Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery – The Dynamic Duo

Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery – The Dynamic Duo (1966 Jazz Album Review)

 

Verve Records 1966 – V6-8678

 

notes:

Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery joined forces in 1966

 to create The Dynamic Duo, one of the most celebrated 

collaborations in modern jazz history. Released on Verve Records,

 this album brought together two masters of their instruments:

 Hammond B-3 organ and electric guitar.

Blending soul jazz, hard bop, and orchestral arrangements, 

The Dynamic Duo stands as a landmark recording of the 1960s, 

showcasing both virtuosity and mainstream appeal.

Recorded in New York City in 1966, The Dynamic Duo pairs the 

blues-driven organ style of Jimmy Smith with Wes Montgomery’s 

signature octave guitar technique. Unlike their earlier small-group 

sessions, this album features lush big-band arrangements that 

frame the duo in a more cinematic soundscape.

The project was arranged and conducted by Oliver Nelson, 

whose orchestrations give the album a sophisticated and 

dramatic edge while leaving plenty of space for improvisation.

credits:

    

    Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Flute [Alto] ,

     Jerry Dodgion (tracks: A1, A2, B2)

    Arranged By – Oliver Nelson

    Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Flute [Alto] ,

     Danny Bank (tracks: A1, A2, B2)

    Bass – Richard Davis (2) (tracks: A1, A2, B2)

    Bass Trombone – Tony Studd

    Drums – Grady Tate

    Flugelhorn – Clark Terry (tracks: A1, A2)

    Flute [Tenor], Flute [Alto], Clarinet  Jerome Richardson (tracks: A1, A2, B2)

    Guitar – Wes Montgomery

    Organ [Hammond] – Jimmy Smith

    Percussion – Ray Barretto (tracks: B1 to B3)

    Saxophone, Clarinet – Phil Woods (tracks: A1, A2, B2)

    Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet – Bob Ashton (tracks: A1, A2, B2)

    Trombone – Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: A1, A2, B2), 

    Melba Liston (tracks: A1, A2, B2), 

    Quentin Jackson (tracks: A1, A2, B2), Richard Hixon* (tracks: B2)

    Trumpet – Clark Terry (tracks: A1, A2, B2), Ernie Royal (tracks: A1, A2, B2), 

   Jimmy Maxwell (tracks: A1, A2, B2), Joe Newman (tracks: A1, A2, B2)

 Producer – Creed Taylor

 Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder

Director Of Engineering – Val Valentin

13 (Death March) recorded September 21, 1966.

Down By The Riverside and Night Train recorded September 23, 1966.

James And Wes and Baby, It's Cold Outside recorded September 28, 1966.

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

tracklist:

A1 Down By The Riverside 10:00

A2 Night Train

Arranged By – Oliver Nelson

Written-By – Jimmy Forrest, Lewis C. Simpkins*, Oscar Washington

6:30

B1 James & Wes

Written-By – Jimmy Smith

8:05

B2 13 (Death March)

Arranged By – Oliver Nelson

Written-By – Gary McFarland

5:21

B3 Baby, It's Cold Outside

Written-By – Frank Loesser

5:50

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