A Tribute to Wes: Craig Gildner Quartet

A Tribute to Wes:

Instantly recognizable the moment you hear him.  A full bodied and deep tone.  Smooth, with a touch of fire under the surface.  Always swinging.  Always melodic.  That was Wes Montgomery.  

Bandleader and guitarist Craig Gildner has assembled a fine group of local musicians to pay tribute to this iconic and legendary master of 60’s jazz guitar.   Along with Paul Bratcher-piano, Ken Kimery-drums, and Pete Revell-bass, Craig will take you through a retrospective of Wes Montgomery’s work, from the Riverside to A&M labels. 

Born in 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Wes Montgomery had a keen ear for music but walked the line between being on the road with bands like Lionel Hampton’s, and staying home working in factories by day, while playing jazz by night.  His big break came in 1959 when Cannonball Adderley heard his group at a club and told Orrin Keepnews of Riverside Records to sign him immediately.  Known for his use of the thumb versus a pick and octave solo runs, his sound inspired a generation of guitarists like George Benson, Bobby Broom, Pat Martino and Lee Ritenour.  

Craig first heard Montgomery’s albums while working as a jazz DJ in the late 80’s.  Captivated, he asked his guitar teacher at the time to show him how to play like that: a formidable task.  He has performed with not only his own ensembles but with Casey MacGill, Brooks Tegler, Bill Elliott, Dan Levinson, and Michael Feinstein.  

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