Albums with Guitar comping instead of Piano

**bob32069** · 07-10-2011, 08:50 PM

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone could suggest album(s) wherein there is an ensemble (i.e. quartet) with a leader playing a wind instrument and the comping instrument is guitar, not piano. I recently heard a number where Barney Kessel was the sideman for a saxophonist (maybe Charlie Parker? but I honestly can't remember). I know there is the Benny Goodman/Charlie Christian collaboration, but I was thinking something more modern (bop or post-bop era). I was thinking that listening to a guitar player comp in this type of an ensemble would be a great way to pick up some comping pointers.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

**mr. beaumont** · 07-10-2011, 09:03 PM

Sonny rollins' "the bridge" comes to mind as one of the best (jim hall)

Also check out paul desmond's 70's band with ed bickert..."pure desmond" is a great one.

To go more modern, ben monder's stuff, paul motian's work...lotsa good stuff...as I think of more I'll post...

TH · 07-10-2011, 09:17 PM

Paul Desmond with Ed Bikert Live (in toronto) , Like Someone in love
Paul Desmond with Jim Hall Volumes of this stuff, they recorded many albums, Mosaic collected them all at some point.
Kurt Rosenwinkel and Mark Turner Any of the CDs they did together. The Remedy
Donny McCaslin with Ben Monder Seen From Above
Stan Getz with Jimmy Rainey they recorded for decades. All of it great. Check out the Mosaic box set
Seamus Blake with Kurt Rosenwinkel
Marcus Strickland with Lage Lund Twi Life
Dewey Redmond, Mick Goodrick, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian
David Binney with Bill Frisell Out of Airplanes
Paul Motian Trio with Joe Lovano and Bill Frisell Any of dozens they did
Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz with Bill Frisell Angel Song

these are a few of my favourites. I'm sure I'll think of more
David

**bob32069** · 07-10-2011, 10:10 PM

Thanks guys! Hours of exploration on the horizon. Keep 'em coming!

**rvi** · 07-11-2011, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by TruthHertz

Paul Desmond with Ed Bikert Live (in toronto) ,

an all time favourite, absolutely briliant.

**MarkRhodes** · 07-11-2011, 09:58 AM

The suggestions above are world class. As for practice class, I've read that Mike Christiansen has re-done Volume I of Jamey Aeborsold's play-along series playing guitar where the original has piano. Could be useful.

**mr. beaumont** · 07-11-2011, 10:30 AM

Add to the list:

These Rooms-- Jim Hall Trio with Tom Harrell

All of the Chet Baker stuff on Steeplechase with Doug Raney on guitar (also add CHet's Choice, with Philip Catherine)

John Abercrombie's newer quartet stuff with Mark Feldman

Grant Green backing Ike QUebec on "Blue and Sentimental"

Ed Bickert behind Frank Rosolino on "THinking of You" (seek this one out, some of the best Ed on record)

**wizard3739** · 07-11-2011, 11:30 AM

I'd have to go with anything in a small group that includes: Jim Hall, Jimmy Raney, Ed Bickert or Doug Raney. Paul Desmonds' " Pure Desmond" is where I would probably start.

wiz

**bob32069** · 07-11-2011, 10:07 PM

Mr. B -

You are a true fount of knowledge! Thanks for the latest suggestions. The Grant Green/Ike Quebec is great, and it led me to discover IKe Quebec with Kenny Burrell backing on Bossa Nova Soul Samba (RVG Remix edition). Thanks also for the Rosolino/Bickert find - a double album to boot!

Cheers!

**Extrapolation** · 07-11-2011, 10:35 PM

The Original Ellington Suite - Chico Hamilton Quintet With Eric Dolphy

John Pisano is the guitarist, an amazing album all-around; has my personal favorite versions of "In A Sentimental Mood" and "It Don't Mean A Thing". Dolphy kills throughout the entire record.

**mr. beaumont** · 07-11-2011, 10:38 PM

Glad I could help...soul samba's a killer record as well.

Be sure to check out ike's "it might as well be spring" as well...no guitar, but a great record by a saxman that deserves more recognition.

So I keep thinking on this topic...gotta check out the phillip catherine "moods" records...so good...and then he did one with tom. Harrell dedicated to chet baker too...also a great record.

Check out jim hall/art farmer's "big blues" too...that has vibes tooo, but you can really hear what jim is doing...hmmm...what else...? I'll keep thinking...

**mr. beaumont** · 07-11-2011, 10:41 PM

ah! extrapolation gets my hamster back on the wheel....check out chico hamilton's early recordings with jim hall (boy he pops up a lot in this pianoless setting, eh?) And chico's "the man from Two worlds with gabor szabo.

**Jazzpunk** · 07-12-2011, 05:37 AM

Originally Posted by TruthHertz

Paul Desmond with Jim Hall Volumes of this stuff, they recorded many albums, Mosaic collected them all at some point.

Sweet! Downloading the box set from iTunes now (a little different from the Mosaic collection apparently).

My Jim Hall collection grows!

**Dazz** · 07-12-2011, 06:04 AM

Patriotic duty means I have to mention Louis Stewart; he has a bunch of quartet albums with 2 guitars (one of which is usually comping; the second guitarist is Heiner Frantz).

Des from Dublin

**Jake Hanlon** · 07-12-2011, 09:01 AM

yes any Art Farmer/Jim Hall recording or Jim Hall/Paul Desmond recording. Also there is an outstanding Joe Henderson side called So Near, So Far which Scofield plays on (all miles tunes) and Sco's comping is really great on that record.

Hunting down "Jim Hall school" players is going to be a great place to move forward with as most of them tend to really have worked a lot on their comping.

A few other great comping players are worth checking out like Mick Goodrick, Lorne Lofsky, John Stowell, Ed Bickert are all worth checking out.

**moray** · 07-12-2011, 09:30 AM

I like this one:

Attila Zoller - Guitar
Saxophone [Alto] – Lee Konitz
Trombone – Albert Mangelsdorff
Double Bass – Barre Phillips
Drums – Stu Martin

on "ZO-KO-MA"

**Extrapolation** · 07-12-2011, 12:24 PM

Ah there's also a great ECM release by Bill Connors called Of Mist And Melting with Jan Garbarek, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette.

**Johnpiazza** · 08-18-2025, 06:16 PM

Reviving this thread because I've been looking for more examples. I'll list some of my favorites that I haven't seen listed already:

Nat Adderley: Work Song. Three tracks feature Wes Montgomery comping beautifully, sans piano
Charles Lloyd: Of Course, Of Course. with Ron Carter, Tony Williams, and Gabor Szabo (playing a martin acoustic with a pickup!)
Charles Lloyd: Voice in the Night. with John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Billy Higgins
Bucky Pizzarelli: Green Guitar Blues with George Duvivier and Don Lamond (and Mary Pizzarelli on a few tracks)
Bucky Pizzarelli: Send in the Clowns (sometimes labeled Nirvana). with Zoot Sims, Buddy Rich and Milt Hinton
Jimmy Giuffre Trio albums with Jim Hall: The Easy Way, The Jimmy Giuffre 3, Travelin light, 7 pieces
Ron Miles albums with Bill Frisell and Brian Blade: Old Main Chapel, Circuit Rider, Quiver
Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian (that's name of the album)
Paul Motian: Bill Evans (tribute album), with Frisell, Joe Lovano and Marc Johnson
Kenny Burrell : Midnight Blue with Stanley Turrentine, Major Holley, Bill English, Ray Baretto

**jazzloverfat** · 08-18-2025, 08:37 PM

Albums with Guitar comping instead of Piano-dsdfsdf-jpg

**JazzPadd** · 08-18-2025, 11:24 PM

Thanks for reviving this! I never saw it before, but second all those listed and learned a lot from Jim Hall and Bill Frisell, in particular.

I think it was a live concert video with Art Farmer, but Jim Hall was doing this split voicing thing. It looked like playing a tritone on 5 and 4, muting 3 and added some upper extensions, even little riffs, on 2 and 1. I’d just taken a lesson with a guitarist touring Japan, and he showed me that, which led me to Jim Hall comping horn players.

It was one of those moments, as an amateur who plays jazz mostly for fun and social interaction, that seriously opened up the fretboard.

I think of it as a kind of minimalist approach to guitar comping. Bill Frisell does the minimalist thing, too, but differently. Rather than of chords, they seem to be thinking of notes, clusters, voice leading.

Granted, there are myriad ways, but that way of playing spoke to me, and it gave me enough for years of casual practice that’s just barely gotten beyond the surface. I don’t think I need to go deeper, at this point, although if I did want that those listed in this thread so far seem like the way to proceed. They’re on my playlists for now.

But personally speaking, until I’ve integrated a minimalist approach into my usual weekly jam session routine, and use it on occasional gigs, it seems more than enough to practice in the available time.

Ultimately, all threads are useful, even those awaiting revival, as it makes a forum like an archive, a repository of shared wisdom and our mutual learning experiences.

Thanks, and wishing you all the best in your own comping quest!