Born in 1910, Romani-Belgian jazz guitarist Jean ‘Django’ Reinhardt almost single-handedly brought the gypsy jazz style of music to the world. Not only that, he did it with two fewer fingers than most of his colleagues, thanks to a caravan fire at the age of 18! Join us for a deep dive into the life …
From a quick glance at his discography, you could be forgiven for not realising the importance American guitarist Charlie Byrd played in the evolution of jazz. Because whilst Stan Getz may get most of the acclaim when it comes to the 1960s Bossa Nova craze, it would probably not have existed without the guitarist from …
Philip Watson is a long-time journalist whose work has spanned a huge range of areas, from poker to Chernobyl and Miles Davis to Afghanistan. He wrote about jazz and new music early on in his career at The Wire, before going on to hold roles at GQ, where he was deputy editor, and Esquire, where he …
When it comes to the most best guitar brands around the world, Fender is right up there with its long-time competitor Gibson. In this guide, we dive into the history of the company and trace the history of their most famous guitars to discover why it’s no longer ‘either/or’ when it comes to these two …
Online shopping may be all the rage, but nothing beats going into a real guitar store to try your next instrument. Especially if you’re about to drop some serious money on a vintage classic. We’ve already shared our updated pick of the top guitar brands today, so in this article we’ve highlighted some of the …
OK, so you’ve got an instrument you’re happy with. but what about the many guitar accessories out there? In this guide we run through some of the most important and useful add-ons for your set-up, whether you’re a beginner guitar student or a gigging professional. Whether looking to refine your sound, expand the possibilities on …
With state-of-the-art manufacturing and excellent build quality, Japanese guitars are fast becoming some of the most in-demand instruments on the market. We’ve already thrown our hat in the ring as to the top guitar brands around the world, so in this article we head to Asia to dive into the specifics of some of the …
“a masterclass in re-imagining one of the greatest classical composers of our time, performed by some of the greatest contemporary musicians of our time” It’s not uncommon for contemporary jazz musicians and composers to delve into their classical training, as is often the case with most composers. The works of Debussy seem to have inspired …
If it’s hard to pick just ten of the best jazz guitarists in history, the challenge of making a list of just ten essential albums should be considered almost impossible! But whilst we’ll never come up with a list that covers all bases, there are a selection of famous jazz guitar albums that trace the lineage …
The guitar pick: this little piece of kit, which is often overlooked by beginners, has a surprisingly big impact on the tone of your guitar. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best picks for jazz guitar. You’ll rarely see a guitarist without their favourite pick. Every artist needs their lucky …