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Textures: Jazz Guitar
About this show
Introduction
In this episode of Textures, Dominik explores the evolution of jazz guitar from the 1930s to the 1980s. The programme examines the influence of fusion and Latin elements, as well as the role of female jazz guitarists. Key highlights include the unique techniques of Django Reinhardt and Stanley Jordan, and the recovery of Pat Martino after a stroke or mental condition.
Dominik presents a programme focused on the theme of jazz guitar, exploring the evolution of styles from the 1930s through the 1980s, including the influence of Latin elements and fusion, and the role of female jazz guitarists. The broadcast highlights various musicians: Django Reinhardt, who developed a unique style using only three fingers after an accident; Pat Martino, who had to reteach himself to play following a stroke or mental condition; and Stanley Jordan, who uses two guitars on stands to play on the frets like a piano. Dominik opens the session with Django Reinhardt's "Sweet Georgia Brown" and concludes with Tal Farlow's "Summertime," describing it as the lullaby to end all other lullabies.
Topics
- Evolution of jazz guitar styles from the 1930s to the 1980s
- The influence of fusion and Latin elements in jazz guitar
- Female jazz guitarists
Participants
- Dominik
Names are taken from the archive as written and may include spelling variants.
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Textures24Feb08-JazzGuitar
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Famous guitar players of the nineteen thirty s, forties, and fifties, in the gypsy player in France, who developed a unique playing style, playing with just three fingers because he lost one to an accident.
Plays the instrument just like nobody else. Basically, he has two guitars put on stands or in some different, you know, arrangements and different ways. And he only plays on the frets, kind of like a piano. So he can do amazing things on his own without any looping or backing that otherwise would take two people to play.
I like to occasionally end the show and the day with a lullaby, and there is only one lullaby, that is the lullaby to end all other lullabies, and it is George Gershwin's "Summertime."
Selected music
Jazz Guitar Across The Decades
- 1Sweet Georgia Brown · Django Reinhardt
Why it was chosen The only place to start for jazz guitar
- 2ACDC · Charlie Christian
Why it was chosen Example of electric guitar stylings from a player who influenced a generation
- 3Have You Met Miss Jones? · Herb Ellis
Why it was chosen Mainstream player from the height of the bebop era
- 4Satin Doll · Charlie Bird
- 5Just In Time · Barney Kessel
Why it was chosen Following the alphabetical sequence of the theme
- 6Go Down Moses · Grand Green
- 7Natural Blues · Wes Montgomery
Why it was chosen True genius of the instrument
- 8Take Five · George Benson
- 9Cisco · Patman Martino
- 10For Django · Joe Pass
Why it was chosen A virtuoso of the solo played instrument performing a tribute to Django Reinhardt
- 11Song For My Mother · John McLaughlin
- 12Mediterranean Sun Dance · Al Di Meola
Why it was chosen Represents the pinnacle of the fusion era
- 13Espiritu · John McLaughlin
Why it was chosen Performance by the super trio of McLaughlin, Di Meola, and Paco de Lucia
- 14Untitled · Biréli Lagrène
Why it was chosen A new rising star of the jazz guitar
- 15Never Too Far · Pat Metheny
Why it was chosen The person to think of when discussing jazz guitar
- 16Blues For Joe · John Pisano
Why it was chosen A tribute to Joe Pass
- 17Firefly · Emily Remler
Why it was chosen Highlighting female jazz guitar players
- 18Segment · Cheryl Bailey
Why it was chosen Continuing the sequence of female guitar players
- 19My Favorite Things · Stanley Jordan
Why it was chosen Absolute genius of technique with a unique piano-like playing style
- 20Solar · John Abercrombie And John Scofield
Why it was chosen Essential players for a jazz guitar themed evening
- 21Summertime · Tal Farlow
Why it was chosen Ending the show and day with a lullaby