Best Recordings by Jazz Guitar Modern Soloists (1950s and 60s)

Lennie Tristano: Crosscurrents, Capitol: “Wow”; “Crosscurrents”; “Intuition”
Lee Konitz: Subconscious-Lee, OJC/Prestige: “Subconscious-Lee”; “Progression”; “Judy”; “Rebecca”
Lennie Tristano Trio: The Modern Jazz Piano Album, Savoy: “Supersonic” (alternate take); “On a Planet”; “Air Pocket”; “Celestia” (tracks have been available on recent Tristano compilations)
Lee Konitz: Inside Hi-Fi, Atlantic: “Sweet and Lovely”; “Cork ’n’ Bib”

Tal Farlow Trio: Tal, Verve: “Chuckles” (other great tracks as well)
Tal Farlow Trio: At Ed Fuerst’s, Vol. 1, Xanadu/EPM: “All the Things You Are” (other great tracks as well)
Tal Farlow Trio: A Sign of the Times, Concord: “Stompin’ at the Savoy”; “You Are Too Beautiful”; “In Your Own Sweet Way”
Sonny Criss Quintet: Up, Up and Away, OJC/Prestige: “This Is for Benny”; “Scrapple From the Apple”

Kenny Burrell-Donald Byrd Sextet: All Day Long, OJC/Prestige: “All Day Long”
Donald Byrd & Pepper Adams: Motor City Scene, Bethlehem: “Trio” (other great tracks as well)
Paul Chambers Sextet: Whims of Chambers, Blue Note: “Whims of Chambers” (other great tracks as well)
Wynton Kelly Quartet/Trio: Piano, OJC/Riverside: “Action”; “Strong Man”; “You Can’t Get Away”
Kenny Burrell Duo: A La Carte, Muse/32 Jazz: “I Thought About You”; “Our Love”

Richard “Groove” Holmes-Les McCann: Somethin’ Special, Pacific Jazz: “Comin’ Though the Apple”; “Somethin’ Special”
Les McCann Quartet: Soul Hits, Pacific Jazz: “Sister Sadie” and “Sonnymoon for Two”
Joe Pass Quartet: Joy Spring, Blue Note: “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes”; “Joy Spring”
Joe Pass: Quadrant, OJC/Pablo: “Ray’s Tune” (other great tracks as well; everyone should hear Pass on The Complete Catch Me Sessions on Blue Note, but that seems not to have been forthcoming from any source recently)

Jim Hall Trio: Jazz Guitar, Pacific Jazz: “Stompin’ at the Savoy”; “Stella by Starlight” (other great tracks as well; has been available lately from various sources, including Japanese)
John Lewis: The Wonderful World of Jazz, Atlantic: “Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West” (other great tracks as well)
Bill Evans-Jim Hall: Undercurrent, Blue Note: “My Funny Valentine” “Romain”; “Skating in Central Park”
Jim Hall/Ron Carter Duo: Alone Together, Milestone: “St. Thomas”; “Alone Together” (other great tracks as well)
Sonny Rollins: The Quartets Featuring Jim Hall, Bluebird/RCA: “Without a Song”; “The Bridge”

Chico Hamilton Trio: Chico Hamilton Trio, Pacific Jazz: “Nutty” and “Street of Drums” (a rare recording well worth locating, even if only on LP)
Howard Roberts Quintet: Good Pickin’s, Verve: “Godchild”; “Relaxin’ at Camarillo”
Howard Roberts Quartet: H.R. Is a Dirty Guitar Player, Euphoria: “Smolderin’”; “Rough Ridin’”; “Satin Doll”
Howard Roberts Quintet: Spinning Wheel, Capitol: “Cantaloupe Island” (other great tracks as well)

Ben Webster: And Associates, Verve: “In a Mellow Tone”
Red Garland Quartet: Solar, OJC/Jazzland: “Sophisticated Swing”; “This Can’t Be Love”; “Marie’s Delight”; “Solar”

Bobby Jaspar Quartet: At Ronnie Scott’s, Mole Jazz (English): “Our Delight”; “Darn That Dream”
Chet Baker Sextet: The Italian Sessions, Bluebird/RCA: “Well You Needn’t” and “These Foolish Things”
René Thomas: Guitar Groove, OJC/Jazzland: “Like Someone in Love”; “Milestones” (older composition); “Ruby, My Dear”

Pat Martino Quintet: Strings, OJC/Prestige: “Minority”
Pat Martino: East, OJC/Prestige: “Close Your Eyes”; “Lazy Bird”
Pat Martino Quartet: Footprints, 32 Jazz: “What Are You Doing rhe Rest of Your Life?”; “How Insensitive”; “Footprints”

George Benson: Giblit Gravy, Verve: “Billie’s Bounce”; “Thunder Walk”; “Low Down and Dirty”
George Benson Quartet: Live at Casa Caribe, Columbia River: “Oleo” “All the Things You Are” (many other great tracks as well)
Jimmy Smith Quintet: Off the Top, Elektra Musician: “Off the Top”; “Mimosa”
Miles Davis: Circle in the Round, Columbia: “Side Car II”

JAZZ GUITAR MODERN SOLOISTS