Charlie Christian - Radio Broadcasts: 1939-1941

When people hear the term "electric jazz," they usually think of fusion, soul-jazz or crossover jazz. But the use of electric instruments in jazz actually goes back to the late 1930s, when Eddie Durham became the first person to record jazz on the electric guitar. Charlie Christian was right behind him, but while Durham only played the guitar part of the time (he was also a trombonist), Christian was a full-time guitarist -- and it was he who, more than anyone, made countless swing and bop players want to play the electric guitar. Read More