Free Jamey Aebersold Jazz Handbook The Red Book. For years, Jamey has given away a red book called the Jazz Handbook FREE. This resource is great for jazz fans and students of all levels. This amazing FREE book is available for download Download our Jazz Handbook as a PDFDownload our Jazz Handbook in FRENCH. Jazz Guitar Lessons Wes Montgomery Bio. John Leslie Wes Montgomery is the most influential bebop guitarist of past and present times. Basically, hes the one that changed both the mentality of players that followed AND the way the instrument is played. Its hard to hear anything Jazz Guitar and not associate with a hint of Wes Montgomery behind it He came right after Charlie Christian and hes considered by many to be the logical sequel in jazz guitar history. A detailed description of how to learn jazz violin technique. Large list of high quality chord melody arrangements in PDF format. Wes was in fact very much inspired and influenced by Christians playing. It is said that early on, Wes was actually hired to play Christians solos during live concerts He learned them all by ear Wes was not a reader to the point that the vinyls started to disintegrate. Thats the spirit In the end, both Montgomery and Christian contributed to the then new bebop language with great tones, rhythms, dexterity and soulfulness.  Wes always had fresh, surprising melodic ideas as well a great chops. He never read a single note on paper but his ears and heart guided him dearly. Watch him on video, youll understandWes Montgomery is now part of this great tradition and still has an influence on young jazz guitarists. His music is worth studying carefully. Most if not all jazz guitarists that came after cite Wes as an influence. Its hard not toThe great Pat Metheny goes further and says Wes and Miles, the two guys who have left a sonic residue that has pervaded all of music, not just jazz. Its true. When listening to both of these masters, we almost hear the conscious edition that is going on in their musical minds they leave out all the extra notes and keep only the essential We know that Wes was a HUGE perfectionist, perpetually disatisfied with his solos keeping only the good stuff in take after the take in the studio. My favorite recordings of Wes are on the Riverside label. They are small group performances that are very much in the bebop and post bop idioms. I love Wes playing in quartets and organ trios. Such groovy stuff Playing Style and Gear. Wes used a Gibson L 5 throughout his career. It is a hollow body carved top spruce top, maple back and sides guitar and it was plugged into very clean sounding amplifiers. Gibson still produces a replica of the guitar Wes used to play. Wes sound is totally unique and original. He never liked the noise of the pick striking the strings. That is why he started plucking strictly with the fleshy part of his right thumb. That is perhaps, one of the most imitated sound in the jazz guitar world. If youve never tried it, take 1. Another technique that gave Wes his personal sound is the use of octaves. He would play in and out of octave playing in most of his solos. That too is a sound thats always imitated. However, in its first experimentation with octaves, Wes was discouraged by his colleages. They said it was piano stuff go figure In summary, his signature sound opened the way for future generations. The use of the thumb and octave playing was revolutionary at the time. It is now in widespread useWes Montgomery was probably the greatest jazz guitar innovator of the 2. Wes Montgomery Untold. Read or watch Wes Montgomery Untold here, where we ask ourselves What can we learn from Wes other than playing amazing improvised jazz guitar linesTop 5 Wes Montgomery Albums according to Jazz. Guitar. Lessons. netDont know where to start listening to the great Wes Montgomery Perhaps this little top 5 list will help you get started Smokin at the Half Note No Blues. The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery Your Own Sweet Way. Smokin at the Half Note If You Could See Me Now. Live in Belgium 1. Yesterdays. Boss Guitar Days of Wine and Roses. Read the complete Montgomery Top 5 Solo Albums post here. Interesting Facts About Wes Montgomery Video. Transcriptions. Those three are by hand by the webmaster, enjoy Wes Solo on Days of Wine and Rosesfrom the Album Boss Guitar 1. Riverside RLP 4. 59. Wes Solo on No Bluesfrom the Album Smokin at the Half Note 1. Verve VV6. 86. 33. Wess Solo on D Natural Bluesfrom The Incredible Jazz Guitar of 1. Riverside RLP 1. 2 3.