Page 5, The Carolina Journal. March 20, 1969
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The Late, Great
Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery was undoubtedly one of the greatest
instrumentalists ever to make it on the pop scene. His secular jazz had,
at the time of his death, become one of the most popular trends in
current music. His final musical phase was one of wide interest. Wes
took some of the most popular tunes of the last few years
(“Scarborough Fair”, “Yesterday”, “Where Have All the Flowers
Gone?” “A Day In the Life”, “The Joker”, “Watch What Happens”,
and “Windy”) and set them to his own style of vibrant jazz with
resonating chords of beauty and modernity. His last two albums, A
day in the life and ROAD SONG, were the culmination of a
marvelous career on the electric guitar. Many will remember the stirring
performance that Wes gave at the coliseum during the Jazz Festival last
year. It was one of his last personal appearances.
Unfortunately, few people other than dyed-in-the-wool jazz fans
remember the old Wes - Wes before he became a secular saint and
household word. The Wes that I am speaking of is the improvisor
whose recording sessions always seemed like jam. His improvisational
side has not, however, been allowed to remain in the far distant past.
Verve records has revised and published some of the cuts that
Montgomery recorded and never got around to including on records.
One example of this is FURTHER ADVENTURES OF JIMMY AND
WES, featuring Jimmy Smith on the organ and Wes Montgomery on the
old faithful electric strirtgs. The disc includes a real light intermingling
of organ andguitaron “King of the Road” and a five-minute-plus cut by
Wes entitled “Ogd” that turns out to be nothing short of sensational.
Wes tangents off on some of his favorite runs and forgets the world’s
existence. Wes and Jimmy achieve a bossa nova beat on “Call Me” and
handle it well; they really turn on with the help of Oliver Nelson’s band
on “Milestones.” “Mellow Mood” is romantic and shadowy;
Montgomery invites with a strong but lyrical melody as Smith enchants
with flowing background. It’s the sort of thing that guarantees a long
life for jazz.
The second half of Verve’s Montgomery revival is WILLOW WEEP
FOR ME, recorded live at the Half Note in the Village along with
Wynton Kelly’s Trio. This is Wes back when he was “really playing.”
Ane he said so. This album was recorded while Montgomery was
playing for real jazz people - purists. He showed his best. Before
commercialization set in, Wes could sould like three guitars with two
thumbs apiece; he was more than good: he was transcendent. This
album is essence of Wes; he puts together all his little experimental
tricks and plays it like it really is. His version of “Willow Weep for Me”
is different from the later version that made him so popular. This one is
from the heart and soul. He is empathizing with the audience; they are
identifying with the music. O to have been there that night....
“Impressions” is one of my favorite Montgomery cuts. He coaxes
more sounds out of that guitar than the manufacturer put into it.
Sounds like a great string quartet, but it’s just Wes. “Portrait of Jennie”
kind of sneaks up on you, almost sentimental; whereas, Wes’ version of
“Surrey with the Fringe on Top” is light and lively. Happiness is.
A moody tune, “Oh! You Crazy Moon” is a cross between the pure
and the popular in Wes. For ten minutes the air is filled with the strains
of Wes’ own “Four on Six”, a real jumpy tune that is full of corners to
turn and passageways to emerge from. Surprises everywhere when Wes
is improvising. The final cut is “Misty”, a really fine treat for
Montgomery fans. West plays almost without amplification of this
standard whose name is the label of the curious mood it creates.
Montgomery at his most monumental moment!
Both of these albums were engineered by Val Valentin and will soon
be added to his list of best sellers. Val has done a great job on the
technical side and has not forsaken creativity (he blended horns on a
couple of the cuts).
1 Well, what more is there to be said about that great musician who, at
the age of 43, passed away from us? He has been, is, and will be missed!
Mothermania
Well, Frank Zappa has done it again, whatever it is.
MOTHERMANIA or THE BEST OF THE MOTHERS is the latest
album to come from the mind of Zappa, who has included some old
Mothers hits and some new stuff. He begins by tellins us how “Brown
Shoes Don’t Make It”, the story of a normal, typical working family
with an absurd mother and an obscene daughter. Wow. “Mother
People” is about mother people. The effects on these two sounds are
motheristic. “Smother that girl in chocolate syrup.” “She’s only
thirteen and she knows how to nasty.” “TV dinner by the pool. I’m so
glad 1 finished school.” Zappaesque is the only way to descripe the beat
of “Mother People”. “We are the other people. You’re the other people
too. Found a way to get to you.” “Duke of Prunes” is a takeoff on
something or other. It doesn’t matter what. The magic go-cart? “Call
Any Vegetable” is a stirring tribute to our little green and yellow
friends out there. It’s really quite inspiring. “The child will thrive and
grow and enter the world - of liars and cheaters and people like you.” -
“The Idiot Bastard Son”
All motherfanners are familiar with “It, Can’t Happen Here”, which
tells about the universality of freaking out. Even where everybody’s
clean, man. “You’re Probably Wondering Wiry I’m Here” is another
1 oldie but goodie. He he he he he he he he he. But really, now, “Wlio
^ Are the Brain Police?” Watch out and... o, 1 almost forgot to tell you,
don’t think, “What will you do when the label comes off?” “Plastic
(Continued on page 7)
Joaquin de Alba Writes About De
Tocqueville’s America Revisited
A look at the American
political scene through the eyes of
two phenomenally talented men.
both born across the Atlantic, one
of them over a century ago. will
be encompassed in a new and
timely book VIOLENCE IN
AMERICA, slated for publication
April 15, 1969 by Acropolis
Books, Washington, D. C.
Combining the wittily acid pen
of Spanish cartoonist, Joaquin de
Alba, with the biting and
amazingly apt commentary made
over a hundred years ago by
Frenchman, Alexis de Tocqueville
creates a volunre providing a rare
treat for the reader-observer of
the American way of life.
The artist, former official
cartoonist in Franco’s Spain,
where he acquired skill and insight
into political subleties, brought a
skilled hand and a trained eye
when he came to this country
eight years ago. He has put these
to good use in the book, his first.
M¥ MOTHER SAYS MV BROTHER IS IN JAIL
FOR BURNme RtNEHNeS M WNSHMGTtM!
THE VICTORS
‘^Evils of a Parallel?”
(Continued from Page 3)
identifying who, what, how...,
may I suggest one thing more. Get
involves enough to objectively
answer that question for yourself.
And when you’ve found the
answer, go forward to learn just
why it’s the case. Stand warned,
however, that in so doing, you
just might have to accept the fact
that Bob Scott doesn’t have all
the answers. Also, for what it’s
worth, just in case you aren’t sure,
the good Gav’s policy is to
Appreciation
Dear Mr. Smith,
On behalf of the University
Forum Council I wish to thank
you fordhe very fine coverage you
gave to the March 3rd Forum on
Communication: Key to
Understanding. Your front page
article in the February 19 issue
was particularly well done. 1 think
the Carolina Journal is doing a
very good and responsible job of
communication.
I hope you will commend your
staff for its efforts.
Sincerely,
Edyth II. Winningham
UFC Chairman
Appreciation?
Dear Editor.
Mr. Smith, just a note to
express my appreciation for your
paper. It’s the best college
newspaper at UNC-C. I really
mean it! You have your finger on
the pulse of the school. All
important happenings and issues
are shown in their proper
perspective. Keep up the good
work! I’m looking forward to the
next exciting issue.
Sincerely yours.
Skip Bennett
dictate, not communicate. Do I
smell the evils of a parallel?
Very truly yours,
Humphrey S. Cummings.
Should
Avoid
1 rivia
Dear Editor:
After reading Walt Sherrill’s
cute little play on words in your
last issue, “Yes, I know. You’re
Revolting”, I am revolted. If the
attempt was to satirize the black
demonstration, success was
attained. A man’s relation to his
wife was also satirized. The man
knows who is he. So do his
friends. His friends understand his
composure. He’s felt the heel of
the white man before.
Social commentary is highly
pertinent to contemporary
problems, but when blended with
distasteful personal transgressions,
it quickly loses its effect and
becomes offensive. The article was
cute, but the situation demands
more than casual lip-service, or a
llippant attitude. If all Mr. Sherrill
saw at the black demonstration
was black berets, and a situation
for a satirical fantasy, his ability
to perceive forces involved in
social change is typical of middle
class American values.
Hopefully, “The Carolina
Journal” will be able to transcend
these middle class American
values, and refrain from
publishing such “trivia” in the
future.
Sincerely yours,
Tim Britton
De TcKqueville’s frequently
quoted commentaries on the
American struggle to create a
workable democracy are
amazingly apt, even after the
many years have passed since his
observations on this country were
eitlrer stated of appeared in his
book, “Democracy In AitKrica.”
His comments on Russia and
America and on civil disorder
were both profound and
prophetic ai>d serve to put the
cartoons in the proper historical
perspective - an honor rarely
accorded this art form.
Language
Competition
Here
High school students from the
Metrolina area will compete in
language skills this spring at the
University of North Carolina at
(’harlotte.
UNC-C' will be host for contest
in Spanish, German and French
during the period from March 22
through April 19.
All contests will be held in the
Liberal Arts Building on the
('harlotte campus and will be
administered by members of the
University’s foreign language
faculty. High school teachers of
the languages will assist.
On .Saturday, March 22, more
than 200 students will take part in
examinations sponsored by the
American Association of Teachers
of Spanish and Portuguese.
The following .Saturday, March
29, some 50 contestants will take
examinations offered by the
American Association of Teachers
of German. And three weeks later,
.Saturday, April 19, approximately
200 French students will enter the
contests sponsored by the
American Association of Teachers
of French.
Top scorers in each state will
compete in a national contest.
A special category has been
established for native speakers ol
the three languages so that they
do not have an unfair advantage
over students with English as a
native tongue.
Golf
In its first match of the year
the University of North Carolim
at Charlotte golf team finisher
second in a quadrangular nice
held Saturday in Laurinburg.
Home team St. Andrews tool
first place, UNC-C second, Collegr
of Charleston third, and North
Carolina Wesleyan fourth. Score-
were high for all four teams in thi
season opener.
For the 49ers, Fred Rees sho
an 82, Chester Melton an 85
Steve llillen an 87, Tom FJliot ai
88, Pete Townsley a 90 am
Charles Alexander a 94.