In the wake of its massive The Complete Riverside Recordings box, Fantasy rounded up 13 of the 16 newly released
Wes Montgomery outtakes from that set, added a few stray alternates from earlier LP issues, and produced a pair of intelligently programmed CDs that prove just how staggeringly gifted an improviser
Montgomery was. Arranged in chronological order,
Volume One opens with three alternate takes from the somewhat overlooked "Movin' Along" album, continues with two versions of "Doujie" -- one with
Buddy Montgomery on vibes instead of piano -- from
Groove Yard, and concludes with four from
Bags Meets Wes. Everything is worth hearing, for
Wes hardly ever misses, and the few times where he does -- as in the second chorus of "Blue Roz" -- are canceled out by marvelous newly revealed passages. Indeed, the solo on "Movin' Along" is more beautiful than that on the take
Wes approved, and the different, extended, octave-rich tag on "So Do It" is wonderful (too bad producer
Orrin Keepnews audibly cuts in and stops the music). The
Bags Meets Wes outtakes have the advantage of the crack
Philly Joe Jones/
Sam Jones/
Wynton Kelly rhythm section, as well as an inspired
Milt Jackson on vibes. ~ Richard S. Ginell