The Top 7 Jazz Guitarists of All Time
The Top 7 Jazz Guitarists of All Time
Jazz guitarists are musicians who play electric, acoustic, or bass guitar. They perform in various genres, including bebop, fusion, Latin jazz, and straight-ahead jazz. Here are the top 7 jazz guitarists of all time:
1. Wes Montgomery – (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. He is widely considered one of the major jazz guitarists, emerging after such seminal figures as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian and influencing countless others, including Grant Green, Joe Pass, George Benson and Pat Martino. Montgomery’s recordings are easily accessible to the novice listener while containing the depth that will keep hardcore jazz fans glued to their speakers for years.
2. George Benson – (born March 22, 1943) is an American musician, guitarist and singer-songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 21 as a jazz guitarist. Benson uses a rest-stroke picking technique similar to that of gypsy jazz players such as Django Reinhardt. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s playing soul jazz with Jack McDuff and others. He then launched a successful solo career, alternating between jazz, pop, R&
Although there is some debate on who the best jazz guitarist ever was, this top 7 list gives a great range of influential musicians who have made their mark on the music industry.
These jazz guitarists have been chosen for their influence and innovation in the genre, since they all helped to create new approaches and techniques that are still used and studied today. Their styles are varied, and include modern jazz, bebop, swing and fusion, and each one of them has been an inspiration for many other artists who have come after them.
Here are the Top 7 Jazz Guitarists of All Time:
1. Wes Montgomery – Although he was not known as a technical wizard or jazz theorist, Wes Montgomery’s smooth melodic style of playing and his ability to improvise over chord changes made him one of the most popular jazz guitarists of all time. His work in the 1960’s led to his influencing many younger players such as George Benson, Pat Martino and Larry Coryell to name but a few. His thumb-picked single note lines were very influential, as well as his use of octaves. He was also very well known for his ability to play arpeggios using block chords with the thumb instead of using a plectrum.
Jazz guitar is one of the most popular, most discussed and most studied areas of guitar. In this blog I will be discussing my personal favorites, the great jazz guitarists.
My seven favorite players are:
1. Jim Hall
2. Kenny Burrell
3. Tal Farlow
4. Pat Martino
5. Wes Montgomery
6. Joe Pass
7. Charlie Christian
In the history of jazz, the guitar has always been a prominent instrument. From the early days of jazz to the modern times, there have been many jazz guitarists that have contributed greatly to the genre. While there are many types of jazz guitarists that make up this great genre, there are only a few that can be widely considered as greats. These are some of the best jazz guitarists in history.
Charlie Christian
Charlie Christian was a pioneer in jazz guitar and one of the most important figures in the development of bebop and cool jazz. A brilliant musician, his performances were technically ahead of his time and featured a unique combination of rhythm and lead playing. He was also known for his innovative approach to soloing. Charlie Christian’s style influenced many other legendary jazz guitarists such as George Benson, Kenny Burrell, Tal Farlow and Wes Montgomery.
Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery is considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists ever. His trademark technique was using octaves that imitated piano runs but with a more fluid, intricate sound. He was also known for his ability to play fast without losing any clarity or crispness in his notes. Wes Montgomery’s style influenced many other greats such as Joe Pass, George Benson and Larry
Since its inception, jazz guitar has been a beloved facet of the jazz art form. The guitar was first widely used in jazz by Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson. However, it was greats such as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian who really started to give the instrument a voice within the genre. Throughout history, incredible jazz guitarists have emerged. These are just a few of them.
Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery is considered to be one of the best of all time. His style of playing helped to make an everlasting impact on the genre. He was influential in the use of octaves, which would later become a trademark for artists such as Pat Metheny and George Benson. Although he would never play with Miles Davis, his unique finger-picking style made him a legend in his own right. His music is highly regarded by critics and fans alike. The Wes Montgomery Trio is still touring today with his wife and sons carrying on his legacy.
Let’s get one thing clear from the start. There are no “right” answers to this question. It’s strictly a matter of opinion. Music does not come with a rule book or instruction manual. It is entirely subjective. Some people will like what you do and some won’t. That’s all there is to it.
We can, however, make an informed decision based on several factors:
1) There is a difference between popular and good. Some of the most popular guitarists are not necessarily the best players in the world! In fact, some of the more popular guitarists are known for their showmanship rather than their musical ability (I’m looking at you, Steve Vai!).
2) A great guitarist is someone who has revolutionized music, taken it forward and left a legacy behind them. The legacy could be in terms of music or in terms of technique (or both). For example, Jimi Hendrix revolutionized music by creating a new sound that nobody had heard before but he also revolutionized guitar technique by playing with his teeth and behind his back!