Acoustic Jazz Guitarists

Started by Novalis, March 28, 2007, 12:56:48 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.


Actually very recently I have come accross (found in bargain bin of used CD shop) a CD called Hold It Right There by Chris Cortez (formerly of New Orleans). Excellent Guitar player and not a half bad singer. Good taste in material. On that record he plays an archtop for the most part. Based on that record I picked up his newest CD "Mum Is the Word", on which he plays a flattop for the most part (sorry it is a Taylor, for you Taylor haters out there). The band is excellent on both as well.
SOUND SAMPLES available here....    http://www.chriscortez.net/music.html

In the Gypsy Jazz realm, check out a group called Gyspy Hombres from Nashville, not the expected mecca for gypsy jazz. But a dyanmite trio, search CDbaby for sound samples.

Check out Legends of Jazz Guitar 2 DVD for great performances by Kenny Burrell on a flat top, Charlie Byrd on nylon string (as always), not to mentiln Wes, Herb Elllis, Barney Kessel and Joe Pass. A must have.

For a taste of something in a mix of solo acoustic jazz, blues and folk check out Magda Hilller at ....   www.magdahiller.com

Oh yeah, for great songwriting and rhythmn playing I gotta mention Dan Hicks either the vintage Hot Licks or the newer releases.

I forgot to add Guy Van Duser to this accomplished list.   Guy usually  plays  swing music of the 20's and 30's on acoustic nylon string with Billy Novick on clarinet and you'd swear he's got an extra 5 or 6 fingers somewhere.   For a special treat, listen to this live solo version of Stars and Stripes Forever.

http://www.rhapsody.com/guyvanduser


Charlies3, thanks for the info on VanDuser. If you like the guitar clarinet combo you should get the Lenny Breau Living Room Tapes 2 CD set. Hell it's Lenny everybody should get it.

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out.

If you've got a freak for Django, there,s a group named Pearl Django out of Portland(I think) really nice. If anyone out there is in the neighbourhood of Vancouver BC you can hear a great group called The Hot Club of Mars. My favourite luthier, Michael Dunn, plays his own Maccaferi style guitar. Talk about great talent. I have one of his instruments built in '80 and I'm keepin' 'er 'til they pry 'er from my dead nerveless fingers.

Six CDs you will never regret owning:

Lenny Breau "Cabin Fever"
John McLaughlin "My Goal's Beyond"
John McLaughlin "Time Remembered: JM Plays the Music of Bill Evans"
Pat Metheny "One Quiet Night"
Phil Keaggy "Acoustic Sketches"
Ralph Towner "Timeline"

This is acoustic jazz guitar on the highest levels of musicality (not just technique wizardry).

You MUST check out Tommy Emmanuel (www.tommyemmanuel.com).  Jaw-dropping, captivating, and one of the greatest technical guitarists today.  Chet Atkins named him a "certified" guitar player.

He plays almost all instrumental, in a mix which uses a lot of jazz foundation but draws more on taking vocal songs (like a Billy Joel tune) and making it into something melodic, percussive and moving all without words.

Check out these YouTube videos for a snapshot:
   http://youtube.com/watch?v=zBEbYXa6Cik  (Classical Gas)
   http://youtube.com/watch?v=j_zPXtaGTQs  (Lewis & Clark)
   http://youtube.com/watch?v=BuuBKuPZUuI (Pegao)

and http://www.myspace.com/tommyemmanuel1 (the music playing is from his latest CD)

Check out the Tommy and Chet "The Day Finger Pickers Took Over the World" CD.

Powered by EzPortal