Two Shades Of The Blues

The blues form has been paramount in jazz since the very beginning. Its basic 12-measure dominant format lends itself to all kinds of harmonic possibilities. Let's enjoy then three of the best exponents of jazz guitar exploring this ubiquitous form.

We start with jazz guitar semi god Wes Montgomery giving us one of his trademark compositions, West Coast Blues, an blues in 6/8, surrounded by a vast array of European and US talent in the likes of Martial Solal, Johnny Griffin and Ronnie Scott.

Taped for the German TV at NDR Studio 10 in Hamburg on April 30, 1965.

personnel:

Wes Montgomery (guitar)
Hans Koller (alto saxophone)
Johnny Griffin & Ronnie Scott (tenor saxophones)
Ronnie Ross (baritone saxophone)
Martial Solal (piano)
Michel Gaudry (bass)
Ronnie Stephenson (drums)

Wes Montgomery - West Coast Blues
Uploaded by Delta_Mike

Next up, jazz guitar aces Jim Hall and his cohort Hungarian Attila Zoller giving us a taste of the blues sometime in the 70s in Oscar Pettiford's classic Blues In The Closet. They are superbly accompanied by bass giant Red Mitchell and Swiss drums veteran Daniel Humair.

Jim Hall & Attila Zoller - Blues In The Closet
Uploaded by Delta_Mike

Ben Webster 1964

Tenor sax giant Ben Webster giving us his own kind of magic at the Marquee club in London on Dec 21, 1964 for the legendary BBC TV series 'Jazz 625' with three fourths of the Ronnie Scott Quartet, the great Stan Tracey on piano, Rick Laird (of later Mahavishnu fame) on bass, and Jackie Dougan on drums. Ronnie Scott jumps on stage at mid set for an excellent rendition of A Night In Tunisia in true cutting contest fashion. Host is the omnipresent Steve Race.

part1



part2



part 3



program material:
1. Sunday
2. Chelsea bridge (Billy Strayhorn)
3. Poutin'
4.A Night In Tunisia
5. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen)
6. Perdido