Your Favourite Recordings / Videos of Players Playing The Blues

[jamiehenderson1993]

I'm looking for examples of Jazz Guitarists (or other instruments) playing the blues where the playing is really tasteful & there are lots of 'stealable' licks.

What's your favourite recording that fits the bill?

[djg]

as usual the correct answer is: grant green

[Average Joe]

It's hard to argue against the entirety of Midnight Blue as a high water mark in jazz-blues

[ragman1]

I think there's a limit to watching other people do it. I like trying stuff out myself :-)

[gvurrdon]

What's your favourite recording that fits the bill?

Currently, this, which I have been working on:

[dharma2020]

Kenny Burrells album 'blues the common ground'

It contains many great blues lines to learn

[GuyBoden]

Listen to Sax too.

Blues phrasing doesn't get much better than Scott Hamilton on Sax.

[pamosmusic]

I think there's a limit to watching other people do it. I like trying stuff out myself :-)

And the limits of that?

[pamosmusic]

as ususal the correct answer is: grant green

[GuyBoden]

Obviously, you need to know this:

[DawgBone]

It's hard to argue against the entirety of Midnight Blue as a high water mark in jazz-blues

Agreed. That album is highly regarded among blues-blues players also. It is DEEPLY blue. Soul Lament is a thing of real beauty and many blues bands cover Chitlins Con Carne to this day thanks to the SRV influence.

[alltunes]

[AllanAllen]

100% Kenny Burrell (this ones got a transcription too)

Herb Ellis is no slouch at the blues.

Also, lets not leave out Charlie Christian

Louis Armstrong (Solo is at 3:00, if you don't like his singing. Guitar by Herb Ellis here.)

[jamiehenderson1993]

Thank you all so much - please keep the recommendations coming! I'm loving listening to all of these

[James W]

McLaughlin's solo on this is exquisite -

Or how about this -

[bratistofeles]

I'm looking for examples of Jazz Guitarists (or other instruments) playing the blues where the playing is really tasteful & there are lots of 'stealable' licks.

What's your favourite recording that fits the bill?

A few blues albums from the 50s to 60s that I really like made by jazz musicians:

Guitar:
Nothing but the Blues - Herb Ellis
Blues Groove - Tiny Grimes
Midnight Blue - Kenny Burrell
Enough Said! - Bill Jennings

Other instruments:
Coltrane Plays the Blues - John Coltrane
Only the Blues - Sonny Stitt
Sonny Stitt Blows the Blues - Sonny Stitt
Trouble in Mind - Archie Shepp & Horace Parlan
Back to Back - Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges
Roots - Jimmy Witherspoon & Ben Webster

[AllanAllen]

Enough Said! - Bill Jennings

Can't believe I forgot Bill Jennings!

[gvurrdon]

Another long-time favourite of mine, Jimmy Raney's "Two Drams of Soma":

This is, if I've guessed correctly, of AABA format where the A sections are 12-bar blues and the B is a rhythm changes bridge. The trumpet and guitar playing together in the head is particularly nice, I think.

[djg]

[marcwhy]

Chris and Matt are pretty good ..

[wolflen]

Chris and Matt are pretty good ..

ya really never know who might be playin in some dive bar..ahh..Travis Carlton on bass..(Larrys son)

[JazzPadd]

So many great cuts to listen already but this one leapt to mind first.

I had that album on rotation in the car for months. The phrasing is inspiring.

The Mrs., who knows thing none about jazz, once observed that on this cut in particular “it sounds like he’s talking with the guitar.” Exactly!

[pamosmusic]

Also this whole album:

Not one people call out all that often but I love this album.

[ragman1]

This is a minor one.

[pamosmusic]

Lol