Charlie Christian at Carnegie Hall 1939 24/12/1939

[@bobdillaber1195]

I was one month old when this concert took place. Well growing up, and throughout my teenage years and beyond all these guys were my heroes! Not Mickey Mantle or babe Ruth for me. Give me any day Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Charlie Christian, Lester Young, etc. I am 80 years old today and they're still my heroes!

[@PianoMeSasha]

well they were my heros and ruth , gehrig, and mantle too. it was never either or!

[@PianoMeSasha]

and then there was joe pepitone!

[@harveywinters424]

I was born in 1943, and these guys are my heroes too.

[@6ick6ick6ity5]

I was born in 1996 and these guys are my heroes

[@68topper]

Bob, the Benny Goodman orchestra would be a modern day super group, like the travelling willburys but without the zip!

[@nadyarossi5102]

Charlie Christian was way ahead of his time. And left us way too soon.

[@SDPickups]

Its always funny to see any thumbs down numbers on classic material like this. Charlie Christian invented a ton of guitar licks that even heavy metal guys are playing now and have no idea where they came from. Charlie was one of the first electric guitar players. I guess you have to become older to appreciate where the roots of all our guitar playing actually came from. Jimmy Page, Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, they weren't playing anything new, without Charlie back there in history, we'd all be playing accordions.....

[@wordsmith52]

There will always be brain dead, ignorant people, unfortunately.

[@curbmassa]

I only wish, especially younger people, could get past the fidelity of these recordings and hear the greatness and dedication that went into this. The music business was tough then as it is now and the axiom remains true that the cream rises to the top. The cows must have been much better fed back then is the only conclusion I can arrive at. I dunno, if I hear one more hit record that goes Am-F-C-G with a caterwauling female at the top of her range I'm going to cut someone. Seriously. Eddie Money at least gave us an augmented chord used incorrectly but that was nearly 40 years ago. I think it's time for me to die.

[@marianojosecongetbetore9091]

Eddie Durham taught Christian. Durham was in Kansas Benny Moten's band that afterwards became Count Basie´s where he played trombon and did arranging while also playing guitar and arranging late 30s with part of the band as Kansas City Six and Seven with Lester Young and Buck Clayton

[@tashkessan]

curbmassa e

[@trainliker100]

There is a set of jazz guitar CD's with many of the great players called "Hittin on All Six: a History of the Jazz Guitar". It is broken down into three sections. Pre-Charlie Christian, Charlie Christian, post-Charlie Christian. There is a reason Benny Goodman wanted him after he heard him.

[@ronaldmacpherson3345]

We don’t hear enough of Charlie Christian because he died too young. But his influence lived in and still lives on. He was one of a kind.

[@kmc56]

Hampton is actually on drums alongside Jo Jones. This is an edited version. I posted the unedited, but I drink too much and can't find it.

[@pianopappy]

This is from the late 1950's Vanguard 2-LP set of John Hammond's first two "Spirituals to Swing" concerts. Christian's solo was cut by one chorus, probably because of the LP's space limitations. The DVD version, issued in 1999, is complete. By the way, the voice shouting "Count Basie" during Basie's solo reportedly belongs to Harry "Sweets" Edison.

[@majestic8628]

blues and jazz are the soul of the United States

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

Perfect way to spend your Christmas Eve! Sad we lost Charlie Christian so young and have such limited material. I’m learning some of his solos and the dude was just way ahead of his time.

[@godfreydaniels1817]

I haven't heard this in quite a long time, but the pianist on the first chorus following Lester Young is most definitely Joe Sullivan. It's almost a "textbook" solo by Joe. As it turns out, according to Tom Lord's jazz discography, the above personnel is incorrect, and should be: Harry Edison (soloing), Buck Clayton, Ed Lewis, Shad Collins, trumpets; Dicky Wells, Benny Morton, Dan Minor, trombones; Earl Warren, Jack Washington, Buddy Tate, Lester Young (soloing), Count Basie (first solo), Joe Sullivan (second solo), Pete Johnson (third solo), piano; Charlie Christian (soloing), Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page (soloing), Artie Bernstein, bass; Jo Jones, Nick Fatool, drums. (I added the solo info - and it's very definitely Edison taking the trumpet solo.)

[@cliffworks748]

excellent research thanks can't help but wonder what Freddie Green thought of Charlie Christian playing amplified guitar single note solos wonder what they talked about?

[@drewmfie]

​@@cliffworks748 i read an interview with freddie green done in the 60s or 70s and he said that people rightfully praise his soloing but forget his phenomenal comping and ability to keep the time

[@PianoMeSasha]

this should read. Lester Young and Charlie Christian at CH...what a gorgeous Prez solo..

[@stephenpolly2793]

Charlie's 70sec solo starts at 4:17 and he also plays a short solo on the outro at 9:09

[@bnastali]

What a solo from Charlie! He is on fire. These players are top of the heap.

[@angusbrownfield8901]

Nick Fatool gets an A for understanding what a drummer contributes to a swing band.

[@VoodooDewey69]

There wouldn't be no Wes Montgomery , Pat Martino or Joe Pass without the true pioneers who heralded jazz into the mainstream .

[@MrSOLOPACA]

Che meravigliosa vigilia di Natale! Un concerto da ascoltare più volte al giorno!

[@tomclohessy1050]

Lester Young taking some great choruses after Basie

[@ronaldmacpherson3345]

Charlie Christian and Lester young with five different pianos

[@wesm65]

Great All Star performance. Charlie Christian's solo is a masterpiece!

[@SELMER1947]

Every note played by Charlie is a masterpiece....

[@bobdillaber1195]

He was so damn good. Great creative mind and feel. Always plays the unexpected, just right.

[@shkyrbty]

Mindblowing! And to think, Robert Johnson was sought by John Hammond to be a part of these concerts, but he passed a year before. The history of the guitar would've been completely different if those two (Charlie Christian and Robert Johnson) had met and played on the same stage.

[@billdang3953]

The mind boggles over what a duet between Robert Johnson & Charlie Christian would have sounded like, even better is what if Charlie Christian lent his electric guitar to Robert Johnson and let him play it for their set.

[@kevindean1327]

I'll take that a little bit further. Had Robert Johnson played this concert Alan Lomax wouldn't have gone looking for him, finding out he'd died, and discovered Muddy Waters instead. I agree the history of rock, and Blues would have taken a different course. I mean it was Muddy who recommended Chuck Berry to Leonard Chess. The implications are enormous!!!

[@kevindean1327]

I believe Johnson was scheduled for the first of these concerts in '38. His name appears on the poster for the show. He died in August, I believe of '38.

[@songwolf108]

Charlie Christain,one of the Great Guitar Gods!

[@waltergray7722]

This is perfection !!! Thank you for sharing.

[@jimmyhalperin7792]

Way ahead of his time!!!

[@sorenkarlsson3649]

This is REAL JAMMING, I love it.

[@marketccess1]

Wow! Virtuoso performance.

[@leandroquintella6349]

Beautiful Charlie Christian

[@johnmarlin7269]

Oh, and Charlie Christian is pretty awesome here.

[@sergenis7721]

bravo!!!!! merci

[@wordsmith52]

way ahead of its time.

[@Firebrand55]

Well chosen...one of the Counts best live performances.....( Lady Be Good ). I was 10 days old at the time, lying hopefully in a cot in doomed Devonport, England. Somebody must have played this within earshot sometime. As I grew up I got to know every rhythmic pulse solo and inflection. What this performance really shows is what is missing from today's music...rhythm and the exciting world of jazz. To be fair, each generation must have it's own music to distant them from the previous generation...but comparing this classic piece, and many others, to Rap for example, is like comparing chess to draughts, or Everest with a small, insignificant munro in Scotland.....a personal opinion of course!

[@bigeman25]

Loved Pete Johnson's solo.

[@flippatmedbernt]

Great❤

[@SELMER1947]

Charlie the genius

[@johnb1346]

Absolutely FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@johncoffin9354]

Personnel is obviously up for guessing. Lots of folks drifting around the stage during that concert. I don't think we're hearing five pianists here. Sort of leaden feel from the rhythm, which is surprising considering that all these guys were major players. Probably unfamiliarity. The trumpet soloist is definitely Edison.

[@tobiportillo8156]

8:10 insane the drummer

[@golds04]

Prez. Charlie. Shaw nuff.

[@johnzarvis1462]

This soooooo…..swinging. Love it❤️🎶👍

[@emilianoandresmaza6381]

Escucharon a oscar aleman de argentina tocaba muy paracido a este estilo !!!

[@marylouleeman]

Les Paul HAD to know about him. Replica.

[@godfreydaniels1817]

Of course - all the guitarists of that time knew about Charlie.

[@lawrenceturner9724]

Charlie Christian, Bird Lives.

[@atomicflash1753]

vibes vibraphone

[@johnmarlin7269]

Five guys on the piano? Please explain. Obviously, Basie on the head (he's unmistakable) and I hear what sounds like others later but how did the rest work out? Great performance and recording. Thanks so much for posting.

[@anandapandya1]

Jammin’!!

[@lastknowngood0]

Star Spangled Cast ! Yowzah!

[@jimbonacum8917]

As one of the other commenters points put below the personnel list is not completely accurate. In addition to Charlie Christian, the incomparable Freddie Green is chonking away keeping time for the band. As far as I know this performance is the only time that two of the most influential guitarists ever played together.

[@lastknowngood0]

Roll em Pete!

[@damonarvid3548]

not to say Charlie Christian is not a genius, but why call attention to just one player in an ensemble piece with a lot of great work

[@kmc56]

Damon Arvid The brief period he was here makes it unique. He only made it to 25. The rest were here longer and we got to hear more of them.

[@pharmerdavid1432]

Plus he invented this style of amplified lead jazz guitar, which has influenced countless players!

[@theysayhiraeth1152]

Because he's a legend

[@antoninogalofar0998]

Quando si dice ritmo...

[@jakedriggers5987]

O lady be good!

[@菅野一弥-m5y]

1938年ではないのかな？

[@rorydillon7572]

What is that clicking during the bass solo? Is it another case of Charlie tapping his foot, or is the drummer doing something?

[@godfreydaniels1817]

Someone's foot tapping.

[@SDPickups]

Damn! Listen to that drummer! Pure Rock 'n Roll!

[@timwhitlock3500]

Nope - pure swing. Why does EVERYTHING have to be compared to rock and roll?

[@timwhitlock3500]

@Kenneth Liburd Having played guitar and steel guitar in swing and western swing bands for 25 years I have a pretty good idea of the history and evolution of the music. My original comment was about everything being so dominated by the monster of rock and roll that no one appreciates the nuances and the greatness of the swing/jazz era from which rock and roll sprang. For most people, musical history usually begins around 1955 with Elvis and culminates with Van Halen. Sad!

[@naughtiusmaximus1811]

"Practice"

[@voriskinlaw9775]

Listen To The RHYTHM Section's Pocket.. SMH SMH SMH SMH!!🤔🤔🤔

[@mrjimmienoone2130]

Really Edison on trumpet here? Doesn't sound like him.

[@godfreydaniels1817]

Most definitely. Give a isten to his work with Basie from then.

[@jonnelson6446]

I never thought he was distinctive anyway. Good player, but definitely not an original.

[@MrAnderswt]

I don´t have eyes for Krupa-like drumming.If this is Fatool,he reminds me of Krupa.It´s too mechanical.

[@vittoriocastelli2681]

Drums: Jo Jones alternates with Lionel Hampton