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Groove Yard [The Montgomery Brothers]

The Montgomery Brothers
1 disc

1. Bock to Bock (Back to Back)
2. Groove Yard
3. If I Should Lose You
4. Delirium
5. Just for Now
6. Doujie
7. Heart Strings
8. Remember
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 139
Credits

Producer Akira Taguchi; Orrin Keepnews
Engineer Ray Fowler
Personnel includes: Wes Montgomery (arch top electric guitar); Buddy Montgomery (piano); Monk Montgomery (Fender bass); Bobby Thomas (drums).
Recorded in January, 1961. Originally released on Riverside (9362).
Personnel includes: Wes Montgomery (arch top electric guitar); Buddy Montgomery (piano); Monk Montgomery (Fender bass); Bobby Thomas (drums).
Recorded in January, 1961. Originally released on Riverside (9362).
Digitally remastered by JVC using XRCD (extended resolution compact disc).
Personnel: Wes Montgomery (guitar); Buddy Montgomery (piano); Bobby Thomas, Bobby Thomas, Jr. (drums).
Liner Note Authors: Gene Lees; Ira Gitler.
Recording information: New York, NY (01/03/1961); Plaza Sound Studios, New York, NY (01/03/1961).
Unknown Contributor Roles: Bobby Thomas; Monk Montgomery; Wes Montgomery; Buddy Montgomery.
This record makes you wonder why there weren't more great hard-bop albums made by guitarist-led quartets -- or, for that matter, why Wes didn't record more with his brothers. The guitarist is joined by brothers Buddy on piano and Monk on string bass, with Bobby Thomas on drums. There are two originals by Buddy and one by Wes ('Doujie') as well as tunes by Milt Jackson, Harold Land and others. These are tunes the brothers were playing as part of a regular gig they had in New York City at the time of the recording in 1961.
As a result the arrangements are remarkably tight and the interplay is exhilarating--there's plenty of blowing, but it's hardly a "blowing session" per se. The album is rightly credited as a group effort; even though Wes has plenty of room to stretch out, the emphasis, as the title suggests, is on grooving as an ensemble. The brothers tend to hang in the middle tempos, further contributing to the sense of relaxation that runs throughout the eight tunes here. Highly recommended.