Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Steppin' on the Blues - Lonnie Johnson
2. Wild Cat - Eddie Lang
3. For No Reason at All in C - Eddie Lang
4. Doin' Things - Eddie Lang
5. Savoy Blues - Kid Ory
6. Mooche - Lonnie Johnson
7. Have to Change Keys (To Play These Blues) - Lonnie Johnson, Eddie Lang
8. Guitar Blues - Lonnie Johnson, Eddie Lang
9. I've Got the World on a String - Teddy Bunn
10. I'll Be Ready When the Great Day Comes - Teddy Bunn
11. Summertime - Teddy Bunn
12. Blues Without Words - Teddy Bunn
13. Lonesome Moments - John Trueheart
14. Somebody Loves Me - George Van Eps
15. At Sundown - George Van Eps
16. Dick Bernstein Ramble - Dick McDonough
17. Heat Wave - Carl Kress, Dick McDonough
18. Swingin' at That Famous Door - Carmen Mastren
19. If I Could Be With You - Carmen Mastren
20. Nagasaki - Django Reinhardt
21. You're Driving Me Crazy - Django Reinhardt
22. Finesse (Night Wind) - Django Reinhardt
23. Nuages - Django Reinhardt
24. Manoir de Mes Rêves - Django Reinhardt
25. For Sentimental Reasons - Django Reinhardt

Disc 2:

1. Hittin' the Bottle - Eddie Durham
2. I Want a Little Girl - Eddie Durham
3. Alabamy Home - Bernard Addison
4. Blues in Disguise - Bernard Addison
5. Topsy - Freddie Green
6. Them There Eyes - Freddie Green
7. Gin, Gin - Jean Ferret Trio
8. Floyd's Guitar Blues - Floyd Smith
9. Jeepers Creepers - Oscar Alemán
10. I Got Rhythm - Oscar Alemán
11. Buck Jumpin' - Al Casey
12. Esquire Bounce - Al Casey
13. That's All - Sister Rosetta Tharpe
14. Swing '42 - Jean Ferret
15. Till Tom Special - Charlie Christian
16. Wholly Cats - Charlie Christian
17. Profoundly Blue - Charlie Christian
18. Solo Flight - Charlie Christian
19. Waiting for Benny - Charlie Christian
20. Swing to Bop - Charlie Christian
21. Rockin' With the Rockets - Efferge Ware
22. Blue Juice - Bus Etri

Disc 3:

1. Reflections - Bus Etri
2. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You - Oscar Moore
3. Body and Soul - Oscar Moore
4. Lament in Chords - Oscar Moore
5. Altitude - Irving Ashby
6. Spinx - Irving Ashby
7. Top Hat Bop - Irving Ashby
8. Nobody in Mind - Leonard Ware
9. Body and Soul - Tiny Grimes
10. Blue Harlem - Tiny Grimes
11. Hot in Harlem - Tiny Grimes
12. Bugle Call Rag - Les Paul
13. Moten Swing - Les Paul
14. Willow Weep for Me - Les Paul
15. Tempo's Boogie - Billy Mackel
16. Impromptu Ensemble No. 1 - Eddie Condon
17. Cajun Love Song - Nappy Lamare
18. Blood on the Moon - Danny Barker
19. Blues a la Red - Remo Palmieri
20. Stompin' at the Savoy - Remo Palmieri
21. Stardust - Jimmy Shirley
22. What Is There to Say? - Allan Reuss
23. Moon Is Low - Allan Reuss

Disc 4:

1. I Saw Stars - Dave Barbour
2. China Boy - Dave Barbour
3. Blue Lou - George Barnes
4. Lover, Come Back to Me - George Barnes
5. Grabtown Grapple - Barney Kessel
6. Relaxin' at Camarillo - Barney Kessel
7. Tight and Gay - Arv Garrison
8. Night in Tunisia - Arv Garrison
9. Minuet in Vout - Slim Gaillard
10. Doctor Keets - Bill DeArango, Bill De Arango
11. Spotlite - Mary Osborne
12. Allen's Alley - Mary Osborne
13. Blue Serge - Chuck Wayne
14. Conception - Chuck Wayne
15. Donna Lee - Barry Galbraith
16. Lament (Lament for Guitar) - Laurindo Almeida
17. Shirley Steps Out - Al Hendrickson
18. All the Things You Are - Herb Ellis
19. Swedish Pastry - Herb Ellis
20. Subconcious-Lee - Billy Bauer
21. Wow - Billy Bauer
22. John's Delight - John Collins
23. In a Pinch - Jimmy Raney
24. Extrovert - Jimmy Raney

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #161068 in Music
• Released on: 2001-05-28
• Number of discs: 4
• Formats: Box set, Import

Album Description
The ninth release in the ever more successful Proper Box series. This four CD set tells the story of the jazz guitar from New Orleans through to the bebop era and features 48 of the greatest jazz guitarists ever to pluck a string including Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Lonnie Johnson, Freddie Green, Barney Kessel and many more. 94 tracks, over four hours of music, 52 page fully illustrated booklet. 2000 release. 4 standard jewel cases housed in a heavy duty box which measures 5 x 6 x 2 inches approx..

Amazon.com
Hittin' on All Six is an extraordinary introduction to the early decades of jazz guitar--to its most distinguished players and its evolution as an instrument. Beginning with Lonnie Johnson and his transformation of blues guitar in 1927, it traces the guitar's progress to the heyday of bop, concluding with late-1940s performances by Billy Bauer and Jimmy Raney. Along the way, there are six-track portraits of the period's two greatest soloists. Django Reinhardt's sparkling acoustic is heard merging jazz and gypsy idioms, while Charlie Christian, father of modern electric lead playing, is heard with Benny Goodman, on his sole acoustic session with Edmond Hall, and in a live recording from Minton's Playhouse announcing the dawn of bop.

Along with using the most celebrated soloists, Hittin' on All Six includes the finest rhythm guitarists, like Freddie Green (an essential component of the Count Basie rhythm section), and technical innovators like Eddie Durham, responsible for first applying the amplified guitar to jazz. There's also a remarkable gallery of musicians who are little-known today, from once prominent guitarists, like Tiny Grimes and Mary Osborne, to the genuinely obscure, like Efferge Ware and Bus Etri. Highlights among the more obscure tracks include Teddy Bunn's 1941 solo feature "Blues Without Words" and John Collins's 1947 recording of "John's Delight" with Tadd Dameron.

The emphasis is on guitarists here, but the set may also introduce fans of the instrument to some of jazz's greatest figures. Lonnie Johnson appears with both Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, Eddie Lang is heard with Bix Beiderbecke, Teddy Bunn with Sidney Bechet, and Barney Kessel with Charlie Parker. While the set comes at a budget price, there's nothing budget about the content. The sound restoration on the early tracks is excellent, and the accompanying booklet is detailed and informative. This is an essential compilation for anyone interested in jazz guitar, a substantial introduction for neophytes with some hard-to-find delights to engage experienced listeners. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

It is a bargain, but remastering could be better
To take on putting the greats of jazz guitar onto only 4 CDs is a daunting, if not ridiculous task. How can anyone choose what to put in and what not to? Thankfully, that didn't stop Proper Box from putting this little gem together. It is a small, very selective but comprehensive collection, bringing you from the start (Lonnie Johnson & Eddie Lang) in 1927 up through the 1940's. I have to say, though, that I am a little disappointed in the remastering because I have several of the earlier stuff on other CDs with a much better sound and speed. Not sure why they decided to go with this level of quality, espcially since their other collections don't have this problem. On the other hand, it is definitely acceptable. The music is still great and the musicians ... from Eddie Lang to Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Freddie Green, Barney Kessel etc. are incomparable. At this price, you really can't do better! And, if you play, it's an invaluable reference.

an amazing collection
There is an astonishing breadth and depth to this collection. All the styles of jazz guitar, US and European, with complete liner notes and personnel. A wonderful job of production. For the person who wants to listen to good music, this is an excellent purchase. For the person who wants to learn about jazz history and the role of the guitar, it's a must. If you have never heard Al Casey with Fats Waller on Buck Jumpin', do yourself a favor. It alone is worth the bargain price on this CD set.