Kahlil Lumbala
Grant Parker
MUHFL 315
11/19/2017
Wes Montgomery
George Benson, Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny, and Russell Malone. Do you know what all four guitar soloist have in common? Those four guitar icons were all influenced by Wes Montgomery, who is known as one of the greatest guitarists in the history of jazz. During the 1950s and 1960s, he helped define the modern jazz guitar during that span. Sadly at the height of his career, he passed away due to a heart attack, but his style is influential still to this day. His idiomatic conception to the instrument and the power of his solos led me to write this report on how he is one of the greatest guitarists of our time. Three reasons stand out to me when you think of Wes Montgomery as being
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Before he made his last song before his death, Pete Welding mentioned he couldn’t play uninterested even if he wanted to. It was well known that Montgomery felt like he was trapped by the music industry to make old renditions his most popular tunes from his old albums. The main thing that stood out was as he moved to larger labels, his popularity grew as he went to the larger labels. Also mentioned earlier, his techniques solidified his place as a legendary jazz improviser. The way he plucked his melodies and chords was unlike his fellow guitarist. His skills as an improviser are also undervalued, as he was an iconoclastic improviser. When he passed away he was considered as one of the best selling jazz artists of his time. According to Academia, Montgomery’s impact was important because “The high degree of sonoric individuality and distinctiveness he had attained”. The fact that he had no formal musical education prior made it more astonishing that he his the icon he is today besides his lack of knowledge prior. Before his death, he produced some great solos improvised by himself, which made it more unique. The influences had spread around the world ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Muzak. His legacy will live on forever, from either his play styles or his influence being used by Icons who embraced …show more content…
We should look at his unique play style, using his thumb instead of using a pick. Sounding absurd at that time, he defied the odds and turn his method of playing the guitar into his signature playstyle that the whole world would recognize. With his signature play style, he would be recognized as one of the influential bebop artists this world has ever seen. Second, we should look at his 20-year dominance of long sustain success from playing on tour with Lionel Hampton to dropping his own albums. His hard work finally paid off when he won a Grammy for “Best Influential Jazz Performance”. Third, we should look at his legacy and accomplishments that still lives on to this day. His commercial success is the highest than any other jazz artist of his time. Also, he had newfound success with pop music which was discouraged by fans but still had a lot of success with his pop-jazz combo music. With those three key factors, we should recognize him as one of the greatest Guitarist. If you think of Wes Montgomery, think of him as one of the pioneers of Jazz. Think of him as being one of the first people to develop his own style. Think of him in any way you want, but don't forget the iconic trail he left in the history of
The Other Wes Moore is a novel that shows the different paths of two different men, one successful and the other not so fortunate. We discovered their different identities and how their choices and role models effect their lives. Wes 1 was led by his brave, hard working mother and the great military men. He didn't make incredibly great decisions but the people in his life helped him turn into the successful man he is today.However, Wes 2 had a brother who dealt drugs. The novel guides you through the 8 crazy years that led to Wes Moore 1's success and Wes Moore 2's life sentence for prison.
...ians and was a pioneer. He was a hard worker and diligent musician. Although he struggled with alcohol, he didn’t let it overpower him. He was a champion. Dizzy Gillespie will be forever remembered not only by his talents as a musician but also by his perseverance during the struggles of his life.
Louis Armstrong was known for his “hot jazz” while Bix Beiderbecke was known more for his “cool reflective” jazz style. Louis Armstrong developed a new style of jazz music that took New Orleans by storm, and many other bands decided to move to north Chicago because of it. In 1925 Louis recorded his first Hot Five records and this was the first time he developed songs under his name. Then later on he made the Hot Seven and these two records are considered some of the biggest jazz classics. These records really established Louis Armstrong’s “hot jazz” style and many people recognized that. Many people and critics also considered these records as some of the finest jazz recordings in history, solos began to emerge and that really characterized jazz. These tracks were very important because it not only expressed Louis style but it influenced a lot of the jazz world. After the tracks many people began to change from polyphony to soloists, from embellishment to improvisation, and changing from breaks to having solos and their was much more influence. Then there was Bix Beiderbecke who was known for his “cool reflective” jazz. He was known for having a unique lyric tone, he had a vibrant sound, and he and he was different from other trumpet and cornet players. These were the type of things that led to the development of what is known as “cool jazz”. Everything that he went through in his life, the sadness, his heroic side, all this led to his music style. These two had a huge impact with their type of styles, which is the reason for their success. There uniqueness is what led to their style and them being known for their type of jazz, one simply can not say that one is better than the other because they simply did not have the same
Steve Miller was born October 5, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Steve’s family was very involved with music. His mother was a jazz-influenced singer, and his father was a pathologist that very interested in the world of music. Dr. Miller was friends with many musicians which greatly aided in young Steve’s development in music. One of his father’s friends included Les Paul, who showed Steve some chords on a guitar at the age of five. Les Paul proved to be a very valuable mentor to Steve, and he became a good friend of the family. When Steve was seven his family moved to Dallas, where he was exposed to a different type of artists that usually did not visit Milwaukee. His father took him to see greats such as Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, and Carl Perkins. Steve was particularly drawn to T-Bone Walker, the father of Texas-style electric blues. This proved to be very influential in Steve’s life, and it is evident by the blues-sound that he exhibited in his guitar playing.
does have downfalls in his reputation and his actions throughout the long term of his life, but he still changed the game of baseball and gave people hope while doing so. When all the fame, rush of the spotlight, youth, and the wild side of Babe ruth settled down, his great qualities and the good he did really started to shine through. He did fill the stands of baseball by giving people hope and thrill throughout the war time and Great Depression (Family). He set stunning records that would forever be remembered in the baseball community and in the United States in general. It requires a unique and special hero to continue to have the effect that Babe Ruth still has today. Babe Ruth does deserve to be recognized as one of the most influential people in
There have been many bigshot artists that have gone down in music history over the years. One man in particular, however, will forever be known all over the world for his famous works and amazing stage performances. This man is none other than the one and only Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix altered the style of rock and roll during the late 60’s early 70’s and is widely considered one of the most influential guitar players amongst the music world to this day.
When it comes to jazz music, there is one name that everyone knows, whether they’ve never listened to jazz before or if they’ve listened to it their whole lives. That name is Louis Armstrong. Armstrong was one of the pioneers of jazz music, from his humble beginnings in one of New Orleans roughest districts, “the Battlefield”, to playing concerts for sold out crowds in Chicago and New York City, Louis left a massive impact on the way America listened to music for a long time. One of his premier tracks, “West End Blues”, left an impact on jazz music, which other musicians would try to emulate for years.
he soared in the game of baseball, and is in the hall of fame. His legacy lives on in many Americans hearts and in baseball. A strong man on and off the field. A courageous man to break down the color barrier, and to continue it after his days in sports were over. Fearless in a way he would never give up on baseball or his passion to see African Americans to succeed, in a time where blacks were pushed from away from prosperity and success. The owner of the dodgers Branch Rickey, also contributed to the movement. Without him much of how we see the history, and baseball today might not be the same. He chose Jackie and started an uprising in blacks in baseball. The name Jackie Robinson won’t be soon forgotten, and he marks a big change to American history. Fighting for the game of baseball, and fighting for what he believed
Louis Armstrong, “known to be the greatest influence in 1920’s and the first vital jazz soloist to attain worldwide influence as a trumpeter,” led a musical revolution. He was a strong force in spreading the influence of jazz throughout his life. He was highly respected and looked up to in his time. Louis was an idol for many African- Americans because he gave them the hope that they can be prominent people in their society and that segregation did not have to exist in music.
In addition to his playing and nurturing of excellent talent, Miles Davis was quite remarkable in his rare ability to continually evolve. Most jazz musicians generally performed their style early on and spend the rest of their careers refining their sound. In contrast Miles Davis every five years or so would forge ahead, and do to his restless nature he not only played bop but helped found cool jazz, hard bop, modal music, his own unusual brand of the avant-garde and fusion. Jazz history would be much different if Davis had not existed. If Miles Davis had retired in 1960, he would still be famous in jazz history, but he had many accomplishments still to come. In 1991 Miles Davis passed away, he was 65. Jazz lost a man that was more than a god.
	On February 15, 1965 the music world lost one of its greats. By the time his life was over, he was already a legend, having influenced the likes of Oscar Peterson and Ahmad Jamal. Nat had performed with some of the best including Duke Ellington and performed for some of the best, including the Queen¨, he was even friends with John F. Kennedy. Though he is often remembered today as a great singer, he was also one of history’s greatest jazz pianists. It is said that as a pianist, he developed the intricate right-hand style of initiated by Hines and the sparse left-hand of Count Basiel. His records have been released and re-released and even to this day they are still popular. Through the marvels of modern technology, Nat and his daughter, Natalie (who is also a well-known artist) were reunited for a rendition of the classic, "Unforgettable", which he certainly is.
Where would music be had it not been for the men that stepped before him. The Mozarts and Beethovens, who wrote the music that today is known as the classics. These men were naturals in their own right, but these people wrote their music in the 17th and 18th century. Many people don't realize all of the changes that music had to go through between that period of music and the present day. One such musician stands alone at the top as one of the movers and innovators of the 20th century. He is Duke Ellington. Along with his band, he alone influenced millions of people both around the world and at home. He gave American music its own sound for the first time. Winton Marsalis said it best when he said "His music sounds like America." These days you can find his name on over 1500 CS's. Duke's legacy will live on for generations to come.
Through his contribution to early Jazz, he had a direct hand in developing the new field of academic jazz scholarship, although it had been extensively debated on his contribution. None the less, his talent formed a popularity that was surpassed by none, even to the point that once in his career; he was more popular than the Beatles. Undoubtedly, he was the first, if not the only to present Jazz to the public as a form of art. This changed the direction of Jazz to not just leisure listening music, but a teachable and complicated
Teachout, Terry. "John Hammond's jazz." Commentary 122.3 (2006): 55+. Academic OneFile. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
The first thing I will talk about is the type of music he is know for which gave him that name. Most people listen to the type of music he composed but next to none know who or how it was composed. There seems to be an abundance of music fans who know little or nothing about the origin of their music. By discussing what he has accomplished it will explain why he is considered to be so important to his type of music.