1960 · Album
The Incredible Jazz Guitar
Riverside Records · Produced by Orrin Keepnews
Thumb and Octaves: Montgomery's Essential Statement
Montgomery's thumb picking and octave work weren't tricks—they were his language, and this album proved it completely.
When Wes Montgomery made this record, he wasn't trying to prove anything to anyone. He was simply playing the guitar the way he'd figured out how to play it, and the results speak clearly enough that the album has stayed in print and in conversation ever since. The two techniques that define the record—thumb picking instead of a pick, and playing in octaves—were already part of his sound by then, but here they're on full display, stripped down and unavoidable. You can't miss what he's doing because there's nothing cluttering the picture.
This is one of Montgomery's strongest recordings and sits near the center of his legacy. It captures him at a point where his approach was fully formed but still hungry, playing with focus and clarity. The album isn't a radical departure or a hidden gem—it's straightforward jazz guitar playing, well recorded, with strong material that lets you hear exactly what made him matter. If you want to understand why people still care about Wes Montgomery, this is the right place to start. It's direct proof of what he could do.
What's valuable here is that there's no padding. The octave work especially—which could sound gimmicky in less capable hands—becomes a real compositional choice. Montgomery bends phrases with those doubled notes, creates momentum, lands on ideas with weight. His thumb on the strings has a warmth and clarity that a pick simply doesn't produce. By the time you finish listening, you understand these weren't novelties or signature moves in the flashy sense. They were how he thought about the instrument.
Who's playing
Where next?
More by Wes Montgomery
The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery 1960
Incredible Jazz Guitar 1961
Full House 1962
Boss Guitar 1963
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
