paulrichardschuster (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Nobody slights Ed because of his nationality...he's just not as well known that's all. nuch like Lenny Breau...these guys aren't underated by people, rather just undiscovered by most.

Putytand (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

both Jim and Ed are the most intellegent guitarsits on the planet. they are just brilliant

Putytand (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Bravo, amazing

mateiko (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

This is great!

emilrusu (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

yeah jim said he was dead scared when ed bickert walked in the room! Ed's awesome and has tons of credit here in canada and abroad! From what i've heard he worked like crazy as a studio musician. I don't see the sense in making light of tha nationality of his audience. Every place/country or whatever has a different circumstance and I don't think ed went into music with all that in mind.

JazzGeetar213 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Jim Hall is a little more notey then Bickert but they're both excellent at using space. They never try to force too many notes in. I think that's what makes them so good for Desmond.

minor7b5b9 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

right on man.If you get a chance, try "AT Last" (Ed Bickert Trio) & if you like the work with Desmond, you might try the Paul Desmond Qt...Live, as well. I love all his work with Desmond, but this is really special(first tune is "Wendy"). Also has "Take 5" on it.I have to agree with you that Desmond's work with Hall & Bickert is cool, melodic jazz at it's best.Strange thing is that Hall & Bickert had completely different voices on guitar, yet blended perfectly with Desmond.

JazzGeetar213 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I agree. So smooth. He always plays like he's got absolutely nothing to prove. So relaxed, never too notey. It's like he only chooses the notes that he really needs to get across what he wants to say. I only was introduced to him about three weeks and immediately I ordered Pure Desmond and Out of the Past off Amazon. He's already probably my favorite jazz guitarist, along with Desmond's other sideman Jim Hall. The world could've used a lot more Ed. Unbelievable talent.

Annikagrace (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

This is absolutely some fabulous playing. Incredible, the smoothness of the lines. Thanks for the post.

elguitaro (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

The Joe Pass Guitar Chords book is a good place to start. It has a bunch of major, minor, 7th, m7th, diminished, and m7b5 voicings in it that can start to unlock some of those sounds you're hearing. A lot of what Ed and Joe do focuses on chord inversion, extended harmony (9ths, 11ths, 13ths, etc) and handling/resolving dissonances. Granted, the reason they can do this is because they know these tunes inside and out. So I'd say lots of practicing helps as well!