Lee Ritenour on Wes

[@killereverb3928]

Personally, Wes is and was my favorite. His warmth, chops, melodic genius and astounding musicality dazzled everybody who worked with him or those fortunate to see him play live. A massively talented and rare jewel, Wes was just the best.

[@quixodian]

I’ve always loved both Wes Montgomery and Lee Ritenour. I wasn’t lucky enough to see Wes but saw Lee at the Blue Note with Dave Gruisin in 2012. Great musician.

[@1bluetomato]

Like Mr Ritenour, i was intoxicated by Wes Music. When you love Wes, he is a part of our life, everyday you think about of this Master.

[@donmilland7606]

Speak truth my friend!

[@markboonzaier4346]

Oh Man, to be concise. have been a fan of Lee since 1981. Went to live with my Dad in 1969 and discovered A day in the Life, was totally sold, despite the fact i was into deep purple, golden eearingn etc!!! And at 68 nothing has changed!!! Just live for awesome music!!!

[@donmilland7606]

for me, 1980

[@donaldbarnes8106]

Back in the late 70's, my friends turned me on to Larry Carlton. Then one day not long after, my friend Tom lent me his 'Feel the Night' album and said "this guy may be even better". I was blown away and have been a Rit fan ever since!@@donmilland7606

[@L5player]

I've followed Wes since HS (I'm 73 now), and only recently got an album from my son I didn't even know existed: The Montgomery Brothers in Canada. Ever heard of that? It has the three of them doing familiar cuts like "Beau Arts" and "Barbados" and some others I've heard, but if these previously known cuts were recorded in Canada, that's news to me. I think one of the things that made Wes stand out even more (could he do so even more?) is the fact that he couldn't read a note of music. Totally untrained, yet he not only had incredible ability on he fretboard, his sense of harmony was unmatched. Little runs and trills that perfectly enhanced the melody line. If a song were played using just his improvised lines, you could find the chords he was following just from the notes he played. They colored every bit of it. There's no learning that; you either have it, or you don't. He had it.

[@champanachampana4881]

Very nice presentation. Lee is one of my favorite guitarist, and to actually hear him non guitar, and sharing his experiences, was wonderful. Thank you so very much for this share. I never got to to hear Wes live, but as I was getting into his style, I too came across Bumpin. I remember buying a book with the transcriptions of the album, and then I incorporated the double octave with both E strings in my repertoire and people were like, “He plays like Wes.” That started to stick and I didn’t want the label. It didn’t hurt, but I was looking for my voice. In comes Benson with his extension of Wes. Same thing started to happen with Benson as with Wes. Innovated Benson’s approach, and it all stopped. I must say though, I do oscillate between the two when I need to bring the audience back. Smile. Again, thanks for this share.

[@jamescarter8699]

My father was a big fan of Wes Montgomery. I started playing guitar in 1967. My Dad was him when he lived in New York in thearly 1960's.

[@darrylking5543]

Thanks, these are great conversions, it is great that you have chosen to slow time down. DarrylK

[@vincentkowski8466]

Another great video …..thank you 👍

[@thomasespositio3139]

wonderful interview always been a fan of Lee, john lee could hardly play guitar listen to his cousin Earl Hooker,many wonderful players named would like to hear some love for that bluesy single string MFer Grant Green

[@larryjackson6075]

Everybody talks about how great a guitarist is, but guitar gods never write a book to show simplistically what they do. If any guitar god sincerely taught me what they know, I could know it. Life is just a competitive game.

[@wowjef]

Thanks for this interview. "He was always melodic". Absolutely. That is one of the things that attracted him to me because, not being a musician, jazz can be intimidating. I first heard Wes at a late-night party in Melbourne around 1969 (In was 19) and it blew my mind. Been a fan ever since.

[@donmilland7606]

On one of Lee's earlier album, he does the sweetest progression I've heard at the bridge of one song: Ebmaj7 -Fmi7-Gmi7- Gb13. The something likee Dbma7-Abma7-Bma7-Bb7sus. I knd of threw in my own chords at the 2nd half of it for my own use. It has the flavor of Ralph MacDonald's "Where is the Love" performed by the late great Donny Hathaway and Robert Flack. I wouldn't be surprised if Lee played on that. I call it the Ritenour progression. He's sooo awesome and an obvious influence. Then you put a slide on his fingers . . . OMG!!!! Yes I love Lee Ritenour!!! 😍😍🥰🥰. .

[@donmilland7606]

ROBERTA

[@caprise-music6722]

What’s the song called?

[@jasphonk]

ahhhhh so so so good - absolutely golden stories and pesrspectives

[@jimreilley3417]

Great interview. I’m also very happy my blind grandmother got the gig running the camera.

[@donmilland7606]

Lee, as a studio musician, played on countless hits especially on R&B records.. He made the Bros Johnson famous. I remember his Guitar Player magazine columns

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

I'm glad to see Lee's back on the track again after the 2018 double whammy.

[@caprise-music6722]

2018 double whammy?

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

@@caprise-music6722 well in 2018 his house and studio burnt to the ground in Malibu Lost a hundred guitars and amps lots of music in the fire And then about a week later after that he ended up in the hospital surgery to replace an aortic valve in his heart

[@gjtube37]

Thank you! These videos are so great! To think about Wes through the memories of these great people is amazing!

[@pallhe]

Great interview with a legend in his own right!

[@robertrobles4028]

Lee is a great guitarist and a real down to earth guy.

[@alanblakeguitarist]

What a great interview! Wasn’t a big fan of Lee’s but now I appreciate him a lot more. Keep up the great interviews about Wes!! ❤

[@caprise-music6722]

Lee Ritenour is one of the greats. He really has a diverse style too

[@gadymarcus2362]

Magnifico.👑👑👑👑👑👑

[@seattlevegas66]

Thank you so much for putting this material out. It is outstanding in every way!!!

[@mademepickaname]

Kenny played with Wes on the “Fusion! Wes Montgomery with Strings” album, a recording that seems to get overlooked.

[@jocknarn3225]

Have those wonderful LRit takes on Wes ("Stolen Moments" which i specially ordered in-store .. did the same with "Wes Bound"). Orrin Keepnews said Wes "was if anything, a great melodist" .. that stuck with me. 4 me, Wes was greatest with his brothers, The Master Sounds.

[@JazzDig]

He is so heavenly on slide...

[@donmilland7606]

Lee plays the hell out of a Gibson. He has probably the best tone for that model. His parents were from Dearborn? Wow. Anyway I was turned on to Lee's Captain Fingers, along with Wes, when I was 15. I thought "oh I can never play like that!" I suppose these days, I would be considered decent, but whenever I hear Wes and Lee -that though still comes to mind. LOL , His trademark instrument was the equally iconic 335. An uber fantastic musician.

[@caprise-music6722]

Excellent conversation. Love it

[@JukeboxerWes]

Glad you like it. Thanks for watching. More to come in Summer 2024.

[@NeilRaouf]

Pat Metheny was not so happy with his teibute album back in the days 😅 lee is a world class act!

[@galenhunsucker8187]

Loving these videos..Wonderful

[@alankeish6420]

So glad I found this channel, thank you.

[@JukeboxerWes]

We're glad, ,too. More to come in Summer 2024. Thanks for watching.

[@labontetrevor]

It sucks that so many great jazz guitarists made easy listening and smooth jazz. ‘Bumpin’ is one of Wes’ most depressing albums. Wes hated playing that shit but he had a family to support. Benson, Ritenour, the list goes on. Taking a big crap on jazz.

[@labontetrevor]

The IRS, FED, and ADL were all founded by criminals to enrich and protect the evil elite cabal that is currently slated for destruction by America’s burgeoning patriot movement. So it looks like Buddy Rich is about to get his revenge. Just like all rotten, corrupt forces in this material world, good people will be rewarded for their virtues in the next. The love of money is said to be the root of all evil. I choose art and beauty and virtue, you can have all your material possessions and see if they bring you any happiness. My life is full of boundless joy because I choose to be a person of integrity and I have never compromised myself to make insipid L.A. grocery store Muzak. I choose to be a real jazz artist, not a soulless, detestable, hollow, empty mockable corporate shill. The good Lord has always rewarded me by providing me everything I need and more, and I can hold my head high as I excoriate and denounce the corrupt, Satan-fellating world that some so enthusiastically embrace. George Benson’s bizarre, mutilated, surgically altered face is the perfect symbolism for the woe, vanity, and spiritual short-sightedness of the lost soul who chooses stacks of deflationary fiat confetti over integrity, beauty, and virtue. Perhaps it was the darkness and depression of making the wrong decision that caused the stress that ultimately took Wes Montgomery’s life, causing him to chainsmoke and eat fattening, unhealthy comfort foods instead of respecting his temple.

[@labontetrevor]

And btw, I’m happy, healthy, I have money in the bank, no troubles, my arteries are clear, I exercise and eat right, and it looks like I’ll be living a long and happy life. Instead of compromising my music and playing soul-torturing Muzak, I simply work a day job. So you really shouldn’t worry about me, whoever the fuck you are.

[@labontetrevor]

I wanted the comment to be public. That’s why I wrote it. No need to ‘call me out.’ Sorry, real jazz is a high art form, ‘smooth jazz’ is commercial garbage. It doesn’t make me a snob for pointing that out. Those with gifts from God are committing sin by squandering those gifts. Probably you’re just ashamed and that’s why you’re having an episode,

[@labontetrevor]

Maybe you think all artists should just sell out and instead of jazz and paintings we could just live in a world of billboards and elevator music, since artists with integrity are such pathetic and ignoble losers, in your book.

[@labontetrevor]

Remember when Satan took the Lord Jesus Christ on high and offered him all the riches the material world, and Jesus turned it down? Apparently you don’t.

[@labontetrevor]

He should have bought the Kessel records. Kessel is the absolute king, even better than Wes. Kessel’s lines will absolutely put you on the fastest track to bring a good jazz player.