Next week, Resonance Records will release Echoes of Indiana Avenue, the first full album of previously unreleased music by jazz great Wes Montgomery in more than 25 years. The release date, March 6, would have been Montgomery's 88th birthday.
The tapes represent the earliest known recordings of Montgomery as a band leader, pre-dating his 1959 debut on Riverside Records. The nine songs were recorded in 1957 and 1958 at nightclubs in his hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana (including four tracks recorded at The Hub Bub), and in the studio.
and
The physical version of the release comes in a 24-page deluxe digipak showcasing rare family photos and photos by jazz photographer Duncan Scheidt. Jazz journalists Dan Morgenstern and Bill Milkowski contribute essays, as do guitarist Pat Martino and Indiana-based jazz educator Dr. David N. Baker.
The album features some swingers ("Diablo's Dance," "Nica's Dream"), ballads ("Misty," "Darn That Dream" and "Body and Soul") and Chicago blues ("After Hours Blues"). Here's the full track listing:
01. Diablo's Dance 02. Round Midnight 03. Straight No Chaser 04. Nica's Dream 05. Darn That Dream 06. Take the A Train 07. Misty 08. Body and Soul 09. After Hours Blues (Improvisation)
Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.
