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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The Essential Jazz Masters Collection, Vol. 14
Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman
Jazz - Released by Top Tracks on 30 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Original Guitar Genius
Jazz - Released by Proper Box on 24 Nov 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian Vol. 1 (1939-40)
Jazz - Released by Documents on 1 Sep 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Star Dust - Charlie Christian
Jazz - Released by Editions Audiovisuel Beulah on 8 May 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian Vol. 2 (1940-41)
Jazz - Released by Documents on 1 Sep 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Solo Flight (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Valuable Records on 18 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Early Jazz (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Ornithology Rec. on 8 Apr 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian: The Genius of the Electric Jazz Guitar - Chapter 1
Jazz - Released by Jazz Essential on 7 Apr 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Anthology (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Steel Music on 2 Aug 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Immortal Charlie Christian - Guest Artist
Bebop - Released by Legacy International on 1 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian, The First Master Of The Electric Guitar - CD B
Jazz - Released by JSP Records on 4 Jul 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Solo Flight: Best Of 1939-41
Jazz - Released by Acrobat on 22 Sep 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of Charlie Christian
Jazz - Released by Saar srl on 21 May 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
With The Benny Goodman Sextet & Orchestra
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 Feb 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian
Jazz - Released by Sotelysa Digital on 3 Dec 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Definitive Compilation (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Steel Music on 9 Oct 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian's Till Tom Special [broadcast]
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 25 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Charlie Christian Memorial Album
Jazz - Released by Shellac Revival on 20 Aug 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo