Sharing these videos is such a gift to both this amazing player/teacher's legacy and the guitar playing community that was not lucky enough to have this type of intimate contact with him. They bring so much added depth to the experience of the books he left behind. Just one recording, still boggles the mind. Thank you.
Largely due to this man, I was able to find my way musically; which is still going on. I lost a great Friend in him. We're talking 1966 here, and of all that exists, Wes was, is, and always will be, my Favorite Musician, and will go over the Rainbow with me to the Nirvana yet to come. Thank you Ted.........
Namaste Leslie... Loved your passion and thoughts about our favorite musician as well. My brother and I bought, "Incredible Jazz Guitar" LP new. We never heard anyone approach any instrument like Wes. He said more to us note for note and chord per chord than anyone. Tom says, "No one else could GROOVE you like Wes. " Feel so happy finding your words which hold deep comfort for aging Beatnik Bros. like us. Ck. out Adrian Ingram's book on WES, and Santana's Video, "Three Influences" ... Griff.
I don't think Wes died of a broken heart. He smoke like a fiend, had a bad diet and burned the candle at both ends caring for his family and following his jazz passion. He simply gave it his all - until his body couldn't take it anymore.
You are of course correct. I think the "heartbreak" comment maybe refers to the fact that shortly before his death, Wes had told some fellow jazz musicians, such as Joe Pass - that he was getting burned out with his hectic schedule and also missed playing straight ahead jazz. We do know that Wes was very happy to finally make some decent money with his hit recordings and be able to provide for his family in the way that he wished to do.
@ WesFanMan: Re: "He simply gave it his all - until his body couldn't take it anymore." You are probably right. Based on what we know about Wes' life, his schedule and lifestyle were demanding, to say the least, for most of his adult life. He was married young and eventually sired seven children with his wife Serene. His musical ambitions were always tempered by the fact that he was a father and husband whose foremost duty was to provide for his family. That meant that in his twenties and beyond, he worked a day job five days a week, plus did all of that gigging and after-hours jamming in and around Indianapolis. The strain on him must have been considerable. Yet, if the accounts of his friends and family are accurate - and I have no doubt they are - he was of an upbeat disposition and didn't let things get him down. When he was signed to Riverside and made his breakthrough as a nationally-known jazz artist, that was the fulfillment of a dream for him, but also brought more-stress and strain into his life. Wes hated to fly, so drove to all of his gigs whenever possible, with his band-mates most of the time. Having a gig on the west coast and then having to make one up in Vancouver the next night or the one after that, or over Denver or Chicago - must have been very challenging indeed. The jazz life is tough on your health - if you aren't careful, you can easily neglect and damage your body. Poor diet, not enough exercise, and the temptations which entrap so many cats on the road and in the life - drugs, booze, chain-smoking. Wes didn't do drugs as far as is known, and apparently did not drink or did only sparingly, but he smoked multiple packs of cigarettes per day and was also overweight. Those two things alone put him into a high-risk category of having some sort of adverse cardio-vascular event eventually - an MI (heart attack), CVA (stroke), or the related. And unfortunately, that's what happened. It is known that Wes Montgomery took nitroglycerine pills for angina pectoris, which is chest pain associated with insufficient blood supply to the heart. So he was being treated, at least to a degree. The real tragedy of his passing, aside from the obvious loss of such a wonderful and talented human being, is that if he'd been stricken even a few years later, his prospects for survival would have been considerably better. Emergency medical services, as we know them today, did not yet exist in most of the U.S. - I'm referring to a mobile ICU on wheels with highly-trained paramedics - and would not for another 5-10 years in big cities, and longer in outlying areas. Diagnostic methods, surgery for heart ailments, etc. all improved radically during the 1970s too. I am very grateful, though, that we got to enjoy Wes Montgomery for as long as we did - and that there were folks far-sighted enough to record this genius as much as possible. His gift deserves to live on as long as people enjoy and are moved by good music. I know my life would not have been as rich without his art.
Wow! brings back memories of my lessons with Ted in 91.that apartment...all those stacks... Everywhere.....I always felt while I was in there that I was with such greatness that I really shouldn't have been there. But part of his greatness was to look at what i did do well and nurture that....ultimately making you feel at ease. I was there the week Emily Remler died.He told of getting a postcard from her and while getting it he reached down and immediately felt dread.he found out later she died
You have to hand it to this guy for realizing that making videos/films of Ted Greene would be worth it. Ted, apparently a very humble guy, must have wondered "What? Why?". And there is a bit of a vibe of the interviewer being a Ted-worshipper (that probably Ted would not have felt comfortable with, so he interrupts and treats Nick a little rough). Anyway, complicated dynamics, but so thankful to Nick for making these. What a genius Ted was.
Ted Greene is so wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing! What kind of amp did Ted usually use? Is that Fender right there his main amp? What model is that?
This is so depressing. Ted says most listeners tune out during the solos and he's probably right. It's like we devote our lives to this stuff and most people can't tell whether we're doing it badly or well and they don't care that they can't tell.
Niles Rodger mentioned that "Music demands alot from the player as well from the listener" the audience no longer wants to decipher what's going on ...some jazz musicians are to be blamed 2 ..they played stuff that was to out their for common folks with no background on theory..so now the only music people want is simple 4 chord progressions
As far as jazz , as with art, when it entered the realm of esoteria few people can relate to what is being presented ...I read that only about 10% of the population can actually tell the difference between notes...and if you are making music just for that 10% your income possibilities arent great .I read somewhere wear Joe Pass felt he was lucky to make 50$ a night .....a pretty sad statement...
I think that's more of an issue for playing live shows in bars (or anywhere where people are drunk.) Or drunk people in general. Yeah, drunks. Some people want to learn & listen.
Sharing these videos is such a gift to both this amazing player/teacher's legacy and the guitar playing community that was not lucky enough to have this type of intimate contact with him. They bring so much added depth to the experience of the books he left behind. Just one recording, still boggles the mind. Thank you.
Largely due to this man, I was able to find my way musically; which is still going on. I lost a great Friend in him. We're talking 1966 here, and of all that exists, Wes was, is, and always will be, my Favorite Musician, and will go over the Rainbow with me to the Nirvana yet to come.
Thank you Ted.........
Namaste Leslie... Loved your passion and thoughts about our favorite musician as well. My brother and I bought, "Incredible Jazz Guitar" LP new. We never heard anyone approach any instrument like Wes. He said more to us note for note and chord per chord than anyone. Tom says, "No one else could GROOVE you like Wes. " Feel so happy finding your words which hold deep comfort for aging Beatnik Bros. like us. Ck. out Adrian Ingram's book on WES, and Santana's Video, "Three Influences" ... Griff.
Thank you Nick for these videos of the one and only Ted Greene.
think it says "Vibrolux Reverb Amp" on the facing, next to the red power light in this clip.
I don't think Wes died of a broken heart. He smoke like a fiend, had a bad diet and burned the candle at both ends caring for his family and following his jazz passion. He simply gave it his all - until his body couldn't take it anymore.
You are of course correct. I think the "heartbreak" comment maybe refers to the fact that shortly before his death, Wes had told some fellow jazz musicians, such as Joe Pass - that he was getting burned out with his hectic schedule and also missed playing straight ahead jazz. We do know that Wes was very happy to finally make some decent money with his hit recordings and be able to provide for his family in the way that he wished to do.
the list you sum up easily brokes the heart .
@ WesFanMan: Re: "He simply gave it his all - until his body couldn't take it anymore."
You are probably right. Based on what we know about Wes' life, his schedule and lifestyle were demanding, to say the least, for most of his adult life. He was married young and eventually sired seven children with his wife Serene.
His musical ambitions were always tempered by the fact that he was a father and husband whose foremost duty was to provide for his family. That meant that in his twenties and beyond, he worked a day job five days a week, plus did all of that gigging and after-hours jamming in and around Indianapolis. The strain on him must have been considerable. Yet, if the accounts of his friends and family are accurate - and I have no doubt they are - he was of an upbeat disposition and didn't let things get him down.
When he was signed to Riverside and made his breakthrough as a nationally-known jazz artist, that was the fulfillment of a dream for him, but also brought more-stress and strain into his life. Wes hated to fly, so drove to all of his gigs whenever possible, with his band-mates most of the time. Having a gig on the west coast and then having to make one up in Vancouver the next night or the one after that, or over Denver or Chicago - must have been very challenging indeed.
The jazz life is tough on your health - if you aren't careful, you can easily neglect and damage your body. Poor diet, not enough exercise, and the temptations which entrap so many cats on the road and in the life - drugs, booze, chain-smoking. Wes didn't do drugs as far as is known, and apparently did not drink or did only sparingly, but he smoked multiple packs of cigarettes per day and was also overweight. Those two things alone put him into a high-risk category of having some sort of adverse cardio-vascular event eventually - an MI (heart attack), CVA (stroke), or the related. And unfortunately, that's what happened.
It is known that Wes Montgomery took nitroglycerine pills for angina pectoris, which is chest pain associated with insufficient blood supply to the heart. So he was being treated, at least to a degree. The real tragedy of his passing, aside from the obvious loss of such a wonderful and talented human being, is that if he'd been stricken even a few years later, his prospects for survival would have been considerably better. Emergency medical services, as we know them today, did not yet exist in most of the U.S. - I'm referring to a mobile ICU on wheels with highly-trained paramedics - and would not for another 5-10 years in big cities, and longer in outlying areas. Diagnostic methods, surgery for heart ailments, etc. all improved radically during the 1970s too.
I am very grateful, though, that we got to enjoy Wes Montgomery for as long as we did - and that there were folks far-sighted enough to record this genius as much as possible. His gift deserves to live on as long as people enjoy and are moved by good music. I know my life would not have been as rich without his art.
Wow! brings back memories of my lessons with Ted in 91.that apartment...all those stacks... Everywhere.....I always felt while I was in there that I was with such greatness that I really shouldn't have been there. But part of his greatness was to look at what i did do well and nurture that....ultimately making you feel at ease. I was there the week Emily Remler died.He told of getting a postcard from her and while getting it he reached down and immediately felt dread.he found out later she died
You have to hand it to this guy for realizing that making videos/films of Ted Greene would be worth it. Ted, apparently a very humble guy, must have wondered "What? Why?". And there is a bit of a vibe of the interviewer being a Ted-worshipper (that probably Ted would not have felt comfortable with, so he interrupts and treats Nick a little rough). Anyway, complicated dynamics, but so thankful to Nick for making these. What a genius Ted was.
Ted Greene is so wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing! What kind of amp did Ted usually use? Is that Fender right there his main amp? What model is that?
Super video
This is so depressing. Ted says most listeners tune out during the solos and he's probably right. It's like we devote our lives to this stuff and most people can't tell whether we're doing it badly or well and they don't care that they can't tell.
That was kind of a shock, to hear him say he himself tunes out listening to jazz solos. Hmmm.
Niles Rodger mentioned that "Music demands alot from the player as well from the listener" the audience no longer wants to decipher what's going on ...some jazz musicians are to be blamed 2 ..they played stuff that was to out their for common folks with no background on theory..so now the only music people want is simple 4 chord progressions
As far as jazz , as with art, when it entered the realm of esoteria few people can relate to what is being presented ...I read that only about 10% of the population can actually tell the difference between notes...and if you are making music just for that 10% your income possibilities arent great .I read somewhere wear Joe Pass felt he was lucky to make 50$ a night .....a pretty sad statement...
Sharp as a tack.
You are surprised? Hell most people do not even have a clue what the lyrics are to most if not all the songs they here, even the ones they love.
You tune out on the solos? I can’t even understand that comment it’s so silly.
I think that's more of an issue for playing live shows in bars (or anywhere where people are drunk.) Or drunk people in general. Yeah, drunks. Some people want to learn & listen.
Could be a Vibroverb....with a 15" speaker not 100% sure.
Real Nice Fat Back Guild