Les Paul was a guitar innovator before Chet Atkins learned his first three chords, but somehow, he never could match Mr. Guitar's publicity. California Melodies travels back to the mid-'40s when Paul and his trio appeared on a radio program of the same name with Frank DeVol & His Orchestra. The introductions to each song on these radio transcriptions are a bit cheesy ("Maybe swing is a whole lot older than we think it is"), and the orchestra -- when it chimes in -- pretty much turns the quartet's music into easy listening. ...
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Les Paul was a guitar innovator before Chet Atkins learned his first three chords, but somehow, he never could match Mr. Guitar's publicity. California Melodies travels back to the mid-'40s when Paul and his trio appeared on a radio program of the same name with Frank DeVol & His Orchestra. The introductions to each song on these radio transcriptions are a bit cheesy ("Maybe swing is a whole lot older than we think it is"), and the orchestra -- when it chimes in -- pretty much turns the quartet's music into easy listening. But when Paul, rhythm guitarist Cal Gooden, bassist Clint Nordquist, and pianist Tommy Todd are left on their own, they do swing. The song selection is smart, including now accepted standards like "All of Me," "Oh, Lady Be Good," and "Ain't Misbehavin'." There are also interesting oddities like Tchaikovsky's "Andante Cantible" and Duke Ellington's "Caravan." Paul's a nifty guitarist who fits comfortably within the electric school of jazz following Charlie Christian's innovations in the late '30s and early '40s. California Melodies also includes four bonus cuts that were taken from various radio shows -- the Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall, the Andy Russell Show -- in 1945. For jazz guitar buffs and anyone addicted to the great standards of '30s and '40s jazz, California Melodies is a fun romp. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., Rovi
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Add this copy of California Melodies to cart. $6.32, very good condition, Sold by Orbit Music rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Mishawaka, IN, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Collectors' Choice Music.
