I'd like to share with you some examples of the Charlie Christian solos that resonate with me musically. There are many opinions to be shared amongst us jazz guitarists. One thing we all seem to agree on however, is that one of the first...
Steve Raegele
What can be said about Charlie Christian that hasn’t already been dutifully noted in the jazz guitar log book? A light that shone brightly and briefly, his death at the age of 25 left a frustratingly small discography that fans have pored over in...
Perhaps one of the greatest jazz guitarists ever, Lenny Breau was anything but a purist and drew on a huge variety of influences including flamenco, classical music, Indian ragas, and of course, his true pedigree as the son of a pair of traveling...
If I correctly recall the liner notes of a vinyl record I had as a kid, a young George Benson spent the time in the van in between tour dates with Jack McDuff lying on top of the B3 organ practicing relentlessly. He got the gig based on his sheer...
There’s a special place in the pantheon of jazz guitarists for Joseph Anthony Passalaqua. We call him Joe Pass and for many, he is the definitive model of the “complete” jazz guitar player. Fusing rhythmic and melodic approaches, his compelling...
Born in 1931 in Detroit, Michigan, Kenny Burrell is one of jazz guitar’s more singular artists. While of the same generation as guitarists like Joe Pass, Jim Hall, and Jimmy Raney, his sound came out of different musical experiences and a particular...