“Could you recommend a list of entry-level jazz guitar recordings that would be helpful for someone getting started with jazz guitar? I find the ‘Top 100 Albums’ lists a little overwhelming.”
David
Absolutely, here’s a list of ten essential recordings to get started with jazz guitar:
Wes Montgomery – “Smokin At The Half Note”:
This is one of my favorite jazz guitar albums of all time. Not only is Wes Montgomery a legend, this is a great overall rhythm section to listen to, even for non-guitarists.
Featuring Wes Montgomery on guitar, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on Bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums, you get great examples of how each instrument supports the band throughout the album.
This album has great examples of Wes Montgomery using octaves and block chords – techniques he is known for, and fantastic examples of how to build energy in a solo.
The first track “No Blues” is a masterclass in solo construction… and between Wes Montgomery and Wynton Kelly, you’ll learn a lot about comping for a soloist as well.
Joe Pass – “Virtuoso”:
“Virtuoso” is one of the albums I keep coming back to over and over again… and I find that you can always learn something new by listening to it.
There’s no rhythm section, and no multitracking… just Joe Pass and his guitar. It’s really incredible to hear how much music he can play just by himself.
This album is full of great examples of how to play solo guitar – mixing bass lines, chords, and melody to make it feel like there’s an entire band… even though it’s just one player.
This is an album to keep in your rotation for years, and it’s always a fun one to come back to.
Charlie Christian – “The Genius of the Electric Guitar”:
This is a compilation album of recordings by Charlie Christian. While it was released in 1987, it was recorded in the late 1930s and early 1940s while he was playing with the Benny Goodman sextet and orchestra.
Charlie Christian is often credited with popularizing the electric guitar as a lead instrument in jazz music. He is one of the pioneers of using an amplified guitar – which let him play melodic solos in groups with louder instruments like horns, piano, and drums.
Without Charlie Christian, we likely wouldn’t have many of the jazz guitarists we know today.
Grant Green – “The Complete Quartets with Sonny Clark”:
This was my first Grant Green album, and it’s still the one I listen to the most today.
It features pianist Sonny Clark, along with Sam Jones on bass, with Art Blakey and Louis Hayes on drums (depending on the track).
There are great examples of simple takes on the melodies to different jazz standards, so it’s a good way to get some tunes in your ears without too much extra ornamentation.
His approach to improvisation is really nice too – and his tone is a little on the brighter side – a nice contrast to players like Wes Montgomery when you’re thinking about how you want your guitar to sound.
Lenny Breau – “The Hallmark Sessions”:
This is a great album to listen to so you can get a sense of just how much you can do on the guitar.
Lenny Breau played fingerstyle, which gave him access to some different textures than players who only used a pick. He also used different techniques like artificial harmonics.
This album features great examples of his improvisation, comping for himself like a piano player would, and playing jazz guitar in a trio setting.
Pat Metheny – “Trio 99→00”:
This was actually one of the first Pat Metheny albums I bought. It’s a great trio with Larry Grenadier on bass and Bill Stewart on drums.
Listen for Metheny’s improvisational ideas, and the interaction between players in the trio.
I also really like Pat Metheny’s tone – it’s a good sound to try to emulate as you work on your setup between your guitar and amplifier.
Django Reinhardt – “The Best of Django Reinhardt”:
This album is really a group of recordings made between the mid-1930s and the early 1950s.
Django Reinhardt was one of the most influential guitarists in the history of jazz. It’s hard to find a guitarist today who wasn’t influenced by him.
His left hand was badly burned, and he only had full use of the index and middle fingers.
To overcome this, he developed a unique approach to playing the guitar using mostly his index and middle fingers.
Even if you don’t know his backstory, he’s still a really impressive guitarist – knowing about his hand just makes him even more unbelievable.
John Scofield – “Works For Me”:
This is one of my all time favorite John Scofield recordings. It’s a good example of him playing in a more straight-ahead jazz style.
His phrasing and use of legato is a great thing to try to get into your own guitar playing. You’ll also notice his tone – just a little overdriven and dirty. This can be a fun tone to play with in the right groups.
George Benson – “Breezin”:
Growing up, it seemed like every interview I read listed George Benson as a major influence, and it reached a point where I just had to check him out.
While it’s worth listening to all of his albums, this is a great place to start. Even with the more pop based tunes, there’s TONS of great jazz guitar playing here.
You can never go wrong listening to George Benson.
Barney Kessel – “The Poll Winners”:
This is one of my favorite jazz guitar albums, and it’s actually the first in a series.
The album title refers to the fact that all three musicians were chosen in the “poll winners” category of DownBeat magazine’s annual critics’ poll that year.
Every year they each won their category, they recorded another Poll Winners Album. With the trio of Barney Kessel, Ray Brown, and Shelly Manne, this is a great album for any jazz fan to listen to.
Great solos, arrangements, and Barney Kessel playing big band style shout choruses on guitar.
These are my go-to albums for getting started. Are there more? Absolutely. Will someone else’s top 10 look different than mine? Definitely. But use this list as a starting point as you listen for language, style, and tone from these great players.
You’ll be well on your way to finding out what you really like in jazz guitar, and creating your own essential listening list.