The guitarist’s guitarist in duos with master drummers Paul Motian and Andrew Cyrille, in a trio with Cyrille and Pete Rende (playing synthesizer), and solo. ‘A master of texture and unusual voicings, creating what one reviewer has called ‘detailed sonic landscapes of mystery and power’.’ All Monder originals, except Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

The complete Columbia solo studio recordings, 1962-1968.

Monked standards, with Pettiford and Blakey.

Apt title — this is sparkling, angular music, with Roach and Rollins on top form throughout.

With Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Larry Gales (bass), Ben Riley (drums). And Jon Hendricks with a great vocal version of In Walked Bud.

From 1961, featuring Charlie Rouse… though the stand-out is Just A Gigolo, by Monk solo.

Terrific 1963 date with Charlie Rouse, John Ore and Frankie Dunlop.
Originals and standards; nothing Monk hadn’t recorded before. Bubbling, chewy versions of Hackensack and Rhythm-A-Ning; a fabulous, seven-minute, solo Don’t Blame Me.
As Baroness Nica notes poshly on the sleeve, ‘this is the happiest of albums, leaving one with an extraordinary feeling of elation.’

Released to celebrate his centennial, here is the great jazz guitarist live in performance in Berkeley, California, in 1962; with Johnny Griffin, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb.
All the recordings from these sessions — our absolute favourite Wes Montgomery — including two previously unreleased performances.
‘Montgomery seems never to have played anything lacking his innate mirth and happiness. In that he had an amiable Midas Touch that made his performances uplifting and immediately identifiable. Montgomery had a tangible simpatico with Kelly, both being superb blues and ballads players. When unison playing, the two are of one mind, that of swing and propulsion. Griffin’s presence adds a woody organicness that is both fecund and free (AllAboutJazz)’.