Wes Montgomery (guitar).

Imagine putting out a Wes Montgomery CD in 1998 that does not list personnel, the recording date or liner notes that mention anything about the live concert! Laserlight, a budget label, has yet to fully clean up its act, as shown by the way they have treated the largely rewarding music on this release. Have these performances been out before? Since the music sounds as if it is from around 1965, it is quite possible that the guitarist's quartet also includes pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Arthur Harper and drummer Jimmy Lovelace. Montgomery performs fine versions of "To When," John Coltrane's "Impressions," "Jingles" and "The Girl Next Door," showing throughout why he was considered one of the top guitarists of 1960s jazz. But it is a pity that this music (which is superior to much of his later studio output) has been mishandled by Laserlight. ~ Scott Yanow