http://www.miamijazzguitar.com/signature-series.html
This is the 7th in a series of video lessons on the style of Wes Montgomery.
About the Jazz Guitarist's Signature Series: Each lesson explores the improvisational style of an influential artist within the history of jazz guitar. This is done through a short transcribed phrase, most likely played over a reoccurring harmonic cadence (eg. II-V-I).
About Wes Montgomery: Born on March 6, 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana he was a late bloomer on the guitar first learning how to play in 1942, at age 19. Montgomery was born into a musical family; his brother Buddy played piano and vibraphone while his brother Monk played bass. They later released various albums together as the Montgomery Brothers. In spite of not being skilled in reading music notation, Montgomery who usually played a Gibson L-5CES guitar, developed a very personal and sophisticated style becoming one of the most influential jazz guitarists after Charlie Christian. Montgomery's signature sound soon became recognizable to jazz listeners worldwide due to the fact that unlike other guitarists who used a plectrum, Wes used his thumb exclusively to pluck the strings. In addition he pioneered the use of octaves (playing the same note on two strings in a low and high pitch simultaneously). Although even Django Reinhardt had played them occasionally, Montgomery developed the ability to solo over entire choruses of a tune, exclusively playing octaves at very fast tempos.
Wes Montgomery died of a heart attack on June 15, 1968.
To learn more about Wes Montgomery please be sure to visit http://www.miamijazzguitar.com/wes-montgomery/
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