[msherman]

My good friend, Frank Varela.

Lenny White & larry Coryell did guest spots on his last record.
Check out his solo about 3:45 into the tune.



And Frank playing bass and guitar at the same time. The bass is the Sherman "Floor model"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOnpldcb2aQ

[josh821]

Hah, that's a ballsy way to make a career change. Good luck.

Charlie Hunter does some really cool stuff and hasn't been mentioned yet, although he'd be difficult to transcribe since he plays chords and bass lines while soloing. Honestly the good jazz guitarists I can think of are ridiculous to transcribe because they're either completely unorthodox sounding (Allan Holdsworth) or they play multiple parts at once.

Django is probably one of your best bets for good jazz that's transcribable (if that's a word) without tearing your hair out. Hmm, come to think of it, no one mentioned Birelli Lagrene either, he's amazing.

[distressed_romeo]

Jimmy Bruno

[Alex-D33]

George Benson
John Stowell
Scott Henderson
Bill Frisel

[Neal]

Originally Posted by josh821

Hah, that's a ballsy way to make a career change. Good luck.

Yeah. I been working jobs I hate for the last seven years and trying to be a musician when I have time. So I said fuck it. You only live once.

Thanks for all the recommendations everybody.

[playstopause]

Jazz is a pretty vast term. There is so many sub-categories...

I'd say Al Dimeola, Pat Metheny.

[jacksonplayer]

Originally Posted by kung_fu

Do the transcriptions have to be of guitar players? If not, there are loads of other jazz instrumentallists that are loads of fun to play on guitar as well. Most of my inspiration these days comes from pianists and saxophonists ( Mcoy Tyner + John Coltrane especially )

My jazz guitar influences are mostly screaming fusion guys like old school McLaughlin, DiMeola, and Holdsworth.

When it comes to more 'straightahead' jazz influences, it's all about the horns. Coltrane when I need the intensity, and Miles when I want to hear someone use space effectively. Somehow, more traditional jazz guitar just doesn't do that much for me. A little too connected to '50s cool jazz, I think. I prefer things a little more burning and robust. Wes Montgomery is an exception, just because his playing is so earthy and not overthought like so many guitarists.

And for chording and accompaniment, McCoy Tyner is where it's at. I've been having some fun trying to pick out the head of the tune "Ebony Queen" on my own without any charts or study. He's a little easier to get at for guitarists, since he seems to rely a lot on "1-4-7" suspended chord forms that translate well to guitar. Trying to dig into Chick Corea or Herbie Hancock on the guitar are much less comfortable, although I love the way Corea builds chord progressions--there's usually an implied melody or a common note to all the chords.

[distressed_romeo]

Emily Remler...awesome player. This video has some really nice chord voicings you could steal.

[jacksonplayer]

Lots of the ol' "blues 9th" chord in that one. Love her passing chords.

[distressed_romeo]

Originally Posted by jacksonplayer

Lots of the ol' "blues 9th" chord in that one. Love her passing chords.

I know what I'll be practicing tonight!