Jazz / Bop; Swing
Recorded: Oct 2, 1939-Mar 13, 1941
Charlie Christian - Guitar (Electric)
Alec FILA - Trumpet
Arnold Covey - Guitar
Artie Bernstein - Bass
Benny Goodman - Clarinet
Bob Haggart - Bass
Bob Snyder - Sax (Baritone)
Buff Estes - Sax (Alto)
Bus Bassey - Sax (Tenor)
Cootie Williams - Trumpet
Count Basie - Piano
Cutty Cutshall - Trombone
Dudley Brooks - Piano
Eddie Sauter - Arranger
Fletcher Henderson - Arranger, Piano
Gene Krupa - Drums
Georgie Auld - Sax (Tenor)
Gus Bivona - Sax (Alto)
Harry Jaeger - Drums
Harry James - Trumpet
Helen Forrest - Vocals
Irving Goodman - Trumpet
Jack Teagarden - Trombone
Jerry Jerome - Sax (Tenor)
Jess Stacy - Piano
Jimmy Maxwell - Trumpet
Jimmy Mundy - Arranger
Jo Jones - Drums
Johnny Guarnieri - Piano
Johnny Martel - Trumpet
Ken Kersey - Piano
Les Robinson - Sax (Tenor)
Lionel Hampton - Vibraphone
Nick Fatool - Drums
Pete Mondello - Sax (Tenor)
Red Ballard - Trombone
Skip Martin - Sax (Alto)
Toots Mondello - Sax (Alto)
Vernon Brown - Trombone
Ziggy Elman - Trumpet
What better way to celebrate the carrer of his greatest legend of jazz guitar than this double CD set of Mr. Christian's best recordings from 1939 to 1941 with Benny Goodman's Sextet! Terrific sound remastering, a number of interesting alternate tracks and an impeccable packaging make "AC/DC Current" a collection you can't allow youself to miss.
Charlie Christian
Active Decades: '30s and '40s
Born: Jul 29, 1916 in Dallas, TX
Died: Mar 02, 1942 in New York, NY
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Big Band, Bop, Swing
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, All Music Guide |
