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Wes Montgomery: Night in Indy

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George Klabin and Zev Feldman at Resonance Records have done it again. The dynamic duo have surfaced yet more rare Wes Montgomery, with the full participation of Robert Montgomery of the Montgomery estate. This time it's Wes Montgomery: One Night in Indy, recorded on January 18, 1959 in Indianapolis. Guitarist Wes Montgomery here was backed by Eddie Higgins on piano, an unknown bassist and Walter Perkins on drums.

First released on vinyl as a 10-inch LP some months back as part of a Record Day promotion, the album is now available as a CD and download. The recording originally came from photographer and filmmaker Duncan Schiedt, who ran the Indianapolis Jazz Club in downtown Indianapolis with several friends. One night in 1959, they recorded the group on a 7-inch tape, and the reel eventually was passed down to Schiedt by other club members. The new release had the full blessing of the Montgomery estate and singer-pianist and painter Meredith D'Ambrosio, Higgins' widow.

This album features just six tracks, but it's all glorious stuff: Give Me the Simple Life, Prelude to a Kiss, Stompin' at the Savoy, Li'l Darling, Ruby My Dear and You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To. Montgomery hadn't signed with Riverside yet. That would come later in 1959. Up until this point, Montgomery was recording for Pacific Jazz with his brothers, Buddy and Monk.

In this Indianapolis setting, Montgomery was relaxed and at home. His playing is rich, swinging and engaging—largely in response to the fabulously tasteful playing of Eddie Higgins (above), who had a lush, spirited and enormously confident sound. The sound of the recording is terrific—up close, clear and warm. Best of all, the sound is terrific, so much so that it feels as if you're sitting on stage with them.

JazzWax tracks: You'll find Wes Montgomery: One Night in Indy (Resonance) here. Other Montgomery releases on Resonance include Echoes of Indiana Ave. here and In the Beginning here.

JazzWax clip: Here's Give Me the Simple Life, which has the groovy feel of Gone with the Wind from Montgomery's Incredible Jazz Guitar for Riverside recorded in January 1960. On Give Me the Simple Life, dig the feel going on between Montgomery and Eddie!

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This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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