JazzAgeGuitar.com is focused on the study and analysis of early jazz guitar compositions and playing from the 1920s and 30s. Historically, the term "Jazz Age" refers to a "period in the 1920s, ending with the Great Depression, in which jazz music and dance styles became popular" [wikipedia]. For our purposes I will use the term "jazz age" and "jazz age guitar" loosely to refer to jazz guitar playing from this period and also of later guitarists whose playing was greatly influenced by this period. Though we may also examine swing and early bebop guitar styles the main focus will be on examining guitar playing before Charlie Christian's influence with the Bennie Goodman Sextet.

 

Disclaimer: I am not, nor claim to be, a historian. The posts here represent my educated opinions at best and my uneducated ones at worst. Please feel free to comment or contact me if you have a different take on a topic than I do as I encourage productive commentary. Also, I am not a traditionalist when it comes to equipment and instruments, nor sometimes even technique. I have created this site to focus on the music and playing from this time period in jazz so discusions about equipment will be minimal. Any in-depth examination of period equipment I will leave to better informed people. As far as instruments go I only own two nice guitars, one is a 1999 7-String Moll Classic Model D with a K. Armstrong pickup strung with La Bella Tape Wounds, the other is not. Both guitars are stock as far as I am aware. I play with assorted amps and will most likely use which ever is most convenient at the time of recording if an amp is needed. Most guitar playing from this period was acoustic so amplification will most likely be minimal. Recording will be done using a Blue Yeti microphone connected directly to a recording source (an ipad2 most likely) and post production will be keep to "none" unless required.

 

I hope you enjoy this website and I encourage you to freely comment and share about topics, posts, and videos you enjoy.

 

Very Respectfully,

Chris Billiau 

www.chrisbilliau.com