Wes Montgomery
Electric Bass Solo on
Body And Soul

About

Taking the 2nd solo, this electric bass improvisation spans two choruses of the 32-bar AABA form at an uptempo 205 BPM. Montgomery follows with two choruses on electric guitar, taking full advantage of the additional space to build his solo through his signature textural layers. Montgomery takes the unusual step of soloing on electric bass, demonstrating the instrument's capacity for melodic improvisation beyond its typical accompaniment role. Situated between James Clay's flute solo and Victor Feldman's turn on piano, it occupies a pivotal spot in the arrangement.

Wes Montgomery was 36 to 37 years old at the time.