Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Hi all!

I've been playing guitar for a while. I play mostly rock/blues. I really want to learn jazz guitar.

What are some good songs to listen/learn to get started? Also, any other advice for how to learn jazz guitar?

Thanks!
Max

I'm not really a jazz fan (shame on me!) but I really enjoyed the Kenny Burrell album - Midnight Blue. I spent some time transcribing from it a few months ago. I found it very approachable and there's a lot of blues influence - I'm more of a blues fan too!

I'm sure you'll get better advice from others who are more Jazz fans, but I think you'd get a lot from transcribing from this :)

Cheers
Paul.

I have same question ,Thank you to make this thread Max.
And now I ’m learn enjoy music , and not listen many music , try to enjoy every notes.
Ps : I buy some CD and CD player . But haven't received them .

Hi Max!
My favorite Jazz Album is "Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis.

My favorite Jazz Guitar Album is too hard for me to pick. I could list many.

"The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery" is essential.
Joe Pass’ Virtuoso

My advice to learn Jazz Guitar is to take advantage of being a student here and put in the work. Tomo will help you build the foundation to play want you want to.

Kurt

Hey Max, there is a history of jazz by Ken Burns, it is very long episode. It came out in the early 2000s. It mainly has a story of an evolution of jazz and artists. I saw it one time when it came out, so am going off of memory. It clued me in on artists, their stories, and styles. If you have time and can see it without commercials it might provide insights, it is a long saga evolution story. My first jazz cassette was Herbie Hancock - Headhunters, funky fusion like jazz, then Kind of Blue Miles Davis big difference in the two. Check out 'The New Mastersounds' ''live at LA cova' Eddie Robert's guitar is catchy in these tunes. Cheers - johno

Hi Max,
I can't say much about learning jazz guitar, but I think it is important to find what you like and you listen. There is a recent thread "Jazz Listeners" started by Jeffrey and many people posted what they liked. Other items I can think of are movies "Jazz on a Summer's Day" (1959) and "One Night With Blue Note" (1985). They don't include all kinds of jazz, but you might find some ideas what you like. The music in the former sounds old (yea, it is old) but it is beautifully produced. The Blue Note to me looks/sounds always fresh and all the musicians just look and the music sounds soooo cool.
Yuji

Thank you Johno & Yuji for sharing!

Tomo

Hi Max! Great questions. Here is the link to the "Jazz Listeners" thread Yuji mentioned: https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/forums/general/73103-jazz-listeners

I also found this advice from Tomo in the forums:
Please listen to one of these albums to start. Pick only one, and listen to it for at least 30 days.
Charlie Christian "Genius of Electric Guitar"
Barney Kessel "Volume One”
Joe Pass "Virtuoso"
Joe Pass & Herb Ellis "Two For The Road”

Wes Montgomery "Incredible Jazz Guitar " - "Full House" - "Live at the Half Note”
Kenny Burrell "Midnight Blue”
Jim Hall "Undercurrent" (with Bill Evans)
Grant Green “Grant’s First Stand” - “Green Street” - “Feelin' the Spirit”