R.I.P. — Elvis Aaron Presley (1935-1977)
Elvis passed on this date at his home in Graceland at the age of 42. “The King” had last graced the stage six weeks prior and was was due to start a concert tour the following day. Click here to check out a high quality Elvis show from ’69.
Sunday Jazz — Wes Montgomery
Widely considered the most influential guitarist of modern jazz, Wes Montgomery shaped and inspired the career paths of Pat Metheny, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, etc. Dan Biele of Jazz Improv Magazine on Wes:
“Wes Montgomery was certainly one of the most influential and most musical guitarists to ever pick up the instrument….He took the use of octaves and chord melodies to a greater level than any other guitarist, before or since….Montgomery is undoubtedly one of the most important voices in Jazz guitar that has ever lived-or most likely ever will live. A discussion of Jazz guitar is simply not thorough if it does not touch upon Wes Montgomery.”
Here’s Wes with Wynton Kelly from 1965.
