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Mimi Fox: One for Wes

By Jack Bowers
February 15, 2023
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To mark the hundredth anniversary of the great

Wes Montgomery

guitar
1923 - 1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Wes Montgomery's birth in March 1923, guitarist

" data-original-title="" title="">Mimi Fox has recorded One for Wes, an earnest tribute that consists of eight Montgomery-inspired tunes adeptly performed by Fox's San Francisco Bay-area organ trio with

Brian Ho

organ, Hammond B3
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Ho on Hammond B3 and

Lorca Hart

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Lorca Hart on drums.

As one might expect, there is a lot of blues, emotion and reverence in play, none of which detracts from the trio's admirable consonance and artistry. As was true of Montgomery, they set aside any distractions to concentrate on the music. Their diligence pays dividends on every number, most especially on the blues-bonded themes—"Mr. White's Blues," "Blues for Les," "Blues for Us," where Fox and her mates seem most clearly comfortable and at ease.

That is not to say they are ill at ease in other circumstances. The album's lone burner, "Pack of Lies," is performed with tasteful intensity, as are the lyrical homage to the legendary

Django Reinhardt

guitar
1910 - 1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Django Reinhardt, "For Django, Avec Amor,"

Bobby Timmons

piano
1935 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Timmons' familiar "Moanin'" and the remaining numbers, "Judy's Song" and Fox's lovely a cappella finale, "In My Life/Old Friends."

Fox is a virtuosic guitarist, at home no matter the mood or tempo; equally important, she works snugly with Ho and Hart, perhaps owing in part to her past alliances with

Joey DeFrancesco

organ, Hammond B3
1971 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey DeFrancesco and

Barbara Dennerlein

organ, Hammond B3
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Barbara Dennerlein, among others. Whatever the reason, Fox and her mates are simpatico on every number, and One for Wes is a special tribute to a special musician who left us far too soon.

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Track Listing

Mr. White's Blues; Moanin'; Blues for Les; Judy's Song; Pack of Lies; Blues for Us; For Django, Avec Amor; In My Life/Old Friends.

Personnel

Mimi Fox

guitar

Brian Ho

organ, Hammond B3

Lorca Hart

drums

Album information

Title: One for Wes | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Origin Records

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