Wes Montgomery: The Complete Full House Recordings

Wes Montgomery's original Full House album (Riverside, 1962) comprised six tracks; the 1987 CD edition had nine tracks, with alternate takes plus the addition of "Born to be Blue"; the 2007 reissue was expanded to eleven tracks. This complete edition has fourteen tracks, including all of the previously released alternate takes as well as the completely unedited master take of the title tune, with Montgomery's original guitar solo restored. That restoration is the big news for completists but, for everyone else, this compilation is the fullest representation of one of Montgomery's best albums, live or studio.

The band is one of the finest the guitarist ever had—the Wynton Kelly Trio (pianist Wynton Kelly, double bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb, all veterans of the Miles Davis rhythm section) plus tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin. The first disc in the set is an LP-length program replicating the six tracks on the original release. The title tune opens the set with an upbeat, Latin-flavored waltz groove, and Montgomery turns in the first of many long virtuosic guitar solos, replete with his trademark octave runs. The original solo on the second disc is perfectly acceptable, but there are missed strokes and no octaves: it is Wes, but not quite the Wes we are accustomed to.

"I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" follows with a ballad (an unusual sequencing choice). But it provides one of the most intimate pictures of Montgomery's playing on record, beginning unaccompanied before being joined by only bass and drums. The arrangement respects the song's beauty and restraint with no virtuosic grandstanding. "Blue N' Boogie" is an up-tempo Dizzy Gillespie bebop tune which features Montgomery and the band in full flight. Like many of the other tracks, it gives him the spotlight during the head and the first solo. "Cariba" is a Latin Montgomery original, which includes Griffin on the head, then gives bassist Chambers the first solo. The standard "Come Rain Or Come Shine" features Griffin on the first solo, followed by the leader's expansive turn. "S.O.S" concludes the original album with another Montgomery original, a fast bebop tune including the entire band.

The second CD opens with the restored solo on the title tune. After several alternate takes, it concludes with two outtakes of the standard "Born To Be Blue," both with the quartet without Griffin. Presumably, the track was left off the original album mainly for space reasons, because both takes have their charms. But they do not include Griffin, nor do they offer the same unvarnished view of Montgomery's guitar playing which was offered by the trio version of "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face."

The accompanying booklet is equally comprehensive: it includes Orrin Keepnews' original liner notes, extensive new notes by Bill Milkowski, and several new photographs.