Hey all, this thread is dedicated to smooth music and jazz guitar greats. I prefer the 70s cross over sound but fusion and bossa Nova are also favorites of mine. I take a ton of inspiration from this stuff, I've currently been listening to Phil Upchurch's back catalog! Feel free to chime in and post some recommendations. @Lee Vatip for making me want to post this thread

Phil of course played guitar with Mr. Benson's group.
As did Earl Klugh. Check out Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenaeur, Chieli Minucci, John McGlaughlon Larry Coryell, and Jimmy Ponder.
Falling into this category but much adventurous would my fave , Pat Metheny. His catalog is vast and very diversified. Such a treasure for your listening and learning pleasure

Steve

I've been told a bunch of times to listen to Pat, I used to be friends with a sick tenor sax guy that got a chance to see him a couple years back and he had nothing but good things to say. I listened to Bright Size Life years ago but I can't remember how I felt about it, was going thru my Jaco phase.

Any thoughts on Grant Green? "Visions" is cheesy but one of my favorite albums ever, it's super heavy and features the criminally underrated Billy Wooten on vibes. "Maybe Tomorrow" and "Weve Only Just Begun" are standouts, I'm sure Grant could probably make any cover sound epic though

Wayne Johnson Trio late 70s early 80s
Check out arrowhead and grasshopper albums. Arrowhead is very hard to find though. Here’s an old video of them from the comeback inn in Venice. Boy I wish that place was still around. Be patient . They get going at about the 2:00 min mark

https://youtu.be/7k5EQWfqVOQ


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This stuff is really ahead of it's time, you could tell me this came out a few years ago and I'd believe you

Wayne Johnson trio was very good BTW Jimmy Johnson was the bassist and has toured with many big names especially James Taylor
Grant Green is a bluesy swinger. At that time period, there was Grant, Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessell and Wes Montgomery.
Bright Size Life was Metheny's first record. He evolved within the PMG. Check out Still Life Talking, Letter From Home, Offramp, First Circle and Imaginary Day.....to start. Many YouTube videos available

Steve

I've seen Jimmy Johnson on a bunch of records, nice to put a face to a name. Looks like he plays top of the line Alembics too. Y'all ever heard of Gary King? He played with Bob James and Eric Gale, not sure if he was Tappan Zee's house bassist or what. I'm a fan of the guy, I never hear him get brought up though

He used to play with Alan holdsworth a lot live also in the LA area and played on a few of his albums. I think he was the first guy to get alembic to make their 5 string basses if I remember right


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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHZmStghRy0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeNhSOeHCM4[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9i0ZuIHEkM[/youtube]

Hey!

This album rocked my world as a young drummer. Can you imagine picking up an instrument when Gadd's star was rising!

For me this is near the end of the badass side of what they now call smooth jazz.