Wes Montgomery - California Dreaming (1966/1977)

Wes Montgomery's last album for Verve (other than an exciting collaboration with Jimmy Smith) is a so-so orchestral date featuring arrangements by Don Sebesky. The material (which includes "Sunny" and "California Dreaming") is strictly pop fluff of the era and the great guitarist has little opportunity to do much other than state the melody in his trademark octaves. This record was perfect for AM radio of the period.

by Scott Yanow

Tracklist:

01. California Dreaming (Phillips) - 3:10
02. Sun Down (Montgomery) - 6:04
03. Oh You Crazy Moon (Burke-Van Heusen) - 3:43
04. More, More, Amor (Lake) - 2:54
05. Without You (Marino-Myers) - 3:03
06. Winds of Barcelona (Lake) - 3:10
07. Sunny (Hebb) - 4:08
08. Green Peppers (Lake) - 2:59
09. Mr. Walker (Montgomery) - 3:41
10. South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) (Carr-Kennedy) - 3:16

Wes Montgomery – guitar
Mel Davis, Bernie Glow, Jimmy Nottingham - trumpet
Wayne Andre, Johnny Messner, Bill Watrous - trombone
James Buffington - French horn
Don Butterfield - tuba
Stan Webb - clarinet, English horn, saxophone
Raymond Beckenstein - flute, piccolo, saxophone
Herbie Hancock - piano
Al Casamenti - guitar
Bucky Pizzarelli - guitar
Richard Davis - bass
Grady Tate - drums
Jack Jennings - vibraphone, castanets, scratching
Ray Barretto - percussion

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on September 14-16, 1966.