Hittin' On All Six - A History Of The Jazz Guitar

Hittin’ On All Six – A History Of The Jazz Guitar

A comprehensive four-part anthology tracing the evolution of jazz guitar from its earliest pioneers to its modern innovators, Hittin’ On All Six charts the instrument’s journey from rhythm section support to a fully expressive lead voice in jazz. Across decades of recordings, this collection highlights the stylistic breakthroughs that shaped the language of the jazz guitar.

The set opens with the early masters, where figures like Lonnie Johnson and Django Reinhardt helped define the guitar’s first true solo identity. These recordings show the instrument emerging from the background, gaining melodic authority through blues phrasing, early swing, and pioneering European jazz styles such as those of the Quintette du Hot Club de France.

The second section documents the Charlie Christian revolution, centred around Charlie Christian, whose electrified playing with the Benny Goodman groups fundamentally changed jazz. Here, the guitar steps fully into the frontline, shaping bebop’s harmonic language and inspiring a generation of swing-era innovators.

In Charlie’s Children, the influence of Christian spreads through post-war jazz, with artists like the Nat King Cole Trio, Art Tatum collaborators, and early modernists expanding the guitar’s harmonic and rhythmic vocabulary. The instrument becomes more fluid, interactive, and harmonically adventurous.

Finally, New Guitar Concepts captures the emergence of modern jazz guitar thinking—featuring experimental approaches alongside bebop and cool jazz developments. This section reflects a fully matured instrument, no longer defined by a single role but capable of leading, comping, and abstract exploration.

A landmark historical document, this collection is essential listening for understanding how jazz guitar evolved from rhythm accompaniment to a defining solo voice in modern music.

Tracklist:

The Early Masters

1. Lonnie Johnson – Steppin’ On The Blues
2. Joe Venuti – Wild Cat
3. Tram, Bix And Eddie – For No Reason At All
4. Joe Venuti – Doin’ Things
5. Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five – Savoy Blues
6. Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – The Mooche
7. Lonnie Johnson / Blind Willie Dunn – Have To Change Keys (To Play These Blues)
8. Lonnie Johnson / Blind Willie Dunn – Guitar Blues
9. The Spirits Of Rhythm – I’ve Got The World On A String
10. The Spirits Of Rhythm – I’ll Be Ready When The Great Day Comes
11. Sidney Bechet Quintet – Summertime
12. Teddy Bunn – Blues Without Words
13. Chick Webb And His Orchestra – Lonesome Moments
14. Adrian Rollini And His Orchestra – Somebody Loves Me
15. Manny Klein’s All Stars – At Sundown
16. Dick McDonough – Dick McDonough Ramble
17. Carl Kress / Dick McDonough – Heat Wave
18. Delta Four – Swingin’ At That Famous Door
19. Bechet / Spanier Big Four – If I Could Be With You
20. Quintette Of The Hot Club De France – Nagasaki
21. Quintette Of The Hot Club De France – You’ve Been Driving Me Crazy
22. Rex Stewart And His Feetwarmers – Finesse (Night Wind)
23. Django Reinhardt – Manouir De Mes Reves
24. Django Reinhardt / Quintette Du Hot Club De France – For Sentimental Reasons

The Charlie Christian Revolution

1. Jimmie Lunceford – Hittin’ The Bottle
2. Eddie Durham – I Want A Little Girl
3. The Gotham Stompers – Alabamy Home
4. Mezz Mezzrow – Blues In Disguise
5. Count Basie – Topsy
6. Kansas City Six – Them There Eyes
7. Le Trio Ferret – Gin Gin
8. Andy Kirk – Floyd’s Guitar Blues
9. Oscar Aleman Trio – Jeepers Creepers
10. Oscar Aleman Quintet – I Got Rhythm
11. Fats Waller – Buck Jumpin’
12. Coleman Hawkins – Esquire Bounce
13. Lucky Millinder – That’s All
14. Jean Ferret – Swing 42
15. Benny Goodman Sextet – Till Tom Special
16. Benny Goodman Sextet – Wholly Cats
17. Edmond Hall Quartet – Profoundly Blue
18. Benny Goodman Orchestra – Solo Flight
19. Charlie Christian – Waiting For Benny
20. Charlie Christian – Swing To Bop
21. Harlan Leonard – Rockin’ With The Rockets
22. Charlie Barnet – Blue Juice

Charlie’s Children

1. Charlie Barnet – Reflections
2. Nat King Cole Trio – Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good To You
3. Nat King Cole Trio – Body And Soul
4. Nat King Cole Trio – Lament In Chords
5. Lionel Hampton Sextet – Altitude
6. Juan Tizol – The Sphinx
7. Nat King Cole Trio – Top Hat Bop
8. Big Joe Turner – Nobody In Mind
9. Art Tatum Trio – Body And Soul
10. Ike Quebec Quintet – Blue Harlem
11. Tiny Grimes Quintet – Hot In Harlem
12. Jazz At The Philharmonic – Bugle Call Rag
13. Willie Smith Orchestra – Moten Swing
14. Willie Smith Orchestra – Willie Smith
15. Lionel Hampton Orchestra – Tempo’s Boogie
16. Eddie Condon Orchestra – Impromptu Ensemble
17. Eddie Miller Quartet – Cajun Love Song
18. Mezzrow-Bechet Septet – Blood On The Moon
19. Red Norvo Sextet – Blues A La Red
20. Charlie Shavers – Stompin’ At The Savoy
21. Jimmy Shirley – Stardust
22. Coleman Hawkins – What Is There To Say
23. Arnold Ross Quintet – The Moon Is Low

New Guitar Concepts

1. Herbie Haymer – I Saw Stars
2. Herbie Haymer – China Boy
3. George Barnes – Blue Lou
4. George Barnes – Lover Come Back To Me
5. Artie Shaw – The Grabtown Grapple
6. Charlie Parker – Relaxin’ At Camarillo
7. Leo Watson – Tight And Gay
8. Charlie Parker Septet – Night In Tunisia
9. Slim Gaillard – Minuet In Vout
10. Ben Webster Quintet – Doctor Keets
11. Coleman Hawkins All Stars – Spotlight
12. Coleman Hawkins All Stars – Allen’s Alley
13. Serge Chaloff – Blue Serge
14. George Shearing Quintet – Conception
15. Claude Thornhill Orchestra – Donna Lee
16. Stan Kenton Orchestra – Lament (Lament For Guitar)
17. Benny Goodman Sextet – Shirley Steps Out
18. The Soft Winds – All The Things You Are
19. The Soft Winds – Swedish Pastry
20. Lennie Tristano Quintet – Subconscious-Lee
21. Lennie Tristano Sextet – Wow
22. Miles Davis – John’s Delight
23. Wardell Gray – In A Pinch
24. Buddy DeFranco – Extrovert