Smokin' at the Half Note

This live set from 1965 showcases guitarist Wes Montgomery at his peak, only three years before his sudden death. Montgomery is technically dazzling, making the difficult technique of soloing in octaves his trademark. Yet he seldom plays a solo that doesn\'t swing like mad. Check out \"Unit 7\": the first half packs enough melodic ideas to fuel an album or two, before Montgomery takes the energy higher with thrashing chords. Pianist Wynton Kelly turns in a lovely, understated take on the standard \"What\'s New.\"