Jazz Guitarist Recommendations.

You could try working vaguely chronologically; the early pioneers - Eddie Lang, Charlie Christian etc., leading into the dominants of the Swing and Bop era - Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Tal Farlow, Joe Pass, through to modern exponents merging jazz and fusion with world music stylings - John McLaughlin, John Abercrombie, Bill Conners, Al di Meola, Mike Stern, etc.

Kessel, Ellis and Charlie Byrd had a band with the three guitars to the fore - with due modesty, they went out under "The Great Guitars" - albums on Concord label
Kessel, Pass, Ellis, Farlow all have albums as leaders under their belts - Discogs or Wikipedia for discographies.
Kessel, along with Shelly Manne and Ray Brown, recorded a series under the heading "The Pollwinners", celebrating the three of them winning Downbeat readers polls...

 

James 'Blood' Ulmer... Nuff said

 

Jim Hall is worth a listen.

 

Three that haven't been mentioned so far;

Attila Zoller, and in particular his quartet in The Horizon Beyond - an enduring recording, despite its relative obscurity;



Mary Halvorson is a guitarist who seems to have inherited Derek Bailey's instinctive intuition. I like her work in large groups, and also her solo album, Meltframe.

Jeff Parker's recent issue on eremite, Mondays at The Enfield Tennis Academy, is also worth mentioning - a slow burner that rewards repeated listening.

 

The early Pat Martino albums on Prestige fit right in there too.

 

Oscar Aleman to show that Django wasn't alone.
And it seems no one has mentioned Pat Metheny.
Vinicius Cantuaria too.

 

I really like Jim Hall. He is on the Jimmy Giuffre ‘Train and the river’ which opens the ground breaking jazz film Jazz on a Summer’s Day. You only see him right at the end though. He is also good on one of my longtime favourites the Chico Hamilton ‘yellow album’ which I bought in about 1960 and subsequently when it wore out and now have on CD.

 

Thanks for the replies, after the dog walk i will be watching them all. Cheers.

 

Thanks for the reply, yes as i find out about any artist, you find there is the next one to check out. Love it. Cheers.

 

Great guitarist and person, i was watching quite a few oh his acoustic videos a couple of years ago and nearly bought one of his Collings signature guitars. I stuck with what i had though.

 

John Abercrombie can be a mixed bag but "Timeless" is worth a listen
.

John Tropea can be a bit tasty, I first heard him with Deodato but his solo albums might do it if you like the 70s CTI / Tappan Zee style.


And this is a bit different, just ignore the "New Age" label. John recorded two Jazz albums for Coda "Sirens" and "Ulysses and the Cyclops" and this compo was made of the 'lighter' tracks from those two albums. This track "Atmospheric Conditions" is from the second album.

 

He's playing touring and playing at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival in April ( I have tickets)

His recent Blue Note record Squint is excellent - and beautifully recorded.

Peter Bernstein is also worth checking out. Try Perpetual Pendulum from last year



I'm also a big fan of Lage Lund



For a record, Idlewild (Criss Cross, 2015)

+ 1 for Jeff Parker - I got Forfolks recently which is excellent. I love his solo playing

 

I could go on a bit as I love jazz guitar in all of it's non fusion guises.

I consider Mark Ribot one of the great post 70's jazz players although he is left out of too many lists

Playing Coltrane - check the Sun Ship record



Or With Halverson and Jamaaladeen Tacuma doing Philly Soul from the Young Philadelphian's record which is basically Philly soul cross with Ornette's Prime time ( this is one of the best things ever btw - utterly noisy and joyous)



I love the way they play this funky noise using charts - proper muso stuff!

I also really rate his playing with John Zorn - the Bar Kokhba records are essential stuff.

Miles Okazaki is a fabulous player - his 6 CD complete Monk on solo guitar is an amazing record



Not a record, but to get really geeky. here is Okazaki with Julian Lage and Mary Halverson talking about and playing guitars



And don't forget Nels Cline - his straight jazz playing is first rate - I'd recommend the Blue Note "Lovers" record

 

Great thread! Currently playing:


https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CTCI568/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

 

I forgot Charlie Hunter. He has a 7 string and plays both lead and bass parts which is quite mind boggling to watch.

My most played of his is the self titled record from 2000

Here's a taste of his playing

 

The great Louis Stewart.

 

I always liked Stuart McCallum, i don't suppose you'd call it strictly Jazz, just great music really, i can hear Vini Reilly in his music, i can hear greater Manchester in his music, bit special IMO.

 

Have to give a special mention to Miles Davis’ Jack Johnson with John McLaughlin . Possibly the greatest Jazz/ Rock LP ever?

 

Not strictly Jazz but not pure Flamenco either:


https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000006Y23/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21