This has to be the coolest guitar ever
November 10, 2022 6:49 AM Subscribe
During a concert at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ in September 2022, the guitarist Julian Lage got to play a short improvisation and Charlie Christian's Seven Come Eleven on Christian's own 1940 Gibson ES-250, showing Lage's typical joy at playing, seeing what sounds he can coax out of this legendary instrument.
Charlie Christian was one of the most important guitar players of the twentieth century - one of the first electric guitar players (the instantly recognisable pickup fitted to the ES-250 has come to be named after him), as well as one of the fathers of bebop (to the extent, by some accounts, of minting the word itself). He died tragically early, in 1942, of tuberculosis. His version of Seven Come Eleven, with Benny Goodman's orchestra sounds like this. Although best known for his work with Goodman - in particular Solo Flight - club recordings at Minton's Playhouse (where bebop was born) - show his exuberant, hugely influential style less constrained by the big band context.
Julian Lage was a child prodigy - in 1996 he was the subject of a film called Jules At Eight, and the following year he performed Maggot Brain with Carlos Santana, playing with extraordinary confidence on a Stratocaster that seemed much too big for him. Since then, after befriending and working with such musicians as Gary Burton, Jim Hall and Bill Frisell, he's grown into one of the most technically adept modern guitarists, developing a style that encompasses jazz alongside rock 'n' roll, folk, bluegrass and classical elements, constantly improvising around his material. I first encountered him via his astonishing extended, improvised intro to I'll Be Seeing You.
Charlie Christian was one of the most important guitar players of the twentieth century - one of the first electric guitar players (the instantly recognisable pickup fitted to the ES-250 has come to be named after him), as well as one of the fathers of bebop (to the extent, by some accounts, of minting the word itself). He died tragically early, in 1942, of tuberculosis. His version of Seven Come Eleven, with Benny Goodman's orchestra sounds like this. Although best known for his work with Goodman - in particular Solo Flight - club recordings at Minton's Playhouse (where bebop was born) - show his exuberant, hugely influential style less constrained by the big band context.
Julian Lage was a child prodigy - in 1996 he was the subject of a film called Jules At Eight, and the following year he performed Maggot Brain with Carlos Santana, playing with extraordinary confidence on a Stratocaster that seemed much too big for him. Since then, after befriending and working with such musicians as Gary Burton, Jim Hall and Bill Frisell, he's grown into one of the most technically adept modern guitarists, developing a style that encompasses jazz alongside rock 'n' roll, folk, bluegrass and classical elements, constantly improvising around his material. I first encountered him via his astonishing extended, improvised intro to I'll Be Seeing You.
Sublime!
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 9:33 AM on November 10, 2022
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 9:33 AM on November 10, 2022
What amazing tone...
posted by Windopaene at 9:52 AM on November 10, 2022
posted by Windopaene at 9:52 AM on November 10, 2022
Charlie Christian has influenced generations of guitarists, including many who didn't realize it. He wasn't the first electric guitarist but his association with Benny Goodman made him the best known of his era. Plus his part in the early bebop movement would have ranked him right up with Dizzy Gillespie as a founder if he'd lived. Julian Lage does a great job of honoring Charlie and is himself an exceptional player.
posted by tommasz at 12:41 PM on November 10, 2022
posted by tommasz at 12:41 PM on November 10, 2022
Lage is my favorite jazz guitarist. Seen him a few times now and always interesting. My GF liked the show and doesn't usually listen to jazz.
posted by Ansible at 1:13 PM on November 10, 2022
posted by Ansible at 1:13 PM on November 10, 2022
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posted by aiq at 7:48 AM on November 10, 2022