Listen To:


Selected MP3s of guitar instrumentals, jazz, big band, and classic easy listening from the original vinyl.

Welcome to Guitars & All That Jazz

Welcome to Guitars & All That Jazz

Guitars & All That Jazz was a radio station that webcast via Live365 for 11 years, ending in June 2011. The playlist consisted of guitar instrumentals, jazz, big band, early rock 'n' roll, lounge music and classic easy listening.

I hope to share some of this music with you via this blog. Most of it will be taken from the original vinyl (LPs and 45s) , cassettes and the occasional commercially unavailable CD.

Here's hoping you'll find something to enjoy. Please note files are available only for a limited time.

I urge you to purchase the digital version of the albums featured, either on CD or via download, wherever possible.

Listen to the Music
There are now two music streams. Click the appropriate player to the right.
1. Guitars & All That Jazz: Five hours of the best in jazz, guitars and other instrumental gems. New songs are added weekly.
2. Tiki Shores: Music to sweep you away to a tropical isle, a South American dance floor or a bossa nova on the beach at Rio. About 4.5 hours of classic exotica music, Latin rhythms and bossa nova.
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Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Baby-Face Willette - Behind the 8 Ball



It's back to 1964 for the music of soul-jazz organist Baby-Face Willette who released Behind the 8 Ball for Chess's Argo imprint. Willette, who hailed from Chicago, never achieved the fame of other jazz organists like Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff and Brother Jack McDuff.

Willette recorded just four albums under his own name -- two for Blue Note in 1961 and two more for Argo three years later. After that he pretty much disappeared from the jazz scene and died in obscurity in 1971. He was just 37 years old.

Willette displays his gospel roots on this track from Behind the 8 Ball, a version of the traditional Amen. He's accompanied by guitarist Ben White, saxophonist Gene Barge and drummer Jerold Donovan. The MP3 is taken from a 45 rpm single.

Amen

Also from Behind the 8 Ball is Just a Closer Walk, this time from YouTube. The audio quality is very good and appears to come from a Japanese CD reissue.




Both of Baby-Face Willette's Blue Note albums are readily available on CD but his Argo recordings are almost impossible to obtain on vinyl or CD at a reasonable price. The good news is that all four of his albums are available as digital downloads.

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