Charlie Christian
It can be said without exaggeration that virtually every jazz guitarist that emerged during 1940-65 sounded like a relative of Charlie Christian. The first important electric guitarist, Christian played his instrument with the fluidity, confidence, and swing of a saxophonist. Although technically a swing stylist, his musical vocabulary was studied and emulated by the bop players, and when one listens to players ranging from Tiny Grimes, Barney Kessel, and Herb Ellis, to Wes Montgomery and George Benson, the dominant influence of Christian is obvious.
Charlie Christian's time in the spotlight was terribly brief. He played piano locally in Oklahoma, and began to utilize an amplified guitar in 1937, after becoming a student of Eddie Durham, a jazz guitarist who invented the amplified guitar. John Hammond, the masterful talent scout and producer, heard about Christian (possibly from Mary Lou Williams), was impressed by what he saw, and arranged for the guitarist to travel to Los Angeles in August 1939 and try out with Benny Goodman. Although the clarinetist was initially put off by Christian's primitive wardrobe, as soon as they started jamming on "Rose Room," Christian's talents were obvious. For the next two years, he would be well-featured with Benny Goodman's Sextet; there were two solos (including the showcase "Solo Flight") with the full orchestra; and the guitarist had the opportunity to jam at Minton's Playhouse with such up-and-coming players as Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke, and Dizzy Gillespie. All of the guitarist's recordings (including guest spots and radio broadcasts) are currently available on CD. Tragically, he contracted tuberculosis in 1941, and died at the age of 25 on March 2, 1942. It would be 25 years before jazz guitarists finally moved beyond Charlie Christian.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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BD Music Presents Charlie Christian
Blues - Erschienen bei BDMUSIC am 25.06.2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Genius Of The Electric Guitar
Bebop - Erschienen bei Columbia am 01.01.1941
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
After Hours
Charlie Christian, Dizzy Gillespie
Jazz - Erschienen bei Fantasy Records am 19.11.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian: The Genius of the Electric Jazz Guitar - Chapter 2
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Essential am 28.04.2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Collection & Blues
Bebop - Erschienen bei Vintage Masters Inc. am 01.12.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Essential Charlie Christian
Jazz - Erschienen bei Columbia - Legacy am 03.11.2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian
Bebop - Erschienen bei Archive of Folk & Jazz Music am 15.07.1957
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Original Guitar Hero
Bebop - Erschienen bei Columbia - Legacy am 01.01.2001
Qobuz’ Schallplattensammlung16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian Quintessence 1939-1941 New York - Los Angeles
Bebop - Erschienen bei Fremeaux Heritage am 30.07.2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
When Lights Are Low
Jazz - Erschienen bei Catfish Records am 06.10.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Immortal: After Hours Monroe's Harlem Mintons (Live)
Charlie Christian, Dizzy Gillespie
Jazz - Erschienen bei Esoteric Records am 29.08.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian: Radioland 1939-1941
Jazz - Erschienen bei Fuel 2000 am 06.09.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Swing to Bop (2000 Remastered Version)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Dreyfus Jazz am 01.12.1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Guitar Hero
Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman Sextet
Jazz - Erschienen bei Grammercy Records am 01.12.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
35 Essential Jazz Classics By Charlie Christian
Pop - Erschienen bei Rendez-Vous Digital am 12.04.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Immortal Charlie Christian
Bebop - Erschienen bei Laserlight Digital am 15.10.1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Solo Flight (Authentic Recordings 1940 - 1941)
Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Classics am 01.01.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Solo Flight: Charlie Christian Live! With the Benny Goodman Sextet (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Starlight Jazz am 25.04.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Ultimate Jazz Store, Vol. 14 (Charlie Christian)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Black Sheep Music am 15.11.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Guitar & Bass
Pop/Rock - Erschienen bei Sony Music Media am 20.09.2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -