Customer Rating:  
Summary: Orchestra from hell
Comment: Wretched orchestration! Producer Creed Taylor did Wes no favors by introducing Montgomery to "the orchestral setting that was to be his recording milieu until his death..."
If you are looking classic for Wes albums, skip this one!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Yes, it's a Five Star disc!
Comment: No apologies, caveats, or disclaimers: This is a Five Star cd!
Some folks reviewing this disc seem to be afraid to admit that this album is a jazz classic because it had orchestration. I love this album the way it is. This was my first Wes Montgomery album, in fact this is one of the first record albums I ever heard and as a boy and I have fond memories of playing it on my cheap record player over and over again.
Yes, as I got older I bought Wes' other albums, the more "straight" jazz albums, but "Road Song" is my favorite (Smokin' at the Half Note is my second favorite).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Jazz Meets Classical
Comment: Wes Montgomery.
Considered by many to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists that ever lived. His sound was revolutionary, and often imitated. Many, to this day use his technique of playing the same notes in two different octaves in unison.
Wes doesnt have that much space to demonstrate this technique here. His playing waves through classical arrangements of strings and horns.
I like to think of this album as, Jazz Meets Classical. Most, if not all, the songs on this album start off with classical influenced intros, then float into jazzy renditions of rather, pop tunes, that were popular at the time, with some standards.
Many disregard this as a great album. I beg to difer. Yes the jazz influences here are sometimes over shadowed by classical influences. But then again, if I were a classical fan, I'd think of it the other way, so all in all, the two musical art forms go together well here on this album. They add a little charisma to the music, and its a change from the usual swing and improvisation.
I dont know if Wes was talked into this. Maybe it had something to do with his association with A&M Records. Either way, I like how the end product came out.
Wes Montgomery had died before this album had come out. He also delivered a Hollywood Palace appearence the same year, just weeks before his death. It was a shame because Wes could not deliver any more wonderful music like this wonderful package.
There are two sides of Wes Montgomery. The strictly jazz side of him, and the pop Wes Montgomery. Both sides had wonderful jazz guitar playing, and swang beautiful, no matter what songs he was preforming.
If you like Henry Mancini, or Percy Faith, you'll love this CD. On the flip side, if you're an avid jazz, you might love this CD. I would think so, but from the bad feedback from this album, I'm not so sure.
Critics say Montgomery did not improvise on these A&M releases. This is clearly wrong! Improvisation does not dominate this tunes, but that element is still there.
Anyway you look at it, this is jazz guitar with a twist! Road Song, Fly Me To The Moon, Greensleeves, Where Have All The Flowers Gone, and Scarborough Fair (canticle) stand out for me, but then again, the whole album is a gem!
It was too bad Montgomery died so young. The jazz world lost a guitar legend. His death will be morned for many years to come. Let's just be thankful we have brilliant albums like this one to enjoy for more many years.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Something good something bad
Comment: The good is obviously Wes, the bad is equally obvious Don Sebesky. I own in my collection every album Wes did record in his life and I really love him as a musician. I think that Wes was a special talent, he was so great that he deserves to be listened even when you put in the reader his most commercial works. No one doubt that this was a commercial operation, but Wes could do nothing but shine, and he did in this recordings too. Let's put in this way. In this case a mad scientist, Don Sebesky, tried to put him down but even if he tried the hardest he couldn't make it, because Wes was certainly bigger than him. Don here put Wes's guitar under some of the worst orchestra arrangements ever heard, I'm not joking. Don Sebesky had a really kitsch, pretentious, futile and baroque taste that's for sure and he proved it fully here. Baroque orchestra fills are all over the place in every single place, but anyway like a diamond in the trash, Wes shined. A couple of tunes still have less obtrusive and nice orchestration, I'm talking about Road song in particular. If the album would had more arrangements like this one it would be a lot better, but you know how mad scientist are??! Don't buy this one if you don't know Wes, buy something more important some true gems. But if you know Wes buy this one too, because in the end this would be another half an hour with the greatest guitar player that ever lived.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wes' last journey. A Fantastic Voyage.
Comment: This was the first Wes Montgomery album I'd ever heard when I was a child. Regardless of what critics say, this is one of the best albums ever recorded. If this isn't jazz, then what is? Just because he didn't play the same old standards (pop song from the 30's and 40's) critics gave him hell. I'm an organ player with a love for guitar and I know that the way he play's the octave strums so clean he is the master of this style. The tunes are very touching and short. Some you may know ( Yesterday, Where Have All the Flowers Gone). The originals are clasic (Road Song, Serene). The album is complemented with strings and some tunes are in the baroque style. Don Sebesky did the conducting and arranging. Not to mention Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Grady Tate and a host of other great musicians support Wes in the most classy manner. The album is about 30 min. long. but it says a life time in such a short time. I've bought this album 3 times in the last 20 years and it still is my favorite guitar album. Wes always was ahead of the game. I'm just sad to know that he didn't live to see the release. He died a month after recording it. Buy It Now!!!
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