Best Jazz Blues Guitar Solos, Please

**AlsoRan** · 03-23-2022, 06:53 PM

Hello. When I see posts of the best Jazz Blues solos, it seems the videos are mainly non-guitar. Could you post some really good Jazz Blues solos that have a prominent guitar solo? I like It Aint Necessarily So, by Grant Green, for example.
As always, Thanks in advance!

**jameslovestal** · 03-23-2022, 07:50 PM

Philip Catherine's solo starts at 2:00. Note Blues in the Closet uses the jazz blues progression of I\IV\V but for the second part goes to IIIm\IVdom7, IIm\Vdom7 before returning to the I.

**AlsoRan** · 03-23-2022, 08:22 PM

That Catherine solo was wicked. At first I thought he was going to be taking a Bluesy approach only, then he just took off with a full-on Jazzier assault. I pretty sure he is not American, and I always find the lens that non-Americans view the Blues to be interesting and a bit unique. Thanks!

**wolflen** · 03-23-2022, 08:36 PM

Bill Doggett's Honky Tonk.the guitar solo is a classic..Billy Butlers playing is super tasty and has produced many riffs that are now

used as cliche fillers for many players

is it jazz.blues you ask..lets see

Jimmy Smith thinks so

**jameslovestal** · 03-23-2022, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by AlsoRan

That Catherine solo was wicked. At first I thought he was going to be taking a Bluesy approach only, then he just took off with a full-on Jazzier assault. I pretty sure he is not American, and I always find the lens that non-Americans view the Blues to be interesting and a bit unique. Thanks!

Here is Catherine again with the same song but with Kenny Drew and NHOP (again), for a live show. Catherine is playing a Les Paul here. Yea, Catherine is from Europe and was influenced by fellow Euro Rene Thomas. Catherine is one of my favorite guitarist since he can play various styles, uses distortion, blends a lot of notes and can even rock-it out, but still is a first rate bebop jazzer.

**jameslovestal** · 03-23-2022, 08:45 PM

Here is Doug Raney, son of Jimmy, with Pumpkin's Delight:

**marcwhy** · 03-23-2022, 10:44 PM

Bob DeVos always has a nice blues vibe:

**AlsoRan** · 03-24-2022, 07:56 AM

That was one "jazzy sounding" jazz blues. The drums, and what sounded to my ears like a lot of 2-5-1 changes, as well as the solo, did not have much of a Bluesy feel. Although my ears could pick out the changes for the most part. It did not seem to have much pentatonic or blues scale, either. Man, this Jazz Blues style is very broad!

**AlsoRan** · 03-24-2022, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by wolflen

Bill Doggett's Honky Tonk.the guitar solo is a classic..Billy Butlers playing is super tasty and has produced many riffs that are now

used as cliche fillers for many players

is it jazz.blues you ask..lets see

Jimmy Smith thinks so

This definitely reminds me of some local Live Jazz nights in which someone includes "The Thrill is Gone." It swings the pendulum to the "bluer" side of Jazz Blues. I can see what you mean by the cliches, especially the choral ones. For me, they are a great motif to add to a good Jazz Blues solo.

**AlsoRan** · 03-24-2022, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by marcwhy

Bob DeVos always has a nice blues vibe:

I forgot about Bob Devos. I have 3 CDs from him that I bought years ago. He has some tasty playing.

**grahambop** · 03-24-2022, 08:11 AM

Kenny Burrell is one of the 'bluesiest' jazz guitarists.

**AlsoRan** · 03-24-2022, 08:12 AM

I wonder when this Jazz Blues genre became popular. Was it with the rise of the Organ Trios? My understanding is most of the Bird era Blues were more of Bebop sound. And early Jazz Blues guitarists were not as plentiful as horn players until the late 50s and 60s. There just don't seem to be that many heralded Jazz Blues Recordings with Guitar as the lead.

**AlsoRan** · 03-24-2022, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by grahambop

Kenny Burrell is one of the 'bluesiest' jazz guitarists.

True. Now this is one example of some heralded Jazz Blues! Thanks for the reminder.

In fact, I am going to look up the lead sheet and see if I might be able to finally tackle it. I have been especially fond of this song since Dutchbopper posted his version a couple of years ago.

**RJVB** · 03-24-2022, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by AlsoRan

I wonder when this Jazz Blues genre became popular.

I wonder what it even is... it's definitely no blues from what I hear (I guess using a blues scale or a 12 bar I-IV-V scheme doesn't give you a blues automagically...)

Now, if you want blues on a "jazzguitar" ...

(aaaahhhhh.... needed this!)

**AlsoRan** · 03-24-2022, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by RJVB

I wonder what it even is... it's definitely no blues from what I hear (I guess using a blues scale or a 12 bar I-IV-V scheme doesn't give you a blues automagically...)

Now, if you want blues on a "jazzguitar"

(aaaahhhhh.... needed this!)

You are right. What really is 'Jazz Blues?" Ah, the futility of trying to name a style of music. Still, the videos you posted were clearly undistilled Blues, and well-played too!

**grahambop** · 03-24-2022, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by AlsoRan

I wonder when this Jazz Blues genre became popular. Was it with the rise of the Organ Trios? My understanding is most of the Bird era Blues were more of Bebop sound. And early Jazz Blues guitarists were not as plentiful as horn players until the late 50s and 60s. There just don't seem to be that many heralded Jazz Blues Recordings with Guitar as the lead.

Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson were doing it in 1929.