Goin' Out of My Head

On his third outing for Verve Wes Montgomery continued his search for the perfect arranger with Oliver Nelson. Montgomery and producer Creed Taylor wanted a balance between his prior works, and Nelson combines Pate’s snappy rhythms with the sweeping tonal palate of Sebesky. The title song, a rendition of the 1964 pop hit by Little Anthony and the Imperials, at once engages the pop world, the jazz world and the classical world (by way of Nelson’s full-bodied arrangements). While some jazz purists predictably accused Montgomery of selling out, the album is actually a clever reconciliation of the pop world with modes of advanced improvisation. While “Twisted Blues” and “Boss City” show his ability to interweave solo guitar with a massive orchestra, the album also contains moments of gentle subtlety. The bossa nova “O Morro Nao Tem Vez” is the ideal meeting place for Nelson’s grand orchestra and Montgomery’s velvet tones. Montgomery’s reading of “It Was a Very Good Year” is all about texture and mood, while “Golden Earrings” moves like an eerie waltz through empty Gotham streets.