A Day In The Life/Watch What Happens/When A Man Loves A Woman/California Nights/Angel/Eleanor Rigby/ Willow Weep For Me/Windy/Trust In Me/The Joker
Jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery enjoyed his greatest commercial success with A Day In The Life, which comprises jazzed up interpretations of recent pop hits. (US:13)
"The album is mostly comprised of pleasant, poppy jazz covers of 1960s pop favourites. Montgomery usually plays the lead melody and is backed by a number of instruments from strings to a piano."
"If you are into classic Wes Montgomery then you might not like this album. It came out towards the end of his career and is different from anything you'll hear under the Riverside record label. A Day In The Life is him playing jazzed up versions of pop songs. It certainly isn't the hard bop you might expect out of Wes Montgomery, but it is still worth both buying and listening to."
"This album by Wes Montgomery has been the doorway for many a pop/rock fan to enter the world of jazz. All the jazz heavyweights of the era are here: Wes on guitar, Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Grady Tate on drums, Ray Barretto on percussion, and a full backing orchestra to boot. Even the most overplayed of pop/rock standards can become a kind of spiritual symphony in the hands of a jazz master, and that is certainly the case here with Wes Montgomery, as he breathes new life into some of the pop fare of the day."
"Being a huge jazz fan I can understand the frustration in hearing such a talented artist in such an 'simple' setting, but it was a pop album as played by jazz artists. This kind of crossover has always gone on and this is one of the best examples."
"The arrangements are excellent, and the recording quality superb. Wes plays soulfully and with great feeling. The rich, double-octave guitar style may have since become hackneyed, but at that time it was previously unheard of in such a context."
"A perfect album for the lounge lover, a shameful experience on the jazz connoisseur. Chose your camp."
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