Jazz guitar?

Question

What are some songs or artists you would recomend that have a strong jazz guitar? I'm the pianist in a jazz band, and our new guitar player is at a loss for rhythmical things to do while comping behind the band.

Answer 1

Hi,

Good question. You're gonna get alot of suggestions here. I'll try to suggest a few that have not been mentioned already:

Django Reinhardt - Truly Insiring (learn his story too, what he did with two fingers would humble most guitarists out there)

Grant Green - A Nice alternative to standard jazz. Perfect if you like to put a little "Go Go" in your playing. Cool Stuff, greatfor jamming.

Tal Farlow - One of the greats

Charlie Christian - Another timeless player

George Van Eps - Much overlooked

Jim Hall - Also, very underrated.

Joe Pass - Great for real-book type of stuff.

John Mclaughlin - Cool Stuff, check out "Mahavishnu Orchestra"

Kenny Burrell - Check out his stuff on Verve records. Great stuff.

Larry Carlton - Really did cool stuff with fusion.

Lee Ritenour - Also, did really did cool stuff with fusion, and played on alot of records you ,may have have listened to.

Pat Martino - Also great if you want to learn alot of stuff in the real book.

Kevin Chisholm - American Guitarist

Answer 2

Well, the most popular guitar player, I think, is George Benson. Most people know him because of his cross-over pop hits, but he's true-blue jazz player. He's fast and got some tasty phrasing, especially on his solos. Listen to his biggest selling jazz album Breezin'. It's more of a smooth jazz album but the songs here are great.

Of course, there's the legendary Wes Montgomery, Chet Atkins, Al Di Meola, Larry Carlton, Stanley Jordan and host of others.

Answer 3

West Montgomery, Jim Hall, Kenny Burrell, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, Tal Farlow, Charlie Byrd, Pat Metheny, Barney Kessel.
My favourite: West Montgomery

Answer 4

well, harmonically speaking, it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay harder to play the jazz guitar, in a solo for example, when you're playing you actually have to know about the chord changes and apply that to your solo, so you can't just sweep pick in C minor. but there are some types of metal that are hard too, for example yngwie malsteem uses classical shapes with metal speed... which is hard. usually guitar isn't too speedy when it comes to jazz, but it's because you daon't have the time to really fleash out a complete scale as would any shredder

Answer 5

Try Bucky and John Pizzarelli, Pat Metheny, Al Di Meola, Mimi Fox, Bill Frisell.

Answer 6

John Scofield, plus Jimmy Haslip in the Yellowjackets.

Answer 7

Great jazz guitarists already mentioned.

Just wanted to add

John Abercrombie

has a new CD out.

Happy Listening

Answer 8

Stanley Jordan

Answer 9

George Benson

Answer 10

Barney Kessel or Herb Ellis