The Complete Riverside Recordings

AMG Review of The Complete Riverside Recordings

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Wes Montgomery recorded exclusively for the Riverside label during the four years covered by this massive 12-CD box set and, although his later albums for Verve and particularly the pop/jazz A&M dates sold many more copies, it is from his Riverside dates that his legacy was primarily formed. Virtually unknown at the time of his debut on Riverside, Montgomery soon became a major influence whose style is still copied decades later. The guitarist is heard in quite a few different settings here: in trios with organist Melvin Rhynbe and a quartet with pianist Tommy Flanagan; as a sideman on different sessions with Nat Adderley, Harold Land, and Cannonball Adderley; performing with his brothers, Buddy and Monk; holding his own with pianist George Shearing, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, and tenor great Johnny Griffin; and (for an album ironically titled Fusion) playing with strings for the first time. All in all, there is a tremendous amount of rewarding performances included in this essential set, most of which show why Wes Montgomery is still considered one of the all-time great jazz guitarists.