The Golden Fingers Of Hank Garland And His Successors

Yesterday's posting about Peter Frampton regaining his long-lost favorite guitar after 31 years led my music-obsessed subconscious directly to another guy who knew his way around a custom Gibson: the incredible Hank Garland, ace session guitarist on recordings by Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline and Roy Orbison and more.

In this clip from Country Style, U.S.A., Hank's distinctive "country jazz" radiates joie de vivre while demonstrating awe-inspiring guitar mastery.

Hank Garland's bouyant music brings to mind one other album for me: the 1993 pairing of jazz guitar guru Joe Pass and veteran country-western entertainer Roy Clark.


 
Joe and Roy's summit meeting of serious pickin' and grinnin' over the simple yet supple, challenging and enduring music of Hank Williams, Sr. recalls a certain phrase again: Joie De Vivre.

Fun On The Frets with Joe Pass and Niels Henning Orsted Pederson

Dear reader, I was in a seriously crappy mood today until finding this remarkable video of Joe Pass and Niels Henning Orsted Pederson burning up the frets live in 1981. I feel better already!

Yes, Joe Pass, jazz chord melody guru, Ella Fitzgerald accompanist, teacher and guitar-slinger, improvising at fever pitch with a guy who played ridiculously fast Charlie Parker melody lines on an upright bass. A FREAKIN' STANDUP BASS, FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD!

And, like the promethean "Yardbird", they are no longer with us on this earth, but continue to spead joy, here playing the living daylights out of the ol' bebop warhorse "Donna Lee" at a concert in Antibes.

Think you can play the guitar? Ha ha ha - think again!