Kismet (The Mastersounds album) Kismet (The Mastersounds album) Kismet (subtitled A Jazz Interpretation by the Mastersounds) is an album by The Mastersounds led by vibraphonist Buddy Montgomery with pianist Richie Crabtree, bassist Monk Montgomery and drummer Benny Barth along with guitarist Wes Montgomery featuring performances of tunes originally composed by Alexander Borodin and adapted by Robert Wright and George Forrest for the musical "Kismet" recorded in 1958 and released on the World Pacific label. The Allmusic review by Matthew Greenwald stated "Overall, an excellent jazz reading of one of the most beloved musicals ever and also an important historical record for Wes Montgomery fans".
Robert Wright (writer) of these productions to Broadway. Wright and Forrest had an affinity for adapting classical music themes and adding lyrics to these themes for Hollywood and the Broadway musical stage. Wright said that the music was usually a 50-50 "collaboration" between Wright and Forrest and the composer. While both men were credited equally as composer-lyricists, it was Forrest who worked with the music. Forrest and Wright won a Tony Award for their work on "Kismet" and in 1995 they were awarded the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers Award. He was cremated at Cofer-Kolski-Combs mortuary, Miami, and his ashes given to his executor.