Jazz Guitarists of Note
Anyone learning to play Jazz should listen to it on a regular basis. Here is a list of notable guitarists. Each of these players will teach you a good deal about the world of Jazz guitar. Listen and enjoy.
Wes Montgomery
Inspired by Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery went on to create an original Jazz guitar style of his own. Instead of employing the more common plectrum and fingerstyle techniques, Wes chose to use his thumb. A typical Wes Montgomery solo uses single note playing followed by octaves (a hallmark of his style) and chord soloing techniques.
In the same way that Charlie Christian inspired a young "Wes" the playing of Wes Montgomery has influenced guitarists everywhere. George Benson is one of the more well known players obviously influenced by him.
Kenny Burrell
Influenced by guitarists such as Charlie Christian and Oscar Moore, Kenny Burrell was given his biggest break to date in 1951, when Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie invited him to join his combo. He went on to make his recording debut with Gillespie ("Dee Gee Days"). Since then he has worked with many others including Oscar Peterson, Benny Goodman and Jimmy Smith.
In addition he has led his own combos and made a number of recordings under his own name. Kenny Burrell should be required listening for any aspiring Jazz guitarist.
He has a great feel for Blues and excels on ballads. He is also an exceptional improviser. Burrell is known for his warm and distinctive guitar tone.
George Benson
George Benson is well known all over the world as a major recording star. Although famous as a singer and hit-maker, e.g.,
"Breezin", "This Masquerade", "Give Me The Night", "On Broadway" etc., Benson’s contributions as a guitarist remain undisputed. Some of Benson’s major influences are Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, and be-bop saxophonist Charlie Parker.
Early in his career, George toured and recorded with Brother Jack McDuff. You can listen to Benson’s playing on many McDuff recordings.
Also worth hearing are the more Jazz orientated recordings made before Benson became a pop music success, e.g., "Blue Benson", "Cookin’ ", and "Bad Benson". George Benson’s playing is rhythmic and exciting.
Herb Ellis
Although not renowned as an innovator, Herb Ellis has been remarkably consistent as a Jazz artist since the 1940s. He played in the Oscar Peterson Trio between 1953 and 1958, and later toured with singer, Ella Fitzgerald.
During the 1960s he worked on television shows such as "The Merv Griffin Show". Ellis has worked in guitar duos with both Joe Pass and Barney Kessel. He has also toured and recorded with "The Great Guitars" (with Charlie Byrd and Barney Kessel).
Ellis plays be-bop in the tradition of Charlie Christian. His style is both bluesy and swinging - a strong guitar player.
Charlie Christian
Charlie Christian holds a unique position in the history of Jazz as one of the great soloists. Although Christian was not the first to use amplification, it was primarily because of his influence that the electric guitar took over from the acoustic as a dominant voice in Jazz.
Charlie Christian stands apart from the Jazz guitarists of the 1930s. Since he used the electric guitar and thus was able to be heard as an acoustic player would not, Christian was innovative in more ways than one. Musically adventurous, he took beautifully phrased solos in a way that previously only horn players had done.
Although strong in his Blues playing Christian also had an advanced harmonic sense. His playing contributed heavily to the development of be-bop.
He has influenced almost every Jazz guitarist. Look for the development of his style in the playing of Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery.
Emily Remler
Emily showed promise in music at an early age. After a number of years playing folk music and then rock and roll, she developed a love for Jazz when she enrolled at Berkeley School of Music in Boston. After graduation she worked as an accompanist to Nancy Wilson and played in rhythm and Blues bands. While playing in New Orleans, she met Jazz guitarist Herb Ellis who recommended her to Carl Jefferson (President of Concord Records). Among the albums she recorded for Concord are "Firefly" and "Take-Two". Influenced strongly by Wes Montgomery, Emily’s playing is brilliant. She was a bright light in Jazz until her premature death in Australia in 1990.
Al Di Meola
Originally playing rock and roll, Di Meola was inspired to play Jazz by players such as Tal Farlow and Kenny Burrell. Later he became influenced by Larry Coryell. He studied guitar and arranging at Berkeley College. In 1974 he joined "Return to Forever" at the invitation of Chick Corea.
Since then he has launched an impressive career as a solo artist and performed triple guitar concerts with John McLaughlin and Paco De Lucia.
Despite his phenomenal technique his critics have said that he sometimes substitutes speed in place of more basic Jazz requirements.
Still, there is no question of his great talent.
Students of Jazz guitar who also enjoy rock music should listen to his albums - very inspiring.
Freddie Green
Freddie Green joined Count Basie’s band in 1937. He is one of the most famous of all rhythm guitarists. In fact, there are very few recorded examples of Freddie Green guitar solos. As a rhythm guitar specialist Green’s four to the bar comping (see Lesson 1) has propelled many studio recordings and live dates with clockwork precision. Check out his work with Count Basie and Lester Young. Any Jazz guitar student should hear Freddie Green.
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was born in 1910 as a Tzigane gipsy. He overcame a debilitating physical handicap and went on to become a Jazz legend. In November 1928 Django was severely injured when his caravan accidentally caught fire. The fourth and fifth fingers of his left hand were irreparably damaged.
In spite of this seemingly disastrous occurrence Django developed an amazing guitar technique that made him an even better musician than he had been before the accident.
Although Django has played with a number of bands it was the formation of his own "Quintet du Hot Club de France" that cemented his popularity and also established a partnership with violinist Stephane Grappelli.
Django is regarded as one of the top Jazz guitar players of all time.
