Joe Diorio - I Remember You - A Tribute To Wes Montgomery '1998

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. I Remember You
02. Reflections of Wes
03. Invitation
04. Its Rudimentary, Watson!
05. In a Sentimental Mood
06. More or Less
07. Monk-Ing
08. When Youre Away
09. Estate
10. The Two Faces of Steve
11. Lament
12. Guess What!

Bass – Steve LaSpina
Drums – Steve Bagby
Guitar – Joe Diorio

Guitarist Diorio knew Wes Montgomery and presents this tribute to his hero, but
very little here sounds distinctly like Montgomery. Its all the brilliant leader
in a variety of mostly trio settings, but duos and solos alternate on these
twelve tracks. Bassist Steve LaSpina and drummer Steve Bagby are both underrated
jazz men like Diorio, but together the three mesh well, and on the non-trio
tracks prove they have something to say on their own.

As a triad on half the cuts, they easily swing the title cut, but Diorio pops
off some impressive single improvised extrapolations off the straight melody.
Invitation is outstanding as churning brushes and ostinato bass set up the
guitarists galloping interpretations with Spanish inquisitions. The long ballad
In a Sentimental Mood is fairly typical if not for the elongated notion, Estate
simmers in bossa-based languidity, while Lament is a laid-back swing ballad, and
the original Monk-ing clearly reflects Thelonious Monks angular, up, down, and
sideways approach as evoked by the witty Diorio. Inserted on every other tune
are beautiful, patient guitar solos (Reflections of Wes), loose and free drum
solos (Its Rudimentary, Watson!), or call and response guitar/drum duets (More
or Less). LaSpina gets lots of solo space on the trio cuts, but he stands alone
on the slow, contemplative While Youre Away while chatting with Bagby on the
counterpointed The Two Faces of Steve. The finale is a spirited, boppish
guitar/bass tandem on Guess What?

Diorios unusual harmonic approach is prevalent throughout, but listen closely to
LaSpina on this disc. They have a thing going on that supersedes the specter of
Montgomery. Recommended.

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