there's a lot of names that come up in the discussion of great jazz guitarists: Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Grant green... I see very few people mention Johnny smith. not sure why that is! I mean he had a relatively short recording career, but... there's very few jazz guitarists who have ever played with this much taste when it comes to melody and spare voicings. Two notes is a chord! and all his runs are exactly what needs to be played to connect the dots between one chord and the other - no endless eighth-note ramblings.
I'm obsessed with his version of Misty, the improvising in between the melody is exactly what I was looking for
what the hell is wrong with people who insist that guitar and piano can't play together?? at its best it's this beautiful amalgam, both chordal instruments that excel at single lines, each comps for the other in a beautiful melodic and harmonic conversation... it's so special!! FUCK
need to look up the piano player on this record

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