CHARLIE CHRISTIAN - Blues In B (vinyl)

Описание: The track was an informal warm-up session for the Benny Goodman Sextet. It famously begins with pianist Johnny Guarnieri urging Christian to play, saying: "Let’s play the blues... Charlie, Charlie, let’s play the blues in B". (13 March 1941 Columbia recording date.)

It is a 12-bar blues in the key of B Major, played at a brisk tempo of approximately 162 BPM.

The key of B was considered challenging for jazz musicians of that era, yet Christian is noted for negotiating it with "aplomb". It is often cited as a prime example of his transition from rhythm guitar to a solo "lead" voice.

Personnel:

o Charlie Christian: Guitar
o Johnny Guarnieri: Piano
o Georgie Auld: Tenor Saxophone
o Dave Tough: Drums

The solo heavily utilizes triad shapes (B Major, E Major, and F# Major) and incorporates the minor four chord (E minor).

He employs chromatic lines, sliding into notes, and using the B major pentatonic scale combined with flat-seven (A) and blue notes.

His single-string soloing style on his Gibson ES-150 helped redefine the guitar as a frontline instrument in jazz ensembles.

Charles Henry Christian (July 29, 1916 – March 2, 1942) was an American swing and jazz guitarist. He was among the first electric guitarists and was a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz who transformed the electric guitar from a rhythm instrument into a leading solo voice in jazz. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra from August 1939 to June 1941. His single-string technique, combined with amplification, helped bring the guitar out of the rhythm section and into the forefront as a solo instrument. For this, he is often credited with leading to the development of the lead guitar role in musical ensembles and bands.

Christian was born in Bonham, Texas. His family moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, when he was a small child. His parents were musicians. He had two brothers: Edward, born in 1906, and Clarence, born in 1911. Edward, Clarence, and Charlie were all taught music by their father, Clarence Henry Christian. Clarence Henry was struck blind by fever, and in order to support the family he and the boys worked as buskers, on what the Christians called "busts." He would have them lead him into the better neighborhoods, where they would perform for cash or goods.

Later he learned to play the guitar, inheriting his father's instruments upon his death when Charles was 12.

I do not own the copyright to the music, the recording and the photos. This video is posted for educational use under Section 17 U.S. Code § 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use.

All posts are rendered in old school using restored vinyl LPs. This channel does not use recordings from CDs. As much as possible, I attempted to remove most of the pops and crackles from the original vinyl album. Some remastering was applied to make the performance cut through within the confines of the loudness wars.

Hope you enjoy.

#jazzguitar #bebop #bigband #vinylrecord