When I learned that Wes was
to play at Ronnie Scott's Club in London in 1965 I knew that I had to be there to see for
myself exactly how it was that he could do the things he did. I got to Ronnie's (the old
place) at around 8.00pm and was the first through the doors. I was able to position myself
at a table in front of the tiny stage slightly to the left of where Wes' stool was already
placed with the guitar lead hanging over it ready to go. At around 9.30pm Ronnie did one
of his more subdued intros and the man was there on stage! Accompanied by Stan Tracy on
piano, Rick Laird on bass and Ronnie Stephenson on drums he worked his way through a
varied set which included West Coast Blues, Impressions, Four on Six, Misty and others
delighting the packed house with his easy going attitude and seemingly effortless
execution at all tempos. He even smiled while he played! There was a greater concentration
of guitarists in that room that night than probably anywhere else in the UK and we all
knew that what he was doing on his records was impossible. Now he was here in front of us
proving that it was impossible for mere mortals but not for Wes Montgomery.
During a break between sets I
decided to ask him to sign a book which I had bought that afternoon in Ivor Mairants Music
Centre. It was a book of Charlie Christian Solos, which I thought would be appropriate.
Catching him at a quiet moment by the bar he seemed slightly embarrassed by my request but
said "Sure". He wrote - "The Best…….Wes Montgomery". I have
never quite understood if he meant Charlie Christian was the best or if he meant "All
the best…." But I remember thinking that the next time I met him I would
ask………………… |
