[Monarch]

Hi all,

I'm not a jazz musician so know nothing about jazz guitarists (even though I know I should) but with some performances coming up I've decided to go for something new and try and learn some jazz songs, so who are the good guitarists to look at? Looking for some things which are fairly demanding (assessed pieces) but nobody who plays nothing but superhuman stuff

cheers

[amgard]

I'm not a jazz buff myself, but do enjoy Martin Taylor's playing.

[Monarch]

Cheers, will take a look when I get back from holiday, anyone else?

[Decadence]

Eric Johnson
Steve Vai
Les Paul (started off as a Jazz guitarist)
Bucky Pizzarelli
Wes Montgomery
Joe Pass
Django Reinhart (had a dodgy hand but was still incredibly good!)

I bet you never thought I had those names in me!

Also BB King can sometimes cross over from Blues to Jazz as it is a very fine line between the two styles.

[unique]

george benson
john scofield
john mclaughlin
bert jansch
stanley jordan
lonnie johnson
kenny burrel
al di meola
lee ritenour


and some bloke called les paul

List of jazz guitarists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[pmc]

Add Charlie Hunter to the list. Though perhaps not to learn his stuff because a) what he is doing is superhuman and b) he plays an 8 string. But take a listen a for the sheer jaw dropping amazingness of his playing. Especially when you realise he playing the bass and guitar parts AT THE SAME TIME.

[Philly112]

Well, I have seen many of the guitarists on the above lists.
Not sure I'd put down Steve Vai as a jazz guitarist though

So what are you trying to achieve? I guess you are a student who wants to learn some jazz pieces.
Have a look at some Pat Metheny scores. Not only a great guitarist, but a great composer as well. Some of his slow pieces can be as easy or difficult as you want them to be, as he uses an awful lot of chord substitutions etc.
And surely, composition is what it's all about at the end of the day.

Saw Martin Taylor's name. If you can play some of his stuff, suggest you get a recording contract and stuff the exams.
But he is a crap composer


Phil

[Monarch]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll take a look through all these names. Basically yes, I'm a student wanting to 'expand my playing', I've got plenty to get started with here though

thanks again!

[Seeker_UK]

Some suggestions (and why)

Charlie Christian - Everyone playing jazz guitar has their roots here.

Allan Holdsworth - V. Modern player with some really interesting ideas about harmony.

Mike Stern - Was replaced by John Schofield in Miles' 80s period. Plays a very muscular "fusion" style

Ray Russell - UK guitarist. Best album "Dragon Hill" - alternates between free jazz style and more straight ahead post-bop

Tal Farlow - another straight forward no-nonsense jazz player. Easy to work out what he's doing and a good plave to learn a few jazz licks.

[alexs2]

I don't think that by the wildest stretch of your imagination you could call Steve Vai a jazz guitarist

How about another vote for Pat Metheny....the current king of jazz guitar.

Also as well as some of the above....

Jim Hall
Bill Frisell
Wes Montgomery
Lee Ritenour
Larry Carlton