The blues form has been paramount in jazz since the very beginning. Its basic 12-measure dominant format lends itself to all kinds of harmonic possibilities. Let's enjoy then three of the best exponents of jazz guitar exploring this ubiquitous form.
We start with jazz guitar semi god Wes Montgomery giving us one of his trademark compositions, West Coast Blues, an blues in 6/8, surrounded by a vast array of European and US talent in the likes of Martial Solal, Johnny Griffin and Ronnie Scott.
Taped for the German TV at NDR Studio 10 in Hamburg on April 30, 1965.
personnel:
Wes Montgomery (guitar)
Hans Koller (alto saxophone)
Johnny Griffin & Ronnie Scott (tenor saxophones)
Ronnie Ross (baritone saxophone)
Martial Solal (piano)
Michel Gaudry (bass)
Ronnie Stephenson (drums)
Next up, jazz guitar aces Jim Hall and his cohort Hungarian Attila Zoller giving us a taste of the blues sometime in the 70s in Oscar Pettiford's classic Blues In The Closet. They are superbly accompanied by bass giant Red Mitchell and Swiss drums veteran Daniel Humair.
Sol Schlinger, Baritone Sax Extraordinaire
7 months ago
