Kind Of Blue
LA 4
Jazz At The Pawnshop
LA 4
Jazz At The Pawnshop
Looking for great jazz guitar recordings - any recommendations?
Hello All,
Here's the list I've put together so far, but I'm looking for more and better recordings... I want good music AND great recordings of such... I also use these as partial test tunes (streamed from Tidal in MQA) for evaluating sound quality.
Russ Freeman & the Rippingtons, the Album Topaz, Stories of the Painted Desert
Ron Cooley with Manheim Steamroller, the album Day Dreams
Michael Hedges, the album Aerial Boundaries (wow!)
Antoine Dufour, the single Talk
Gordon Giltrap, the album Fear of the Dark
Fourplay, the album Fourplay
Jenn Adams, the album Water, Blue Island (great recording)
Joe Bonamassa, the album Live from the Royal Albert Hall
John Williams, the album Guitar Transcriptions (I know this isn't jazz, but its so good)
Nils Lofgren, the album Acoustic Live, Keith Don't Go
Roger Shah and Sunlounger, A Balearic Dinner
What else should I add to my collection? What moves you?
Here's the list I've put together so far, but I'm looking for more and better recordings... I want good music AND great recordings of such... I also use these as partial test tunes (streamed from Tidal in MQA) for evaluating sound quality.
Russ Freeman & the Rippingtons, the Album Topaz, Stories of the Painted Desert
Ron Cooley with Manheim Steamroller, the album Day Dreams
Michael Hedges, the album Aerial Boundaries (wow!)
Antoine Dufour, the single Talk
Gordon Giltrap, the album Fear of the Dark
Fourplay, the album Fourplay
Jenn Adams, the album Water, Blue Island (great recording)
Joe Bonamassa, the album Live from the Royal Albert Hall
John Williams, the album Guitar Transcriptions (I know this isn't jazz, but its so good)
Nils Lofgren, the album Acoustic Live, Keith Don't Go
Roger Shah and Sunlounger, A Balearic Dinner
What else should I add to my collection? What moves you?
81 responses Add your response
The suggestions for "Jazz guitarists" are all over the place. Some of them aren't "Jazz" players. Traditional Jazz recordings IMO are pre 70's. Your collection wanders in that "smooth jazz" territory which is argued to death, if it's even Jazz. I'm surprised Barney Kessel hasn't been mentioned. Look up his Contemporary recordings. He is one of the pre Wrecking Crew artists who did movie/commercials that many of us grew up hearing. He is in the "must have" group-Charlie Christian,Freddie Green,Wes Montgomery,Jim Hall,Herb Ellis,Hank Garland,Kenny Burrell,George Benson... There are just too many. Just start before 1980. |
Charlie Byrd for sure. Here are four to savor. Charlie on guitar and Keter Betts on bass on all. Drummers include: Buddy Deppenschmidt, Bertel Knox, Eddie Phyfe, and Bill Reichenbach. Charlie Bird Trio - Offbeat Records Jazz at the Showboat, with others - Offbeat Records Charlie's Choice - Offbeat Records Byrd at the Gate, w/Clark Terry and Sheldon Powell - Mobile Fidelity |
This this is a great thread. Thanks for starting it. And thanks to many for the most excellent suggestions/nominations I agree with many - I’m with @david_pully : this is like asking for favorite albums. I’m new to this community and simply love this kind of confirmation and inspiration. Here are some additional ideas: Metheny - “80/81” McLaughlin w the “Trio of Doom” Don Ross (anything) |
Here are a few recommendations Adventurous: Theo Ceccaldi - Petitie moutarde Nguyen Le - Three Trios The Hand to Man Band - You Are Always on Our Minds Live albums: Arild Andersen - The Moulde Concert Bill Frisell - Live More mainstream: Anthony Wilson - Adult Themes Ralph Towner/Gary Peacock - They made two duo albums I'm surprised no one mentioned Mike Stern |
Since Jazz is such a non-descriptive term I’ll keep in mind the list of artists includes the Rippingtons and Fourplay.You might want to check out Lee Ritenour - Wesbound. I also agree on John Scofield - his own work and also playing on some of the mentioned Miles Davis albums. I also like Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy, and his work on Return To Forever - Romantic Warrior. |
John Abercrombie's - "Timeless" on ECM Records is AWESOME! The title track is one of my all-time favorites. Focus "III" - Is it prog? Is it Jazz? Is it Prog/Jazz? I don't know, but it is pretty tasty. I have the double LP and it is pretty fanastic. Check out the title track - "Focus III" on Youtube, Spotify, etc., then buy the LP if you like it. Pat Metheny - "American Garage" - Been digging it since since I first heard it in 1979. Wes Montgomery - "Jimmy and Wes - The Dynamic Duo" w/Jimmy Smith |
One of my favorite "great jazz guitar recordings" is Laurindo Almeida & Charlie Byrd, 'Tango', on Concord / Picante Jazz label. Two acoustic guitar masters, impeccably recorded. This is one of my go-to's when I evaluate any change in my system, or if I just want to dim the lights and enjoy some great music. It is Latin flavored jazz. |
louisl: (and everyone else) you must listen to Laurindo Almedida with Ray Brown on the direct-to-disc masterpiece "Moonlight Serenade" ... Jeton records 1003315 !!!! This is the stuff of convergence between audiophilia and the love of music! I think you'll like it based on your post above. (be sure to find the true D2D, not the remaster from tape!) |
Steve Masakowski - For Joe & others on Blue Note Mimi Fox - Standards Old & New Paul Meyers - Dusk to Dawn, & I Let a Song Go... Martin Taylor - Artistry, Portraits, Live in Pittsburgh ( Linn ) Jesse van Ruller- Live at Murphy’s Law Howard Alden - My Shining Hour Jimmy Raney - But Beautiful Lage Lund - Idlewild John Stowell / Ulf Bandgren - Throop |
Eric Skye - "A Different Kind of Blue" (riff on Miles Davis's classic using an acoustic guitar) https://www.amazon.com/Different-Kind-Blue-Eric-Skye/dp/B008DUQEJU Bill Frisell - "Music Is". |
I second some relaxing enjoyable older school guitar from the The Great Guitars recordings and the individual members and Almeida. These 4 guys were in high demand as session guys and in Hollywood and we’ve all heard them without knowing it’s them. I’d like to also mention Chet Atkins as different but also very enjoyable picking. I have very many of his early records |
Great job by everyone here. Pretty much every jazz guitar player I’d recommend has already been listed, so I’ll add one that’s “stealth jazz”. Danny Dias played lead on a bunch of Steely Dan records and some of those are straight jazz. While the band regularly visited the pop charts, the guitar leads are frequently glorious and decidedly “not pop”. Check out the solo on “ Your Gold Teeth II” (from Katy Lied).....it will give you a flavor of what I’m talking about. |
Pat Metheny’s early stuff on acoustic and his “Brazilian” period with Lyle Mays are solid. Just saw him at the Blue Note and he’s still got the chops. Ralph Towner, Wolfgang Muthspiel and Slavs Grigoryan on Travel Guide. Maybe be not straight up Jazz, but Steve Tibbetts latest “Life of” is a great recording and pure music. |
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