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Jazz guitar, for some inexplicable reason, seems sometimes to lack the attention that it deserves. It may stem from the fact that back in the Big Band era the guitar was seen very much as part of the rhythm section, an instrument that accompanied and filled out the sound rather than take center stage as a lead instrument. It was Charlie Christian who helped to take the instrument from side stage to center stage with his 'Solo Flight' album recorded with Benny Goodman's band in 1941. Lists are always a problem, but here we go . . .
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IN THE BASSMENT
Nothin' like funk on a Fender Bass! Here's a really cool collection of 30 funk bass lines that should inspire you to pick up your bass and get funky . . .
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With every single LP, the Beatles shed some creative skin. Decades later, it's still difficult to process their two-year leap from Revolver to Sgt. Pepper's to the White Album. It's surprising how many classic Beatles songs feature Paul McCartney behind the drum kit, or John Lennon on lead guitar. These small details are crucial in the Beatles' evolution. To honor the Fab Four's enduring free spirit, let's look back at 10 of the band's most intriguing instrumental switch-ups . . .
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Wouldn't it be nice if someone came up with a guitarist's checklist of all the many little skills and techniques you should know and practice and have in your arsenal? Things like hybrid picking, unison bends, chord inversions, and the like. You can go through this list from top to bottom, or just find the topics that suit your particular need at the moment. However you use these exercises, they'll help you improve your skills and become a better and more well-rounded guitarist . . .
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GREAT GEAR
BOSS has been cranking out some of the most trusted compact guitar pedals on the planet since the 1977. More than 50 of their pedals have been retired though, so here's a quick primer on a few out-of-production gems that you should keep an eye out for at pawnshops and garage sales ~ Happy Hunting!
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ARTIST AWARENESS
For more than seven decades, the legendary Bucky Pizzarelli has had a stellar career. He was a fixture in jazz and the studios since the early '50s. The list of big bands and vocalists with whom Bucky has performed and recorded reads like a veritable Who's Who of Jazz. One of the era's most solid rhythm players, Pizzarelli was in high demand, playing and touring and recording with George Van Eps, Carl Kress and George Barnes. His superior mastery of the seven-string guitar is unparalleled. He lives in Saddle River, New Jersey, with his wife of nearly 70 years, Ruth.
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