I play guitar, but not jazz guitar. I enjoy several of the guitarists already mentioned, But wanted to add Wayne Krantz and also Mike Stern, who I just became aware of last week when I saw him play live. They are both excellent.
Also, my brother, who is currently toiling in obscurity in Boston. I love him.
Small world. I met Carl when I was home from college (1976) and he let me sit in on a tune in his cover band once. I talked to him at a gig in Bethesda many years later, and saw him perform in Herndon, Va., a couple of years ago. I’m sure he doesn’t remember me, but he is a great local talent.
My current jazz guitar god is Bireli Lagrene, a French guitarist who is equally comfortable playing mainstream jazz (fantastic live album), gypsy guitar jazz, and even put a heavy metal number on one of his albums. Which was quite bizarre since the rest of the album was acoustic guitar. But he could mop up the floor with any of those G3 guys.
I am also a big Frank Vignola fan. Saw the Frank & Joe Show a few months ago and even my wife, who is generally indifferent to jazz (she’s a pop fan) loved it.
You might also like his older albums. My favorite is Consciousness, which has a great version of Impressions, a unique take on Along Came Betty, and an original called On The Stairs. It also has a cerebral solo Passat on Guitar, and an avante garde piece. It is from the early-mid-70’s.
I saw Pat play at Blues Alley a couple of years ago, just him and a pianist. The story of his recovery from his surgery is miraculous.
Of people alive now, I only know John Pizzarelli, and I’m not sure if he counts (he’s mostly a vocalist). But I like what I hear…
I don’t know if jazz purists would agree, but the (here he goes again) Derek Trucks Band does covers of Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and Raahsad Roland Kirk. And Curtis Mayfield. Derek is better known for his role in the Allman Brothers, but his band is much closer to jazz, IMO.
He definitely counts–he’s very well respected in the guitar world.
And you know Al DiMeola can switch competently and smoothly between a 78/4 and a 76/4 time signature, and can hear the slight displacement caused by the two extra beats in 78.
Wish me luck, tonight I’m off to the first meeting of my swing guitar class. It’s been a while since I played seriously (except classical)–hope I can keep up!
It’s been almost 5 years since I took some jazz guitar lessons for about three months. I’d be interested in the subject matter you’re going to be getting if you care to share that sort of thing. My first homework was a set of 12 2-5-1 changes in fingerings that were all new to me. I still love the sound of those chords.
You might like “Progressions: 100 Years of Jazz Guitar”
I wrote a review on Amazon’s site but I don’t necessarily endorse buying it there. The review can be seen at
I played guitar as a kid, but as an adult I picked my clarinet back up instead. It really is easier to be a wind instrumentalist than it is to be a guitarist-- I still don’t know how the hell they do the kinds of changes they do as fast as they do. Boggles.
Django is a favorite, but that’s only because I’ve been listening to a LOT of early jazz of late. How come no one’s mentioned Charlie Christian yet? His work with Benny Goodman is plain fantastic.
If you read liner notes and reviews that include mention of guitarists’ lists of influences, most of the guys who were active in the 50’s and 60’s mention Charlie. Unfortunately his recorded output was fairly limited. I have one of those RCA compilations from various sources of Christian’s more notable cuts. Unless you have the Goodman records there’s not all that much to hear.
Another surprising influence on many of those guys was T-Bone Walker (of Stormy Monday fame) whose electric guitar innovations were much like those of Christian, Les Paul, and other pioneers.
Django is simply amazing, especially when you consider his speed and dexterity.