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Released in 1967, California Dreaming was Wes Montgomery's last album for Verve (other than an exciting collaboration with Jimmy Smith). It's an extraordinary orchestral date featuring arrangements by Don Sebesky that showcases soloists such as pianist Herbie Hancock and percussionist Ray Barretto. The songs (which include InchSunnyInch and the title tune InchCalifornia DreamingInch) are in this case mostly pop material of the era, from which the great performer extracts magic sounds. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard jazz album chart and No. 4 on the R&B chart, and was one of the last great works by Montgomery, whose later guitar style influenced jazz fusion and smooth jazz. At the peak of his popularity, the guitarist unexpectedly died of a heart attack on June 15, 1968, at the age of 45. Album Tracks 1. California Dreaming 3 08* 2. Sun Down 6 03* 3. Oh You Crazy Moon 3 40 4. More, More, Amor 2 50 5. Without You 3 05 6. Winds of Barcelona 3 07 7. Sunny 4 03* 8. Green Peppers 2 55 9. Mr. Walker 3 35* 10. South of the Border 3 12
