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This tune is based on the changes to Wes Montgomery's best and most challenging composition, at least in my view.

Improvising coherently on these changes would challenge any player, but poses a real challenge to the featured RT artist, bassist Neil Swainson, who solos on the last chorus before restatement of the head. You'll hear the unedited result (no cutting, pasting, pitch corrections, nada).

The structure is AB, starting in Gb but the true key is Db. The chords are changing every measure, at first in half steps up and back; later in the A section there is a sequence of 2-5's descending in half steps. In the B section this sequence is replaced by a 2-5 resolution to Db. This takes it far from the blues, but it is "blues-like" - sort of.

I learned to play guitar with my thumb, but not from Wes, rather from the "singing cowboys" Gene Autry and Roy Rogers! When I was 7, I thought everyone played guitar with their thumb. When I found out about picks, I hated the way they made a guitar sound, and at half the size of my palm they kept slipping through my fingers. You'll hear my own thumb/octave sound on this track. Wes began with a pick, but gave it up and for different reasons: His wife asked him to play more softly at night so as not to disturb her.

TRIVIA: Do you know this actor/graphic artist/standup comic: http://www.anthonymontgomery.com/current.html
... maybe from Star Trek during the 2000's? Wes's grandson. And he definitely has that Montgomery "look."

Besides Neil and RT artist Terry Clarke (drums), Aleck Rand wrote the arrangement, plays guitar, conga, MIDI drums (on the "train-wreck" ending) and part of the piano track, which is MIDI and based on an old BIAB McCoy Tyner style. I wanted to add some more modern "fourthy-sounding" substitutions and wound up editing the whole track.

Listen to WES'S BLUES here: https://soundcloud.com/aleckrand/wess-blues

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aleck,

That is some very nice, very enjoyable jazz. Nice thumbin' on that guitar.

Sounds good.

floyd

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For me Wes is THE ONE..., and you captured the Wes touch on this version. The guitar sound and your playing are first class.
If possible,I want to know what guitar you play and how you recorded.

Great music!

Rafa

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That's a very cool tune Aleck I had to do a bit of twisting around to find the original but I did. It sorta has a Well You Needn't vibe to it and I'm really surprised I didn't recognize it since I'm a big fan of Wes especially his albums with Jimmy Smith.

Now I have to figure it out too, this will be fun on keyboards.

Bob


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Hi Aleck,

what a great version of the Twisted Blues.
Very good guitar work.
I like your showcasing series.

Guenter

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Thanks Floyd,

You're one of my "gold-standard" critics. With you watching my back, I should continue to "keep it accessible." I hope you caught my comments on Lucky For Me. That's more than music, man, that's poetry.

Aleck

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Guenter, du bist ein kluger Teufel. Ich wusste nicht, dass du so gut über Wes Kompositionen informiert. Du hast den Titel richtig identifiziert. Und, natürlich, ich danke dir für die günstige Bewertung.

Aleck

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Hey Bob,

So good to hear from another jazzer. We could use a few more to give the oversupply of talent in the Forum a little run for their money. I had to laugh at how cleverly you informed me about your knowledge. Maybe I should have called it Chubby Checker's Blues, but it still wouldn't have fooled you and Guenter.

Oh yeah, Wes's albums with James Oscar. There are two tunes from the dynamic duo that I want to do: "James and Wes" and "OGD (which stands for "organ, guitar, drums" and later became known as "Road Song"). You can check it out here:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_qu...ube.rM2wYbhmQlA

Of course, I appreciate the favorable remarks very much.

Aleck

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Great phrasing on guitar, good taste... Congratulations!


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Aleck,
That's some good stuff. Very nice guitar work!

Greg

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Hey that bass was not just walking, he was dancing through those chord changes on that solo. Love the guitar too.
Great mix and track Aleck.

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Originally Posted By: floyd jane
aleck,

That is some very nice, very enjoyable jazz. Nice thumbin' on that guitar.

Sounds good.

floyd


I TOTALLY agree with floyd (and all the others for that matter). This is some very skilful, very enjoyable jazz. Classy music at its best in my opinion.

All the best,
Noel


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Thank you Josie. That bass player had my furniture dancin'! The most impressive thing is that it was a "one take" performance. No editing.

And, for course, I very much appreciate your positive remarks on my guitar playing.

Aleck

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Hi Noel (or in "Strine", G'day Might!),

When someone get a favorable review from one of their most demanding and astute critics, it's cause for real satisfaction.

With kind regards,

Aleck

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Hey Alec, These are one of the numbers that make me go, "How did he do that?" The question is how do you train your thumb to be consistent as you move around the melody? I have the tendency to burst some notes and lose others. That is, some strokes are much louder than others.

You may have to conduct a video class on You Tube showing how you did what you did for this song for me. smile

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