This article is about Wes Montgomery's and Wynton Kelly's jazz album. For other jazz albums recorded at the Half Note Club, see Half note (disambiguation).
Smokin' at the Half Note is an album by Wes Montgomery and the Wynton Kelly Trio that was released in 1965. It was recorded live in June 1965 at the Half Note Club in New York City and September 22, 1965 at Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The album combines guitarist Montgomery with the Miles Davis rhythm section from 1959–1963 of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb. The album's versions of "Unit 7" and "Four on Six" have helped to establish these pieces as jazz standards.
Montgomery had performed numerous times previously with Kelly, and his trio with Chambers and Cobb had recorded earlier Montgomery albums for the Riverside label such as Full House. In the summer of 1965, the quartet toured the major jazz clubs in the US and also appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival on the afternoon of Sunday, July 4. Drummer Jimmy Cobb had previously toured briefly with Montgomery in an organ trio with Melvin Rhyne in 1963.[2] The performance was part of Alan Grant's "Portrait In Jazz" series, and Grant is heard as the announcer.
Only two of the original LP's five tracks were recorded at the Half Note -"No Blues" and "If You Could See Me Now." At the behest of producer Creed Taylor, the other three were re-recorded three months later at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in New Jersey.[3]
In 1998, Verve reissued the show on disc two of Impressions: The Verve Jazz Sides with a scrambled track order and some crucial cuts. The first five tracks are from the original Verve LP. Tracks six through eleven are from the posthumously released Willow Weep for Me, without that album's string arrangements.
Pat Metheny stated to The New York Times in 2005 that the solo on "If You Could See Me Now" from this album was his favorite of all time.[4] He called Smokin' at the Half Note "the absolute greatest jazz-guitar album ever made. It is also the record that taught me how to play."
Allmusic jazz critic Jim Smith called the album "essential listening for anyone who wants to hear why Montgomery's dynamic live shows were considered the pinnacle of his brilliant and incredibly influential guitar playing." and wrote that "Montgomery never played with more drive and confidence, and he's supported every step of the way by a genuinely smokin' Wynton Kelly Trio."[5]
In his review for the Jazz Institute of Chicago, jazz writer Stuart Nicolson extensively reviewed each song. He praised the album in general, writing "it was in jazz where his impact was most powerfully felt. His style and sound became the role-model for subsequent generations of guitar players and can be heard echoed in the playing of George Benson, Emily Remler, Bruce Forman, Pat Metheny, Mark Whitfield, Kevin Eubanks, and a host of others. These recordings go some way to illustrate why Montgomery turned the jazz world on its collective ear, the effects of which are still with us today."[2]
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This article is about Wes Montgomery s and Wynton Kelly s jazz album For other jazz albums recorded at the Half Note Club see Half note disambiguation Smokin at the Half Note is an album by Wes Montgomery and the Wynton Kelly Trio that was released in 1965 It was recorded live in June 1965 at the Half Note Club in New York City and September 22 1965 at Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs New Jersey The album combines guitarist Montgomery with the Miles Davis rhythm section from 1959 1963 of Wynton Kelly Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb The album s versions of Unit 7 and Four on Six have helped to establish these pieces as jazz standards Smokin at the Half NoteLive album studio album by The Wynton Kelly Trio and Wes MontgomeryReleasedNovember 1965 1 RecordedJune 1965 and September 22 1965VenueThe Half Note Club recording in June GenreJazzLength40 58LabelVerveProducerCreed TaylorWes Montgomery chronologyBumpin 1965 Smokin at the Half Note 1965 Smokin Guitar 1965 Wynton Kelly chronologyUndiluted 1965 Smokin at the Half Note 1965 Blues on Purpose 1965 Contents 1 History 2 Reception 3 Track listing 3 1 Original LP 1965 3 2 CD release 1986 3 3 Remastered CD 2005 4 Personnel 5 ReferencesHistory EditMontgomery had performed numerous times previously with Kelly and his trio with Chambers and Cobb had recorded earlier Montgomery albums for the Riverside label such as Full House In the summer of 1965 the quartet toured the major jazz clubs in the US and also appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival on the afternoon of Sunday July 4 Drummer Jimmy Cobb had previously toured briefly with Montgomery in an organ trio with Melvin Rhyne in 1963 2 The performance was part of Alan Grant s Portrait In Jazz series and Grant is heard as the announcer Only two of the original LP s five tracks were recorded at the Half Note No Blues and If You Could See Me Now At the behest of producer Creed Taylor the other three were re recorded three months later at Rudy Van Gelder s studio in New Jersey 3 In 1998 Verve reissued the show on disc two of Impressions The Verve Jazz Sides with a scrambled track order and some crucial cuts The first five tracks are from the original Verve LP Tracks six through eleven are from the posthumously released Willow Weep for Me without that album s string arrangements Pat Metheny stated to The New York Times in 2005 that the solo on If You Could See Me Now from this album was his favorite of all time 4 He called Smokin at the Half Note the absolute greatest jazz guitar album ever made It is also the record that taught me how to play Reception EditProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllmusic 5 Jazz Institute of Chicago no rating 2 The Penguin Guide to Jazz 6 Allmusic jazz critic Jim Smith called the album essential listening for anyone who wants to hear why Montgomery s dynamic live shows were considered the pinnacle of his brilliant and incredibly influential guitar playing and wrote that Montgomery never played with more drive and confidence and he s supported every step of the way by a genuinely smokin Wynton Kelly Trio 5 In his review for the Jazz Institute of Chicago jazz writer Stuart Nicolson extensively reviewed each song He praised the album in general writing it was in jazz where his impact was most powerfully felt His style and sound became the role model for subsequent generations of guitar players and can be heard echoed in the playing of George Benson Emily Remler Bruce Forman Pat Metheny Mark Whitfield Kevin Eubanks and a host of others These recordings go some way to illustrate why Montgomery turned the jazz world on its collective ear the effects of which are still with us today 2 Track listing EditOriginal LP 1965 Edit Side A live No Blues Miles Davis 13 00 If You Could See Me Now Tadd Dameron Carl Sigman 6 45Side B studio Unit 7 Sam Jones 7 30 Four on Six Montgomery 6 45 What s New Bob Haggart Johnny Burke 6 00CD release 1986 Edit No Blues Miles Davis 12 57 If You Could See Me Now Tadd Dameron Carl Sigman 8 21 Unit 7 Sam Jones 6 45 Four on Six Montgomery 6 44 What s New Bob Haggart Johnny Burke 6 11Remastered CD 2005 Edit No Blues Miles Davis 12 57 If You Could See Me Now Tadd Dameron Carl Sigman 8 21 Unit 7 Sam Jones 6 44 Four on Six Montgomery 6 43 What s New Bob Haggart Johnny Burke 6 10 Willow Weep for Me Ann Ronell 9 08 Portrait of Jennie Gordon Burdge J Russell Robinson 3 27 The Surrey with the Fringe on Top Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein II 6 12 Oh You Crazy Moon Jimmy Van Heusen Johnny Burke 5 29 Misty Erroll Garner 6 55 Impressions John Coltrane 5 03Personnel EditMusicians Wes Montgomery guitar Wynton Kelly piano Paul Chambers double bass Jimmy Cobb drumsProduction Rudy Van Gelder engineer Val Valentin engineering directorReferences Edit Billboard November 27 1965 a b c Nicholson Stuart Classic Recordings Wes Montgomery gt Review Jazz Institute of Chicago Archived from the original on March 4 2012 Retrieved December 20 2010 Woodard Josef July August 2005 Wes Montgomery The Softer Side of Genius JazzTimes Stewart Zan February 25 2005 Pat Metheny An Idealist Reconnects With His Mentors New York Times Retrieved December 20 2010 a b Smith Jim Smokin at the Half Note gt Review Allmusic Retrieved December 20 2010 Cook Richard Morton Brian 2008 The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings 9th ed Penguin p 1028 ISBN 978 0 141 03401 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Smokin 27 at the Half Note amp oldid 1118163735, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
