Wes Montgomery – The Complete Full House Recordings – Craft Recordings

by Audiophile Audition | Jan 11, 2024 | Jazz CD Reviews, SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews | 0 comments

The Definitive LP version of the classic live Wes Montgomery Full House session…

Wes Montgomery – The Complete Full House Recordings – Craft/Riverside CR00681 – Three 180 gm vinyls – June 25, 1962 – ****1/2

(Wes Montgomery- guitar; Johnny Griffin – tenor sax; Wynton Kelly – piano; Paul Chambers – bass; Jimmy Cobb – drums)

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary jazz guitarist, Wes Montgomery, the boutique label, Craft Recordings, has gone “all-in” in releasing the complete recordings-master takes, alternate takes, and out-takes- of Wes Montgomery’s live masterpiece, Full House. The album had been issued before, but never in a “complete” version.

Now over fourteen tracks, including two previously unreleased performances, and with 24-bit/192kHz mastering by Joe Tarantino from the original analog tapes (and lacquers cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio), Montgomery fans, and completists, can fully experience what the audience at the intimate coffee shop, Tsubo, in Berkeley, Ca. had the dream opportunity to take in on June 25, 1962.

The stars were lined up that night. It was a Monday night, and the rhythm section for Miles Davis’ gig across the Bay in San Francisco had the night off. Tenor saxist, Johnny Griffin (nicknamed “Little Giant”) was also available. It wasn’t often that Wes recorded with a saxophonist of Griffin’s stature, and blistering tone.

Riverside Records took advantage of the open night for these musicians and decided to combine the evening into both a concert and a recording session, having the quintet record several versions of each song. The audience, of jazz hipsters and Berkeley “folkies,” packed the intimate club, with a rare chance to hear jazz royalty. The word had gone out about Montgomery’s guitar skills, and thumb picking prowess.

The six tracks of the original album are expanded here to include three takes of “Born to Be Blue,” three of “S.O.S.” and two takes of most of the other original issued master takes.

The acoustics of the small club are exemplary, and the ambiance of those lucky to attend is on full display. The rhythm section had recorded with Montgomery before (as evidenced on the recently released RSD, Maximum Swing, LP remaster), and they are fully in the pocket letting Wes weave his magic. The addition of bop master, Johnny Griffin, adds some “bite” to fully flesh out the arrangements.

Don’t pass up the chance to “spend a night” with Wes Montgomery. Recorded over 70 years ago, the auditory experience of that evening can be re-visited again in splendid remastered form today.

—Jeff Krow