Great Art Tatum from all of you. I have 2 sets of the "Group Masterpieces" re - issued in 2014 as volume 1 (6 discs) and 2 (7 discs).
Don't have any of the solo sessions.
Don't have any of the solo sessions.
Jazz for aficionados
Today's Listen: Charlie Christian -- THE GENIUS OF THE ELECTRIC GUITAR with / The Benny Goodman Sextet. Other notables include, Count Basie, Cootie Williams, Fletcher Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Georgie Auld, Click on "show more" for the lineup for the various tracks. Notes: Very informative by Chris Albertson of Stereo Review, a man who has caused me to buy many CDs, including this one. Christian born in Dallas, met, and was helped / influenced by folks like Lester Young, Mary Lou Williams, Blind Lemon Jefferson(Texas Bluesman), Monk and others. Died of TB age 23. I thought I would hear more of Christian, but they were very limited for time due to the recording restraints of the day. But, you can't complain when hearing the Goodman band. I think this was a much bigger deal back then, than it appears to be today. These days, with all the recording time in the world, they have nothing to say. rose room https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnHQ9IfRzr8 wholly cats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9q1MsEZdoE air mail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pilXGjb7KdU solo flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfa5CEx4ZkY seven come eleven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpcEvSTkSeM Mary Lou Williams said Christian was one of the first to play Be-bop, and was one of the few musicians who could 'run changes' with Monk. -- Notes Cheers |
Fabulous stuff. Thanks. Christian sits alongside Art Tatum as one of the greatest early players on their instrument. Many think of him as the “Father of bebop guitar”. It may seem like a strange comparison, but for me the Goodman Sextet sits alongside Miles’ 60’s Quintet as one of my very favorite ensembles in Jazz. I would suggest that the instrumental balance that we hear on those recordings is close to what we would have heard if listening to the group live. We are so used to hearing electric guitar much louder today. In those days balance and blend were always one of the main goals since amplification was a very new and rarely used thing and not playing too loudly is always the best way for musicians to best hear each other (Some blame Rock and Roll. It was really technology that changed everything). On the other hand, Goodman was the leader on those sessions and they had a spot mic on him always. I’m intrigued by the connection to recording time ‘though. Does Albertson say something about this? I don’t get the connection and why that would affect the guitar balance. Great clips. |
Albertson spoke of the recording time is relation to the length of time each player got to play. Solos very short. Speak your piece and get out. When I said, I wanted to hear more of Christian, it was not about the balance, or overall sound of the recording, but, again, the length of the solos. I never got the idea it was Christian's Album. I've been listening to too much Coltrane. A good Coltrane solo is longer than that entire record. :) Still, I think the name of the album should have been, "The Benny Goodman Sextet: featuring Charlie Christian on Electric Guitar". Esp since the guitar being electric seemed to be an important point. Cheers |