Re: discography ramblings, Wes Montgomery Trio

[gacki@sax.sax.de (Malte Rogacki)]

>Wait, you say, Montgomery is a guitarist.  However, by his own account, he
>felt most comfortable performing in the trio format: guitar, organ, drums.
>A number of trio sessions were recorded for Riverside, the first label to
>feature Montgomery's distinctive and highly influential guitar work.  These
>were released on vinyl, in various combinations and at various times.
>Original releases include Wes Montgomery Trio (Riverside 310), Boss Guitar
>(Riv 459), Portrait of Wes (Riv 492), and the last, Guitar on the Go (Riv
>9494).  The sessions, played in New York and spanning the years from 1959
>to 1963, represent the beginnings of Montgomery's recording career, well
>before the better known, big budget (big band) stuff with Jimmy Smith.
>
>Mel Rhyne was the organ man for these dates.  While seldom receiving more
>than sidewise mention in guitar-oriented liner notes, Rhyne's refreshing
>style and great mobility are major assets to the recordings.  Fluent
>exchange of basslines and rhythmic comping between guitar and organ go a
>long way towards defining the possibilities of trio format.  And Rhyne's
>intriguing linear solo playing is a perfect complement to Montgomery's
>unusual guitar work.  Also worth noticing is the freedom Rhyne feels to
>drop in and out of walking the bass, almost at will.  This works
>particularly smoothly here, possibly because he tends to match guitar
>registration, walking the bass an octave or two higher than typical organ
>bass work.  I'm guessing that he plays left-hand bass (not pedals), and
>that he leaves drawbars one and two out.
>
>Availability:  The original Riverside releases are rare, though at least
>the last two (Riv 492 and 9494) were digitally remastered for Fantasy in
>1990.  Check those used shops.  Various tracks from the Riverside albums,
>as well as some unissued takes, were also remastered and pressed on vinyl
>in 1980 as Yesterdays (Milestone M-47057, distributed by Fantasy).  This
>collection is a pretty good survey of the Montgomery organ trio sessions as
>they evolved, proceeding chronologically, over the course of four album
>sides.
>
>Questions:  This is the extent of my knowledge on Montgomery/Rhyne
>discography.  Any additions or corrections (more recorings to enjoy,
>especially!) would be of great interest to me.  Hey, can anybody out there
>point me towards other Mel Rhyne work, either live or (preferably) on
>studio dates?

One of my catalogs lists the following:

Melvin Rhyne Trio: The Legend (unfortunately I don't know the label)

All above mentioned Montgomery recordings are in print and available on
OJCCD (Original Jazz Classics).


Malte Rogacki gacki@sax.sax.de  100116.154@compuserve.com
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