Here’s my look at jazz guitar records that didn’t get their due.

We saw our share of standout instrumentalists, from Julian Lage to Rudresh Mahanthappa to Pat Martino. But, as this lists attests, 2011 might rightly be called the Year of the Big Band.

Pat Martino, along with George Benson, was the greatest jazz guitarist to spring from those righteous sounding organ trios of the 60s, and like Benson, Martino is still playing at a very, very high level.

Here are a couple of stories. One is amazing and funny. The other is just amazing.

by Mark Saleski Given the fact that Pat Martino had played with some of the biggest B3 players in the business (including Jack McDuff and the great Jimmy Smith), it probably surprised no one that Martino’s first solo release

by Pico Yesterday, singer/songwriter Bobby Hebb passed away at age 72 after losing a battle with lung cancer. Maybe the name isn’t familiar to you, but his #2 hit song from 1966 “Sunny” should be. Aside from his original version, it was covered by Cher, Georgie Fame and Stanley Turrentine before the year was out, and later interpreted by such [...]

by Pico We’ve been long overdue for another “Quickies,” as there’s been way more new releases to talk abput than there’s time to talk (as usual). Nonetheless, the show must go on and the word has to get out. This variation has a certain theme. Well, sort of. We start with a compilation that celebrates the recording achievements of an [...]

by Pico You’ve seen it many times before and probably joined the fray a time or two. I’m talking about that never-ending debate on “Who is the greatest guitarist of all time?” Man, there’s so many outstanding ones out there with so many different styles, how can you choose? I sure as heck won’t, but the one that makes me [...]

by S. Victor Aaron My look at jazz guitar records that didn’t get their due.