Country Jazz - Western Swing

After months (years, indeed) spent listening to and playing Chicago blues (and country blues), recently I found myself listening to 'country-jazz' most of the time. Maybe the one to blame is Jim Campilongo (whom I met when he played in Pisa in july 2009). But one should also mention the inspiration from fascinating LP covers from a bygone era that are displayed on several books on Fender guitars (as those written by Tony Bacon). It was inevitable to go the roots and listen carefully to the originators (those for whose sound Leo Fender originally made his instruments (keep this in mind, bro ...). So enter Roy Lanham, Jimmy Bryant (with Speedy West), but also the great - and little known - Bob Dunn ... 

In order of acquisition and listening: Roy Lanham Sizzling String / Fabulous Guitar Speedy West (and Jimmy Bryant) - There's Gonna Be a Party Roy Lanham and the Whipporwills - Hard Life Blues Speedy West (and Jimmy Bryant) - Stratosphere Boogie Western Swing and Country Jazz: An Expertly Selected Package (4 cds) 

A universe of musicians who were able to blend jazz, especially in its "hot" variant, with country guitar phrasing. Great stylistic syncretism: first position licks echoing the fiddle tradition coexist with phrases inspired by Django Reinhardt, from hoe-down rhythm and to Big Band swing ... 

For further information, I suggest to read: Rich Kienzle, Southwest Shuffle: Pioneers of Honky-Tonk, Western Swing and Country Jazz, Routledge, New York 2003.

Dopo mesi (anni, indeed) di Chicago blues (e country blues) ascoltato e suonato a getto continuo, mi trovo sempre più ad ascoltare una buona dose quotidiana di 'country-jazz' o 'western swing'. In fondo è colpa di Jim Campilongo (con cui ho parlato a lungo quando è venuto a suonare a Pisa il 29 luglio 2009). Ma è colpa anche delle suggestive copertine di LP retrò che occhieggiano dai molti libri sulla storia delle chitarre Fender (come quelli scritti da Tony Bacon). Inevitabile andare alle radici e ascoltare attentamente gli artefici del genere. Quelli per il cui sound Leo Fender ha inventato i suoi strumenti (keep this in mind, bro' ...). E così vengono fuori Roy Lanham, Jimmy Bryant (con Speedy West), ma anche il grande -- e misconosciuto -- Bob Dunn ...

In ordine di acquisizione e ascolto:
Roy Lanham Sizzling String/Fabulous Guitar
Speedy West (and Jimmy Bryant) - There's Gonna be a Party
Roy Lanham and the Whipporwills - Hard Life Blues
Speedy West (and Jimmy Bryant) - Stratosphere Boogie
Western Swing and Country Jazz: An Expertly Selected Package (4 cds)

Un universo di musicisti che fondono il jazz, specialmente nella variante"hot", con generi come Western swing e honky-tonk. Grande sincretismo stilistico: frasi in prima posizione in tradizione fiddle alternati a fraseggi ispirati a Django Reinhardt, ritmi da hoe-down e swing da Big Band ... 

Per approfondire Rich Kienzle, Southwest Shuffle: Pioneers of Honky-Tonk, Western Swing and Country Jazz, Routledge, New York 2003.