Wes Montgomery Turns 100! New Documentary: Wes Bound and Tribute Concert Featuring Dave Stryker.

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Speaking with Jazz Guitarist Dave Stryker yesterday (February 21, 2023) for an upcoming JGL Podcast, he brought to my attention two truly wonderful events in celebration of Wes Montgomery’s soon to be 100th year!*

There are two major events taking place:

1 – The premier of a new documentary on the life of Wes Montgomery titled Wes Bound to be aired on the PBS Affiliate WTIU, February 26th at 8:PM – Click here for more info.

The documentary also includes early 8mm home movie footage captured by Montgomery…at his Butler-Tarkington home, on tour and beyond (source).

Jazz Guitar Life reached out to Wes Bound producer Kevin Finch and while he was quite busy with a personal matter, he did have this to say:

“My doc is a bio film, told through the eyes of Wes’s youngest, who saw his father collapse and die of a heart attack in his mother’s arms. He was only six.

So the film is a journey of discovery for Robert and for the audience. We talked with George Benson, Pat Metheny, Russell Malone, and Lee Ritenour, as well as Slash, Jeff Skunk Baxter and Eric Johnson, plus Larry Ridley, Billy Hart, Steve Herberman and more.”

Kevin Finch – Producer of Wes Bound

The second celebratory event will be:

photo: Gino Diminich

Following the premiere of Wes Bound, viewers will experience the music of Wes Montgomery in a new concert film collaboration between WTIU and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Recorded before a live audience in the WTIU studio, Wes Montgomery at 100: A 100th Birthday Tribute Concert features the IU Jacobs School of Music Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of associate professor Brent Wallarab, and a performance by the celebrated jazz trio of guitarist Dave Stryker, organist Bobby Floyd, and drummer Sean Dobbins. The virtuosity of Wes Montgomery is explored through his music and interviews with the concert performers.

Learn more about the Wes Montgomery programs at wtiu.org/wesmontgomery. After their premieres on WTIU, both shows will be available to stream on PBS Video starting February 27. The programs will air again on WTIU on Sunday, March 5, and on Monday, March 6, on the 100th anniversary of Wes Montgomery’s birth.

A complete list of air dates and times:
Wes Bound: The Genius of Wes Montgomery
Sunday, February 26 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 5 at 1:30 p.m.
Monday, March 6 at 8 p.m.
Wes Montgomery at 100: A 100th Birthday Tribute Concert 
Sunday, February 26 at 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 5 at 3 p.m.
Monday, March 6 at 9:30 p.m.

source

OMG this is going to be sooooo good! 🙂 Needless to say, both of these televised events are must-see-TV!!

*Wes’ (1923 – 1968) birthday is March 6.

Please consider spreading the word about these great shows as well Jazz Guitar Life by sharing this article amongst your social media pals and please feel free to leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you 🙂

If you would like to support all the work I do on Jazz Guitar Life, please consider buying me a coffee or visiting the Jazz Guitar Life sponsors. Thank you and your patronage is greatly appreciated regardless if you buy me a coffee or not 🙂

About Lyle Robinson 362 Articles
Lyle Robinson is the owner/creator/publisher and editor of Jazz Guitar Life, an online magazine dedicated to the Jazz Guitar and its community of fine players worldwide.

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