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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Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman
Jazz - Released by Saar srl on 24 Jul 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz After Midnight
Jazz - Released by Silver Classics Jazz on 15 Apr 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Six Appeal (16 Essential Jazz Guitar Tracks)
Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman
Jazz - Released by JAZZWAVE on 1 Feb 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Famous Jazz Instrumentalists
Jazz - Released by NK32 Records on 27 May 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie's Star (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by The Jazz Walk Of Fame on 29 Jun 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Charlie Christian: Essential 10
Bebop - Released by Tsk Music on 7 Nov 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Charlie Christian, 20 Essential Classics
Jazz - Released by Firefly Entertainment on 1 Oct 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bebop Story, Vol. 3
Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Christian
Bebop - Released by Documents on 9 Jan 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian Selected Favorites, Vol. 4
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian Selected Favorites, Vol. 6
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian Selected Favorites, Vol. 7
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian Selected Favorites, Vol. 8
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Jazz Roots Ultimate Collection, Vol. 30
Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Golden Artists Of The USA, Vol. 26
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Golden Artists Of The USA, Vol. 25
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The One and Only: Charlie Christian (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Kateland on 2 Apr 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo