WES MONTGOMERY – Groove Brothers (Milestone Records – M-47051/2LP-1979)

Label: Milestone Records – M-47051

Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Compilation / Country: US / Released: 1979

Style: Hard Bop, Contemporary Jazz

Side 1 recorded Fall 1960 in San Francisco / Side 2 recorded Spring 1961 at The Cellar, Vancouver / Sides 3,4 recorded January 1961 in NYC.

Side 1 originally included on The Montgomery Brothers (Fantasy 8052)

Side 2 originally included on The Montgomery Brothers in Canada (Fantasy 8066)

Sides 3,4 originally issued as Groove Yard (Riverside 362)

Art Direction – Phill Carroll

Photo [Cover] – Charles Stewart

Remastered By – David Turner

© 1979, Milestone Records

Distributed by Fantasty Records.

Matrix / Runout (Runout A, etched): M-47051 1A (MILESTONE)

Matrix / Runout (Runout B, etched): M-47051 1B (MILESTONE)

Matrix / Runout (Runout C, etched): M-47051 2C (MILESTONE)

Matrix / Runout (Runout D, etched): M-47051 2D (MILESTONE)

side A

A1 - D-Natural Blues (Monterey Blues) .................................................................... 6:25

A2 - Lover Man ......................................................................................................... 8:56

A3 - June In January ................................................................................................ 6:41

side B

B1 - Jeannine ........................................................................................................... 4:08

B2 - Angel Eyes ....................................................................................................... 6:23

B3 - Beaux Arts ........................................................................................................ 4:40

B4 - Snowfall ............................................................................................................ 6;49

side C

C1 - Bock To Bock (Back To Back) .......................................................................... 6:44

C2 - Groove Yard ..................................................................................................... 3:01

C3 - If I Should Lose You ......................................................................................... 5:49

C4 - Delirium ............................................................................................................ 3:37

side D

D1 - Just For Now .................................................................................................... 4:55

D2 - Doujie ............................................................................................................... 4:35

D3 - Heart Strings .................................................................................................... 4:34

D4 - Remember ....................................................................................................... 5:36

Personnel:

Wes Montgomery – guitar

Buddy Montgomery – piano, vibraphone

Monk Montgomery – acoustic bass

Lawrence Marable – drums, percussion (side A)

Paul Humphrey – drums, percussion (side B)

Bobby Thomas – drums, percussion (sides C, D)

Although this is billed to Wes Montgomery, it is in fact a combination of two early-'60s LPs by the Montgomery Brothers -- "The Montgomery Brothers" and "The Montgomery Brothers in Canada" -- on to first LP and material from their Riverside LP "Groove Yard", on the second LP. (Also note that this album it's almost entirely different from the Montgomery Brothers' CD that also bears the name Groove Brothers.) With Wes on guitar, Monk on bass, and Buddy on piano (Larance Marable fills out the quartet on drums), The Montgomery Brothers (1960) is a boppish set of five lengthy tracks, divided between both originals (penned by either Wes or Buddy) and standards. "June in January" is a particularly good vehicle for Wes' fluid single-note runs, while "D-Natural Blues" is one of his more enduring and good-natured compositions from the period. Buddy Montgomery, who often played the piano with the Montgomery Brothers, sticks exclusively to vibes on The Montgomery Brothers in Canada, which in addition to Wes and Monk has Paul Humphrey on drums. There's only one original on here (by Buddy), but it's a beaut: the buoyant "Beaux Arts" has gorgeous alternations of single-note solos and chording by Wes. In a different vein, "Angel Eyes," which begins with a long drumless passage, shows Wes' skill with a delicate slow ballad.         (Review by Richie Unterberger)

Work on the album "Groove Yard" was reunited Wes Montgomery with his brothers Monk and Buddy on this 1961 Riverside session, which also features drummer Bobby Thomas. The guitarist and his brothers are in great form throughout the session, and the highlight of the evening in the studio is a foot-tapping version of Carl Perkins' "Groove Yard," followed closely by a wild ride through Harold Land's "Delirium." The leader contributed the soulful hard bop work "Doujie." The pianist wrote the driving "Just for Now" and the easygoing blues "Back to Back." Like most of Wes Montgomery's Riverside recordings, this release is an essential part of his discography and is highly recommended.          (Review by Ken Dryden)

If you find it, buy this album!