Nathan Hiltz - Tribute to Wes Montgomery @The Pilot Dec 7th

 

Nathan Hiltz - Tribute to Wes Montgomery

There are few more storied establishments than the Pilot in Yorkville.  It has stood as an iconic symbol of Toronto’s cultural scene for years and was famously Hemingway’s haunt during his time writing for the Star in the 1940’s.  Their Saturday afternoon jazz, a popular local fixture is a great setting to see some great jazz.  I can’t think of a better setting for a tribute to one of Jazz’s most legendary guitarists.  His influence can be traced in the playing of countless guitarists since.  Perhaps most notably in the late Emily Reimler’s playing, who at times was harangued for being too similar to him (though to a fan she continues in his tradition while forging her own path).  There’s the clear influence on guys like Kenny Burrell and Pat Martino but also in modern players like Julian Lage who talks in deep reverence about his impact.  In a recent master class, I watched Lage break out into a spirited west coast blues when making a point about following the music you love and letting that be your compass rather than a purely academic climb up “jazz mountain”, taking your vitamins as it were.

Drink Recommendation 1: Lagavulin 16 

If Laphroig is like making out with a mermaid who has just eaten brisket, Lagavulin is like bathing in the stuff.  It turns up all that peat and oak smoke to the next level, well embodying the chain smoking, 3 hours of sleep a night hard working mentality of Wes.  Smoky and hard working, but smoothed off by those 16 years. 

Drink Recommendation 2: Irish Coffee.

This being an afternoon gig when Wes would have perhaps still at his welding job we’ll suggest some black coffee with a healthy pour of Jameson.  Dark bitter and brooding at times, but with the second set, blues heavy.

Food Recommendation 1:  Lobster Dip

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention something from the kitchen itself, the lobster crab dip with fried tortilla and naan was comfort on a cold day, warming up like the sweet soulsy post bop.

If I was cooking this at home, I'd grab some Costco cooked claws and toss them with some brandy, heavy cream, pinch of smoked paprika and some gruyere.

If you want to get fancy you can go the Julia Child bisque method and then turn it into a dip.  Chinese stores like the infamous Lucky Moose sometimes carry perfectly fine lobsters missing a limb or two for those on a budget.  Serious Eats would suggest a bit of chicken stock to fortify their bisque recipe, but I prefer cutting it with extra shrimp shells cooked in butter.  If you have it a touch of saffron works nice.  But taking a soup as rich as lobster bisque and turning it into a dip is already fancy enough.      

Food Recommendation 2: Focaccia 

Wes was said to have loved bread saying it was the only thing he could eat for the rest of his life, so on a cold day, why not bake some focaccia with rosemary and sea salt. A little crunch giving into soft pillowy goodness about nails it musically and culinarily. 

The Music and Musicians:

Our guide for the evening, Nathan Hiltz, proved as entertaining as he was an informative on the subject. His presentation took the audience on a chronological journey through Wes' life and musical development, combining reverence for the subject with humor and candor.  Beyond being a captivating and thoughtful historian, he nailed the technical and creative aspects too.  If you peak at the local listings, you’re likely to see his name peppered throughout and for good reason.  He does the “Wes” thing very well, without being “all thumbs”.  He nails the signature single note-octave-chordal soloing but still incorporates enough of his own unique voice to keep things fresh.  This was best demonstrated on the Latin flavored "Cariba", which was not just textbook, it was absolute fire.  The second set was Full House played start to finish, the opener and title track, "Full House" nailed that progressive single note-octave-chordal solo form that is a Wes signature along with some filthy octave tremolo lines.  On "Road Song" we are treated to some fantastic blues-tinged Wes style playing that gave way to some fiery Martino lines at the height of the solo to build excitement.  I don’t think Wes would mind, it’s still very much that “west coast” cool.  Nathan also is an avid supporter of music education, running the Tiny Guitars Program out of his local church, providing lessons and instruments to help grow the community all for free.

Mike Manny a Toronto Native now living in Ottawa was in town to take the role of Wynton Kelly.  Mike was the conductor and arranger of the Toronto All Star Big Band for 10 years and is an absolute delight.  Sporting a dapper brown suit and an infectious smile he was just so damn fun.  It’s just so nice to see a band that absolutely loves the music they are playing.  That’s exactly what you need to fill those big shoes, a crisp rhythmic blues approach that’s happy and exciting.  Though we were also treated to some nasty modern lines too, particularly on “The Twisted Blues”. He weaves some great lines without straying too far from tradition.  His rhythmic self comping and solo on "West Coast Blues" was another stand out.  You can really see the band get excited when he flexes out a little bit.

I could think of no one more appropriate to sit in for “the little giant” Johnny Griffin than local sax player Johnny Griffith.  Asides from the hilarious similarity in names, he is really at home with hard bop and those “twists” on the normal blues tunes.  Killer horn all the way.  

Brendan Davis on bass and Morgan Childs on the drums do a very convincing Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. They drive the music well and like Mike on the keys, they just look like they are having so much damn fun.  Neither spent much time soloing, but Childs featured solo was fantastic.  Too often I see a drum solo that is just the rudiments they are working on this month.  His playing was fresh, exciting and followed the cadence of the form.  

Final Thoughts:

Just about a perfect Saturday Afternoon at the Pilot.  We don't have the luxury of being in some of the venerated halls and hotels to see Wes in his heyday, But Nathan and his band were certainly the next best thing.