(77)- “D Natural Blues” and Wes Montgomery
Standards Rating 7 Difficulty 6
Wes Montgomery, a self-taught jazz guitarist born in 1923, became a major influence in jazz history with his warm tone and signature thumb-picking technique. He gained national attention after joining Lionel Hampton’s band and later formed The Montgomery Brothers. Discovered by Cannonball Adderley, Montgomery recorded key albums like The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery and achieved commercial success in the 1960s with pop-oriented jazz under Creed Taylor. His track “D Natural Blues,” a 12-bar blues in D, showcases his rhythmic sophistication and blues phrasing. The melody features syncopated motifs and a strong use of the flat 3rd, while the harmony includes a classic blues progression with some variations. Montgomery’s solo incorporates single-line runs, octave playing, and double-time feel. His legacy lives on through tributes by artists like George Benson and Emily Remler, whose live version of “D Natural Blues” honors Montgomery’s style. He died in 1968 at 45, leaving a profound musical legacy.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.