European Guitarists Don't Get Enough Respect

For some reason, the great European jazz guitarists don't get a lot of exposure in the U.S. Not suprising, I suppose, since even the great U.S. jazz guitarists don't get enough attention.

A lot of Europoean jazz guitarists are amazing virtuosos. Their technique is nothing short of astounding. Two high quality videos, linked below, feature Bireli Lagrene and Joscho Stephan.

Brad Mehldau & Pat Metheny To Collaborate

[Update:] The recording has been released. Here is a link to it on Amazon.com

From Glide Magazine:

Pianist Brad Mehldau and guitarist Pat Metheny have teamed for a collaborative album, "Metheny Mehldau," due Sept. 12 via Nonesuch. The 10-track set features a blend of each artist's material, including some tracks recorded with Mehldau's trio of bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard.

Mehldau and Metheny had never played together before hitting a New York studio last December. "Those days in December were some of the most creatively satisfying days I have ever had as a musician," Metheny enthuses. "When it was all done and it was time to listen back to everything, I was taken aback by what I heard. It seemed like we always played together."

Continue reading ....

Barney Kessel Video, 1969 - Lady Be Good

Tal Farlow - Body and Soul

This is special .....

Two More Lagrene Google Videos

Here and here.

The first is a short solo by Birini. The second a 50 minute concert of Birini and friends.

The $6 Million Guitar

Don't know how long this site will be available, but here it is.

Click here for details, and don't forget to do your due dilegence on this one.

Bireli Lagrene Concert

A one hour concert by the one-time child prodigy, and now adult, French gypsy guitarist. On Google Video here.

For some amazing solo music by Lagrene jump to the 52 minute mark. However, the entire concert is sublime.

John Stowell Video Podcast

Yet another superb jazz artist that flies largely under the radar. This man has clearly done some serious finger stretching exercises to hit some of these chords! Link here

Jazz Guitar Master Classes

by artists like Tony DeCaprio, Sid Jacobs, Steve Heberman, Sheryl Bailey and Jack Wilkins, live and online over the web.

Organized and hosted by Mike Gellar.

Click here for more information.

"My Jazz Guitar Journey" Blog

here . Very nice jazz blog by Steven Rosenberg, in Van Nuys, CA.