Selected Broadcasts & Jam Sessions
WhenBenny Goodmanhired Charlie Christian in 1939, he of course had no way of knowing that the innovative young electric guitarist would die three years later of TB. That explains why during his tenure with Goodman's band Christian recorded only a handful of studio recordings. Luckily, dozens of his radio appearances were recorded, many of which appear on this bargain-priced four-CD set. Most of the tracks feature Christian with the Benny Goodman Sextet, a group with shifting personnel that at various times includedLionel Hampton,Fletcher Henderson, andGene Krupa. Christian's playing ranges from good to brilliant, and on almost every track you can hear him creating the vocabulary for the next few generations of jazz guitarists by coming up with new riffs, rhythms, and chord voicings. Also included are a few selections from the famous From Spirituals to Swing concert from 1939, and some rare Harlem jam sessions from 1941 that show Christian flirting with early bop ideas. The sound quality on the bulk of the tracks is surprisingly good, considering the source. So the question is, does anyone really need eight versions of "Flying Home?" The simple answer is yes, particularly when those versions are a well played and as historically important as these are.--Michael Simmons