The Life and Times of Wes Montgomery

Part I of a documentary in four parts:

Django in June - Joscho Stephan

Attended a couple of workshops at Django in June in Northampton this weekend, including a couple of classes taught by German gypsy jazz guitarist Joscho Stephan, who has monster chops and comes across as an unusually smart, savvy and frank person. Stephan put on a monster performance at the concluding concert Saturday night.

He was quite proud that one of his videos had been viewed over 200,00 times, and commented on what a boost the Internet has been to his career - CD sales down, concert invites up! I think this is the vid he was referring to.

Thanks to my sister Susan, who signed me up for this event. Thanks Susan! And thanks to a not-to-be-named federal district court judge in Boston for deferring a trial scheduled to start on Monday, so I could get away for a day.

Who to choose? .....

Lets see, so now we have Jimmy Bruno, Andreas Oberg AND (most recently) Martin Taylor (photo above) with online guitar instruction sites (academies, institutes, "guitar universe" ....). A surfeit of riches scarcely imaginable a few years ago.

All are accessible through the "Artist Works" site, here.

Jimmy Bruno and Andreas Oberg Encounter

Jimmy seems a bit apprehensive, but it all worked out. As one person commented on Youtube, "if this video were any more awesome, my head would probably explode." With fewer than 3,000 views, this video (first of five) is wayyyy ... under-exposed.

Denny Zeitlin Taling About Jazz Pianists

And his new solo album, Precipice.

Pat Metheny Orchestrion Video

This album is amazing, and the video shows how he does it, sort of. Wow ....




More here. Album here.

And now for something completely different, but beautiful and profound

Play Chords Like Wes (FC)

Very cool publication over on www.jazzguitar.be


Here is a link to the Table of Contents

Wolf and Wes

Don't know why this 100+ page instructional book on Wes Montgomery's guitar style is on Scribd.com (maybe Wolf Marshall or his publisher figured, what the heck, lets share some guitar know-how), but it's there now, as of this post ....
Wolf Marshall - The Best of Wes Montgomery

George Benson, Take Five – Love That Man’s Smile