Progressions: 100 Years of Jazz Guitar CD Box Set

This 4-disc collection includes 78 jazz guitar recordings that span the entire history of the genre. All the great names, genres and performances are here; the lineup includes masters such as Wes Montgomery, Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, George Benson, Pat Martino, Les Paul, and dozens more. All the tributaries of jazz are well represented from ragtime and Dixieland, from swing to bebop, from fusion to avante-garde, there are sterling performances here in every conceivable sub-genre. The collection is eclectic and includes rockers such as Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix as well as fusion pioneers like John McLaughlin. Today's jazz masters are also well respresented by the likes of Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, and John Scofield.

The set also includes a profusely illustrated 144-page booklet. Beginning with an introduction by co-producer John Scofield, the artist-by-artist commentary is incisively written by Charles Alexander, founder of England's Jazzwise Publications. A particular treat is a section of mini-interviews in which 25 of today's premier guitarists name their guitar heroes. The book closes with a selection of transcriptions and analyses by Andy Aledort that brings some fascinating musical elements into focus and provides would-be fret wizards with notation of some landmark passages.

This is a must-have for any jazz guitar enthusiast.

Track listings:

Disc 1

1. St. Louis Tickle- VESS OSSMAN


2. Chain Gang Blues- SAM MOORE


3. Savoy Blues- JOHNNY ST. CYR and LONNIE JOHNSON


4. You're The One For Me- SOL HOOPII


5. Add A Little Wiggle- EDDIE LANG


6. Clowin' The Frets- EDDIE BUSH


7. California Blues- BENNY "KING" NAHAWI


8. How'm I Doin' / Dinah- ROY SMECK


9. Who's Sorry Now- EDDIE CONDON


10. Danzon- CARL KRESS & DICK McDONOUGH


11. China Boy- OTTO "COCO" HEIMEL


12. Minnehaha- SAM KOKI


13. Swingin' On The Strings- INK SPOTS


14. Honeysuckle Rose- DJANGO REINHARDT


15. Guitar Swing- CASEY BILL WELDON


16. Love Me Or Leave Me- EDDIE DURHAM & FREDDIE GREEN


17. Whispering- OSCAR ALEMAN


18. Pickin' For Patsy- ALLAN REUSS


19. Little Rock Getaway- GEORGE BARNES


20. Solo Flight- CHARLIE CHRISTIAN


21. Buck Jumpin'- AL CASEY


22. Twin Guitar Special- LEON McAULIFFE & ELDON SHAMBLIN


23. I'm Walkin' This Town- TEDDY BUNN


24. Palm Springs Jump- SLIM GAILLARD


25. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You- OSCAR MOORE


26. Red Cross- TINY GRIMES


Disc 2

1. Ol' Man Rebop- BILL DE ARANGO


2. On Green Dolphin Street- BARNEY KESSEL


3. What Is This Thing Called Love- GEORGE VAN EPS


4. Body And Soul- JIMMY RANEY


5. My Baby Just Cares For Me- CHUCK WAYNE


6. Runnin' Wild- LES PAUL


7. Mountain Melody- CHET ATKINS


8. Yardbird Suite- TAL FARLOW


9. The Boy Next Door- JOHNNY SMITH


10. Tocata- LAURINDO ALMEIDA


11. I've Got You Under My Skin- JIM HALL


12. Aguas De Marco [Waters Of March]- JOAO GILBERTO


13. Bluesette- TOOTS THIELEMANS


14. Midnight Blue- KENNY BURRELL


15. Unit 7- WES MONTGOMERY


16. Naptown Blues- HERB ELLIS


17. Move- HANK GARLAND


18. Easy Living- HOWARD ROBERTS


19. Jean de Fleur- GRANT GREEN


20. Night And Day- JOE PASS


Disc 3

1. Clockwise- GEORGE BENSON


2. Just Friends- PAT MARTINO


3. A Taste Of Honey- LENNY BREAU


4. How Insensitive- CHARLIE BYRD


5. Gypsy Queen- GABOR SZABO


6. June 15, 1967- LARRY CORYELL


7. As We Used To Sing- SONNY SHARROCK


8. Should Be Reversed- DEREK BAILEY


9. Manic Depression- JIMI HENDRIX


10. Birds Of Fire- JOHN McLAUGHLIN


11. Coral- MICK GOODRICK


12. Ralph's Piano Waltz- JOHN ABERCROMBIE


13. The Prowler- RALPH TOWNER


14. Bright Size Life- PAT METHENY


15. Aqui, Oh- TONINHO HORTA


16. Midnight In San Juan- EARL KLUGH


Disc 4

1. Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile)- CARLOS SANTANA


2. Inner City Blues- PHIL UPCHURCH


3. Thumper- ERIC GALE


4. Spiral- LARRY CARLTON


5. Captain Fingers- LEE RITENOUR


6. Mr. Spock- ALLAN HOLDSWORTH


7. Race With The Devil On Spanish Highway- AL DIMEOLA


8. Cause We've Ended As Lovers- JEFF BECK


9. Church- JAMES BLOOD ULMER


10. Ron Carter- BILL FRISELL


11. Hottentot- JOHN SCOFIELD


12. Postizo- MARC RIBOT


13. Fat Time- MIKE STERN