Wes Montgomery, born in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1923, was one of the most renowned guitarists in post-war modern jazz, using an unusual technique of using his thumb to pick the notes rather than a plectrum, and making extensive use of octaves. Himself a disciple of Charlie Christian, he started playing in Indianapolis clubs in post-war years, joining Lionel Hampton’s band in 1948 and building a reputation with Hampton and various other bands during the 1950s, both ‘live’ and in the studio. The albums featured here were among his first as a leader. 

This 38-track 3-CD collection comprises the tracks from the original releases of his albums on Riverside from these years “The Wes Montgomery Trio - A Dynamic New Sound”, “The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery”, “Movin' Along”, “SO Much Guitar!” and “Full House”. It includes performances across the various trios, quartets and quintets featured on the recordings with Features performances with pianists Tommy Flanagan, Victor Feldman,  Hank Jones & Wynton Kelly, bassists Percy Heath, Sam Jones, Ron Carter & Paul Chambers, drummers Paul Parker, Albert Heath, Louis Hayes, Lex Humphries & Jimmy Cobb,  tenor saxophonists James Clay and Johnny Griffin and organist Melvin Rhyne. 

It’s a substantial showcase for his noted compositions and his highly distinctive guitar artistry and technique.

CD 1
1. 'ROUND MIDNIGHT The Wes Montgomery Trio (Thelonious Monk, Cootie Williams, Bernard Hanighen)  
2. YESTERDAYS The Wes Montgomery Trio (Otto Harbach, Jerome Kern)  
3. THE END OF A LOVE AFFAIR The Wes Montgomery Trio (Edward Redding)  
4. WHISPER NOT The Wes Montgomery Trio (Benny Golson)  
5. ECAROH The Wes Montgomery Trio (Horace Silver)  
6. SATIN DOLL The Wes Montgomery Trio (Duke Ellington, John H. Mercer, Billy Strayhorn)  
7. MISSILE BLUES The Wes Montgomery Trio (John L. Montgomery)  
8. TOO LATE NOW The Wes Montgomery Trio (Burton Lane, Alan Jay Lerner)  
9. JINGLES The Wes Montgomery Trio (John L. Montgomery)  
((Tracks 1-9 from “A Dynamic New Sound” Riverside 310, S1156)
10. AIREGIN The Wes Montgomery Quartet (Sonny Rollins)  
11. D-NATURAL BLUES The Wes Montgomery Quartet (Wes Montgomery)  
12. POLKA DOTS AND MOONBEAMS The Wes Montgomery Quartet (Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke)  
13. FOUR ON SIX The Wes Montgomery Quartet (Wes Montgomery)  
14. WEST COAST BLUES The Wes Montgomery Quartet (Wes Montgomery)  
 (Tracks 10-14  from “The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery” Riverside 320, S1169)

CD 2
1. IN YOUR OWN SWEET WAY The Wes Montgomery Quartet (Dave Brubeck)  
2. MISTER WALKER The Wes Montgomery Quartet (Wes Montgomery)  
3. GONE WITH THE WIND The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Allie Wrubel, Herb Magidson)  
(Tracks 1-3 from “The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery” Riverside 320, S1169)
4. MOVIN' ALONG The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Wes Montgomery)  
5. TUNE UP The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Miles Davis)  
6. I DON'T STAND A GHOST OF A CHANCE The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Victor Young, Ned Washington, Bing Crosby)  
7. SANDU The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Clifford Brown)  
8. BODY AND SOUL The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton, Johnny Green)  
9. SO DO IT! The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Montgomery)  
10. SAYS YOU The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Sam Jones)  
(Tracks 4-10 from “Movin’ Along”Riverside 342)
11. TWISTED BLUES The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Wes Montgomery)  
12. COTTON TAIL The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Duke Ellington)  
13. I WISH I KNEW The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Mack Gordon, Harry Warren)  
Haroild Arlen, Johnny Mercer)  
(Tracks 1-5 from “SO Much Guitar” Riverside 382)

CD 3
1. I'M JUST A LUCKY SO-AND-SO The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Duke Ellington, Mack David)  
2. REPETITION The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Neal Hefti)  
3. SOMETHIN' LIKE BAGS The Wes Montgomery Quintet (John L. Montgomery)  
4. WHILE WE'RE YOUNG The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Morty Palitz, Alec Wilder, William Engvick)  
5. ONE FOR MY BABY (AND ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer)  
(Tracks 1-5 from “SO Much Guitar” Riverside 382)
6. FULL HOUSE The Wes Montgomery Quintet (John L. Montgomery)  
7. I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe)  
8. BLUE 'N' BOOGIE The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli)  
9. CARIBA The Wes Montgomery Quintet (John L. Montgomery)  
10. COME RAIN OR COME SHINE The Wes Montgomery Quintet (Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen)  
11. S.O.S   The Wes Montgomery Quintet (John L. Montgomery)  
(Tracks 6-11 from “Full House” Riverside 434)