This seventh take of Johnny Green's "Body and Soul" from Wes Montgomery's 1960 album Movin' Along on Riverside Records presents the iconic ballad as an uptempo swinger at around 212 beats per minute in D-flat. This tempo transformation recasts the tune's rich harmonic landscape as a vehicle for fast-paced improvisation rather than slow, rhapsodic balladry. James Clay opens with a chorus on flute, his airy tone floating gracefully over the changes. Montgomery follows with a chorus on electric guitar, navigating the tune's sophisticated harmonies, including its famous modulation to D major in the bridge, with fluid assurance. Pianist Victor Feldman rounds out the solo section with his own chorus, bringing classical precision to the challenging chord progression. At this brisk tempo, the 32-bar AABA form moves quickly, requiring the soloists to process complex harmonic information at speed while maintaining melodic coherence. The multiple takes of this tune that exist from the session speak to the band's determination to capture the ideal performance of this challenging arrangement. This particular take has a focused, confident energy that suggests the musicians had fully internalized the material after several previous attempts.
