This Guy Doesn't Need a "REAL" Jazz Guitar To Sound Amazing!

[@JensLarsen]

Who is your favorite "telecaster jazzer"? And check out this Jazz Blues: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnOyoYWva8ybgNU

[@proverbs11vs30]

Bickert for sure 🙂

[@Marcos-vb3zo]

Julian Lage. I saw him last month in Valladolid (He broke his e string and hadn’t a back up guitar, so he run to change the string. Whe he came back said that was his last string). Also, one of his telecasters is a spanish one; a Nachocaster.

[@iplayguitar66]

Ed Bickert! He’s why I bought a tele.

[@proverbs11vs30]

@@iplayguitar66 same here 🙂

[@Meemorp_]

Definitely Ted Greene.

[@RichardBlair484]

Working jazz players in Toronto all knew Ed’s work. He was a national treasure, and left a legacy of great players in Toronto who cut their teeth listening to Ed’s unique beautiful playing. Thanks Jens.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like the video 🙂

[@d.r.martin6301]

A great recognition for one of the very greatest jazz guitarists. I love, love, love Ed Bickert!

[@nearlyzero9849]

I had the great fortune as a young man growing up in Toronto in the 70's and 80's. Saw Ed in so many different clubs with so many great players, and every time it was breath taking. There was no end to his creativity, and the man played more chords in one night than most would play in a life time. When in a room with Ed, one could never take their ears off of him, no matter who he was playing with. Also, and this matters, he was a lovely man. I sometimes pinch myself when I realize it was just normal for me to see him about 20 times a year for at least 20 years. My words do little justice to this wonderful man and musician. Hard to imagine we will see his like again. A true original.

[@JensLarsen]

Sounds amazing 👍🙂

[@NickGranville]

He’s a great player and criminally underrated. So great. I often feel that the jazz journalists etc only pay attention to USA based artists, so maybe that’s part of it. Thanks for doing this video drawing attention to his playing.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it Nick! 🙂

[@markrollinger5366]

This guy is pretty special. I play jazz piano in addition to guitar. Hearing Ed play was like hearing Bill Evans for the first time. Incredible harmony & voice leading. What amazes me about Ed is he plays alot while comping, laying down a grove, but never sounds too busy. Never owned a Tele, but he tempts me. Great subject, Jens!!

[@primoroy]

Do you have a "jazz piano" instead of a regular piano?

[@markrollinger5366]

Sometimes I play a "classical piano".

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Mark!

[@primoroy]

@@markrollinger5366 Is the construction different from a jazz piano?

[@markrollinger5366]

@@primoroy really?

[@marcovalentini5741]

There are several underrated guitarist from Canada Ed Bickert, Sonny Greenwich ( the two of them worked together on several occasions) and from Montreal Nelson Symonds.

[@hmengland4161]

...and add in Reg Schwager, another of Ed's "musical sons". To say nothing of Rob Piltch, Ted Quinlan, David Occhipinti, Sam Dickinson....lots and lots! For them all, Ed Bickert is the lodestone.

[@rickjensen2717]

Ed was a tremendous musician, distinct, wonderful melodies and silky rootless chords. One of the greats in my humble opinion.

[@davidjperkins1710]

Around 1970, a group of teen jazz "up and comers" were invited to a rehearsal at CBC Toronto of Benny Goodman...all the top jazz players of the time were in the band including Ed Bickert- I was there and we all watched as these pros went through the charts- Ed sitting there quietly with a telecaster and tiny amp, at the break we all got to chat with the players and I saw 2 guitarists talking to Ed- turns out they asked him "Why a Tele?" and he just said "Because it's louder" - they were puzzled as one was a E335 guy and the other an L-5 so they dug a bit deeper and at the time the "louder" meant a smaller amp and an easier time on the subway getting to sessions. It was my first witnessing of how the sound is in the fingers.

[@JensLarsen]

Great story! 🙂

[@gerryditrich1830]

I was so lucky to have Ed Bickert when he was with Barry Elmes in the late 90's do a clinic and performance when i was studying Jazz in Nanaimo BC. I got to shake the legends hand, get his autograph and chat with him for a minute. Great man, gold standard of player. My Dad always said Ed Bickert and Barney Kessel were the 2 best guitarists in north America.. i would agreed. Thanks for this vidro Lars!

[@johnmckenzie4639]

Growing up in Toronto, I was fortunate enough to see Ed many times with The Boss Brass live and on TV. Always seated, playing his Telecaster, he wasn’t flashy, but his solos never disappointed. I'll always remember seeing The Boss Brass one night at Ontario Place at the old Forum amphitheatre. The wind was blowing in off Lake Ontario and it was a chilly night. Ed decided to keep warm by wearing an oversized floppy touque (a big wooly cap) He was quite a sight!

[@toddwilliamson2651]

My favorite traditional Jazz player. I could listen to him play chords all day, just ana amazing player who always knew where to sit in the mix.

[@useurhed]

YES!! Ed Bickert!! I bought a Paul Desmond album when I first started learning to play jazz violin. I bought it for the Desmond work, but immediately I was overwhelmed by the beauty of Bickert's guitar work. Bickert's solos were amazingly elegant, but the way he backed Desmond was what really floored me. It was much later that someone finally convinced me he was playing a Telecaster. All the proof one could need that it's 95% the artist, 5% the equipment. Thanks, Jens.

[@festivalexpress8505]

i saw him live many times in Toronto - a wonderful player

[@joopvanzeir3330]

My all time favorite and big inspiration for playing, Scotty Anderson. And an honorable mention for Danny gatton of course.

[@jerichothedrifter60]

Truth is that a Telecaster or even a Strat on the neck pickup... tone knob rolled down a bit, treble on the amp rolled down...can give you the warm, wooly tone you need for jazz stuff. I use my Teles for jazz and swing all the time.

[@Mikkokosmos]

I lived in Toronto for many years. Ed was huge there. There are many guitar players there that are very influenced by him. Lorne Lofsky is the most famous.

[@SvenHulaHoop]

Thanks for this excellent video on Bickert, Jens. I have KZbin algorithms to thank for introducing me to Ed Bickert a few years ago. I never get tired of hearing his relaxed but fascinating approach to jazz.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you liked it!

[@hargoniyamaki5168]

Great video. 43 years on guitar, this was like learning Japanese on a Spanish fishing trawler.

[@liontone]

Bickert is one of the true greats. Always reminded me of Jim Hall - which is amazing.

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, Jim is also amazing!

[@pauricx14]

As a kid I saw him in Winnipeg around 1981.. the sound of that tele was seductive. He was relaxed and playing beautifully.. Lenny Breau's drummer Reg Kelln was accompanying him... might've been Ron Hallderson on bass.. they sounded huge. At the end of the show Ed left for a few minutes leaving that legendary tele unattended.. my friend had the nerve to pick it up and play it.. I thought for sure Ed would come back and kick his ass !

[@philippebyrnes1213]

I discovered Ed Bickert by accident. Was record shopping when records were still records and saw an LP in the jazz cutouts. Immediately was hooked. You could here the Wes Montgomery, the Tal Farlow, the Pat Martino, but only as seasonings - the meat was Ed. Since then whenever I see an EB CD I buy it. If I were to choose 1 word for him, it's understated. A gentleman of jazz.

[@barflytom3273]

he used to play at Georgio's Spagetti House in Toronto regularly, ı was driving cab than, used to go and listen to him all the time. ı was there when he played with Lorne Lofsky later on, amazing stuff.

[@JensLarsen]

I would live to have heard that!

[@Nu-PopEntertainment-xw1ih]

Ed! Would love to play more like Ed!🎸

[@misterarthur]

Ed Bickert is criminally underrated. Thanks for the clips and the accolades.

[@petekay67]

One of my favorites, Tim Lerch

[@MartinBlasick]

Thanks for digging into Ed Bickert and sharing it so wonderfully

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@aaroncampmusic]

Ed is one of my favorite players regardless. My teacher Rick met him at a jazz festival they were both playing. He said he sounded like Bill Evan's with all the beautiful harmonies. He and Barry Galbraith are my favorite especially for comping/harmonic sense. You should totally do a B.G. video sometime if we're on the topic of unknown/underrated players. I can help provide a good bit of info on him if you want it!

[@etiloyon3681]

I had no clue about Ed Bickert and suddenly, those last weeks, it seems many peoples started to speak of him in the same time. Anyway it's a good thing because I find him a very stylish guitarist, with something "homy" around him, his faded guitar, his school-boy amp... Very attaching musician. Great groove, great blues, no head-ache. Thanks for your analysis, Jens.

[@miekgenklefin9616]

E.B. 100%. He opened all that up for me 20 yrs ago. His take on Do Nothing Til You Hear From Me is a lesson I still take.

[@glennmichaelthompson4112]

I love Ed Bickert's playing... what's not to love!? When Attending a couple of his performances I noticed he was using a Roland Cube (orange coloured) and his 2nd amp on the opposite side of the stage was another Roland Cube... but it was the silver/grey model which was marketed as a keyboard amp. Those 2 amps really filled the club well, with good dispersion. Of course he was playing a Tele with a humbucker in the neck position. Thanks for this informative video on Ed Bickert's playing. A terribly underrated musician deserving wider recognition.

[@nerk0227]

I’ve been looking for this guy for 20 or 25 years. I briefly watched a clip of his playing on television but never caught his name. He must be underrated because I was very much impressed by his skill but I was unable to find any clue that would lead me to find his name was Ed Bickert. Thank you for making this video as well as all your others.

[@chadbailey1500]

Damn few guitarists have had the command of jazz harmony that Ed Bickert had. His chord voicings were lush and always added an extra dimension to whatever he was playing. An absolute jazz master of the first order!

[@SketchPLAY1]

Ed Bickert and Sonny Greenwich among two Canadian jazz Guitar greats

[@jlwhitecotten5947]

Ed was The Man.

[@jfender8023]

So glad you did this. I spent all day at work listening to Ed Wonderful, coincidence my favorite player, so modern sounding for his period

[@MarcSt-Jean]

When I first heard Ed on Pure Desmond I thought the comping sounded like someone playing an RMI electronic piano. Never heard anyone before Ed comp like that on guitar.

[@mikemurdock7234]

The Eb7 chord is used a lot in a rock music, often mistaken as the Hendrix chord.I love this progression at 9:42 Thanks to this video, I now have a new player to check out in Ed Bickert. I recently bought a Telecaster, and have been quite blown away at the wide array of sounds you can get out of it. The tone knob truly is like a secret pedal that drastically changes the sound. I've gotten some amazing Jazz tone out of just that mini single coil in the neck.

[@stefanobonoli8783]

Ed is a monster player. Very hard to find a better one! ❤

[@sitarnut]

I have a Bickert LP and in the liner notes there is a Jim Hall quote saying: "He's the only guy who scares me to death when he walks into the room" Ed's rootless voicings are legendary.. many which are so hard to play at speed.

[@chrisclermont456]

I have always loved Ed Bickert!! Ted Greene played jazz on a Tele. Now we have many great Tele jazz players like Mike Stern, John Tropea, David Spinnoza, Steve Khan, and others. Joe Pass played a Fender Jaguar with Sarah Vaughn for a time. Rumor has it, he had pawned his Gibson ES175 to buy heroin. When he cleaned up, he was offered the gig but had no money and no guitar. The Jaguar was a stop gap, but how wonderful did he make it sound!!

[@michaeldennisguitarlessons]

Your Graphics are Next Level! Deconstruct the Masters!

[@robertdouglas4293]

I grew up listening to him on tv on playing with the greats as a kid! Thanks for the memories, great content!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@FlopMeister71]

I bought a tele years ago as I felt it was one of those guitars that could play almost any style. Another great video Jens ❤

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂

[@dcjway]

Julian Lage.

[@MyJ2B]

My favourite player - not because I AM Canadian but because Ed used a unique humble style with a road-beaten Telecaster, steady chewing gum, and melodic comping.

[@JohnHorneGuitar]

GREAT VIDEO! I discovered Ed Bickert in high school jazz band when my band director had us playing arrangements by Rob McConnell and listening to those recordings with the Boss Brass and Ed on guitar. Even amidst the big arrangements there was often plenty room for Ed's playing to shine through.

[@GreatMammothPictures]

Ed Bickert was a huge Bill Evans fan, and definitely copped a lot of voicings from him, but he stated that his primary influence was actually big band arrangements. (He tried to "comp like a big band", in his words.) Thus his chord solos work very similarly to classic sax solis and things like that. He also loved Gil Evans, which I'm sure was a source for many of his more dissonant, clustered voicings.

[@MrJimcarlton]

Anyone who knows spit about jazz guitarists understands that Ed was not underrated. Yes, he was under-appreciated because he was not well known by whomever, but anyone who was up to speed on great jazz guitarists understands that he was an amazing and well-respected player among his peers.

[@williamrosen6675]

Thanks for this one jens, and the analysis. I love studying Ed's stuff.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Mike-vk4cd]

Ed's one of my biggest Jazz influences. Glad you made this video

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@LetzBeaFranque]

Excellent! Ed Bickert is one of my favorites.

[@JensLarsen]

Mine too!

[@charleyrobertson4663]

Ed was one of my teachers in the late '70s.

[@elninojustino]

I studied his version of When Sunny Gets Blue with Joe Coughlin. Also, his version of Twisted Blues. Would love to see more videos on his comping. I'm usually bored by most comping, but his style is so unique and interesting

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, he is a great comper

[@seanspring1360]

I had the pleasure of seeing Ed play decades ago here in Toronto, and during his set he made one of the funniest music jokes ever. He played a bad note(clam) during one tune. After the tune ended Ed apologized saying that " the note wasn't on his guitar when he left the house"! Hilarious

[@kojam1]

Another Canadian! Sadly a lot of our talent gets acknowledged elsewhere before Canada realizes how great they are. I thought EB was wildly renowned though. EVERYBODY must have heard "Take 5"once in their lives. Just found out a few years ago that his sons all play as well. Nice! What about Lenny Breau. 😱! INSANE player!

[@twli]

Thx for this analysis. Bickert is an original genius, and i appreciate your comparison to Bill Evans. Love the side note on amps, too!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@titi64230]

Really like Éd Bickert since years

[@graemebarnes4405]

Wow thanks Jens. I will definitely check out Ed, what a player!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you liked it 🙂

[@zeekmx1970]

This is a serious video Mr. Larson. I love it when you punish the guitar snobs. Maybe you've seen the jazz warm up of the band Megadeath. That blew my mind. Seems I was right to join your channel.

[@Surf_Cat]

Telecaster is a great all-round, I've heard some of the non premium ones and they're even good. I love my 1st electric ibanez gio proce/quality wise. But I would have loved any telecaster.

[@freddyarmijos8883]

Mr grant green ! Another legend.

[@Fabsurf101]

Wow, thanks for introducing this guy to our attention.👍👍👍

[@JensLarsen]

My pleasure 🙂

[@seconduser1809]

I’ve told this story on several KZbin channels over the years, but here it is again: I saw Ed Bickert in a small jazz club back in the mid 1990’s and at the break he was leaning against a wall and I walked up and asked him about why he played a telecaster rather than the usual hollow body jazz guitar. He just shrugged and said he couldn't imagine lugging around a big awkward hollow body everywhere he went.

[@GordonZoot]

Jim Mullen - seen him live many times and he has always played a Telecaster. His thumb method gets a real mellow sound.

[@jmwaller]

Lovely player, but haven't seen him with a telecaster for decades. For a long time, it's been a cheap Aria archtop, usually through an AER Compact 60.

[@Calbertone]

thank you for the great lesson. really dig your point about amps, thats also why i like the old polytones.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you liked it 🙂

[@philiprowland9390]

I love it when you cover Ed Bickert, Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@dustyandsneezing]

I love my Tele! It plays everything!

[@MarkEisenman]

Re; Lorne, and Ed. I know that Lorne lifted EVERY solo from that record when it came out. We lived in the same house and and I remember that, because I was there. Also Lorne and Ed recorded together.

[@positivityduo]

It’s never about the gear. It’s always about the player.

[@markusstorf7202]

Very inspiring video and analysis - thanks for the input!

[@jedomann]

Didn’t know about Ed. Thanks, Jens!

[@michaeldennisguitarlessons]

Paul Desmond Quartet - The Paul Desmond Quartet Live! Many hours of inspiring listening! Ed Bickert....We Are Not Worthy!

[@agustinlayusmusica]

I love Ed’s playing

[@jamescopeland5358]

Great idea Jens

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you think so!

[@philwoodard8087]

Thanks for the great video! I was lucky to see him multiple times at George's Spaghetti House, on Dundas Street (at Sherbourne St.) in Toronto.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it. I wish I had seen him live 🙂

[@tidepoolbay]

Nice Work! Thank You! WooF!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andrewwebb1911]

Thanks Jens.

[@JensLarsen]

My pleasure!

[@jroc2201]

Bill Frisell is cool, still out there playing, he’s coming to the Village Vangaurd soon

[@rthavi4166]

Lovely licks!

[@SuperMcgenius]

As a Canadian , I did not know his name😮, was thinking polytone amp in sound tone.

[@vikramjitbanerjeetuki]

Yeah Ed was da man❤

[@PhilWilkinsonMusic]

Yeah, fantastic video Jens so much good info there. I love Ed Bickert. Who was that cat that played a strat with Jimmy Smith, I forget his name. You can get a jazz tone from many different types of guitars, the intention I think is most important.

[@RobKandell]

Thanks for the tip. Having grown up on the border*, I can say that Canadian artists often are overlooked. That is a shame. *Growing up in the 70s (before cable) that meant double the TV and radio stations.

[@briansteffmagnussen9078]

Jeg havde en Roland Cube 30w. i mange år, En helt fremragende combo med vel afbalanceret lyd. Lyden var mere som en full range pa. end det egentlig var en decideret guitar eller Bass forstærker lyd. Nu jeg er ved det med Bass forstærker, så er der ofte en lyd mange vil fortrække ved at bruge en guitar gennem en Bass forstærker. Måske var dette en ide til en video som handler om forskellige amp modeller der har deres egne særlige karaktere

[@perpersson1072]

well the great danny gatton had beutiful jazz tone on his tele but he was master also in country jazz rock in his unique way of playing

[@kerrybarnes7289]

RIP Ed Bickert

[@trevormckinnon6696]

A truly great, not only guitarist, but musician I think. His chords sound like that of the pianist Bill Evans, but unlike Evan's trio, Ed's is nice and comfortable to tap your foot along to. I like that. I'm annoyed by the over- complex rhythms of modern jazz. Ed 's approach is refreshing.

[@lqr824]

Compliments on a very nice video Jens. I know enough music theory to follow your explanations but not enough to jump ahead and figure out where the explanation going, much less understand it when I hear it without explanation. I play reggae keys and pop guitar and will try following your channel a bit. If I desubscribe it's not because of the material but because I'm not advanced enough for it...

[@manuelalfonsocuadradoferra7270]

Eres otra joya Josep, me ha gustado mucho el programa, disfrute mucho viendo a enrrique y compañía en la estirpe y ahora contigo, me subscribo a tu canal:)

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it!

[@cliffbungalow9373]

He has an humbucker in the neck position which will make the tele sound completely different.

[@krokovay.marcell]

Where did he pick up his voicing? Maybe by studying pianists? They love stacked fourths slightly altered to get a broader sound.

[@4578a]

If anyone tries to write off Ed bickert because he uses a Telecaster then they are just afraid to confront the playing of one finest Guitarists ever.

[@jasonmudgarde286]

On the subject of Canadian guitarists, I really ❤ Lenny Breau. Such a short life, perhaps murdered too!

[@Faz99Master]

Hi Jens. Get in touch with Lorne Lofsky. He’s Ed’s premier student and certainly the foremost expert on Ed as he knew h8m personally.

[@Faz99Master]

To find out where Ed’s influences were.

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, maybe I should. I am certainly a fan of Lorne's playing :)

[@Faz99Master]

I was with Lorne tonight and I asked him what Ed told him his influences were. He said Ed told him Jimmy Rainey, Tal Farlow and big bands!

[@Faz99Master]

Interestingly, with regard to big bands, Lorne said that Ed had such good ears, he could choose the voices a big band was playing that could practically be played on the guitar. With humour Lorne said that Ed could find the proper voicing to somebody coughing or sneezing! That’s how good he was.

[@JensLarsen]

@@Faz99Master Haha! Great that you asked :) Most have been amazing to hear Lorne live!

[@paulpmanhowland7818]

Great video.

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks!

[@AmericasChoice]

Bickert would sound so much better on an Arch Top, fact. That is why they make Jazz guitars.

[@LenapeSusqehannock]

LEO FENDER'S TELE........SAYS IT ALL

[@z4570]

In Canada, he is considered a Giant.

[@JazzCatzs]

Him, Lenny & Sonny 🇨🇦 👍🏼

[@z4570]

@@JazzCatzs For sure! and Jim Pirie.

[@m0j0b0ne]

Should this surprise ANYONE? It's NEVER about the gear; ALWAYS about the player.

[@gssong7111]

where the sig tele, Fender?