571

This meticulously crafted reissue honors one of Wes Montgomery's finest trio recordings with sound quality that reveals every nuance of his legendary technique.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. Besame Mucho
2. Dearly Beloved
3. Days Of Wine And Roses
4. The Trick Bag

Side B:

1. Canadian Sunset
2. Fried Pies
3. The Breeze And I
4. For Heaven's Sake