Some Monday Wes

For some reason I started thinking about the late Wes Montgomery.  He was, and still remains, one of my favorite jazz guitar players.  Everything about him was great, but I think the thing that set him apart was that he never used a pick -- it was always just his thumb.  This of course gave him the most mellow guitar sound imaginable.  Yet, when the tune called for a hard edge or a cookin' riff he could lay it down with the best of guys who use a pick.  If you've got some Wes laying around in your CD collection, pull one out and take a listen -- a great way to start your week.  In the meantime, you might want to check out this wonderful live version of "Twisted Blues." Wes with some superb fellow musicians: Arthur Harper on bass, Harold Mabern on piano, and Jimmy Lovelace on drums.  Bass and piano solos are right up there with Wes' lead.