I first discovered Johnny Smith when listening to the incomparable Stan Getz, I couldn't believe his stunning tone, phrasing and exquisite musicality. Restrained, with amazing bursts of heavenly notes. A true original, and for me an unforgettable Genius!!
My Neil on Piano! We have been married 27 years! How I wish I could have met him earlier and been there with him during those 30 years that his Neil Bridge Trio accompanied Johnny Smith.
Yes Ma'am a very amazing group of musicians, I was at that show with my father Ray DeWitt , Dad often would look after the shop on eight street in Colorado Springs when Johnny was still playing in New York! Wonderful Days! Thanks for the memories!
I started playing professionally in 1964 and got turned on to jazz guitar through Johnny Smith, Kenny Burrell and Joe DiOrio. I eventually bought two Gibson Johnny Smith double pickup models in the early 70’s. I still have both and even though I’m a retired geezer I play either one daily just to keep my arthritic chops up. Most people aren’t familiar with the original version of his composition “Walk, Don’t Run” that probably earned him a few bucks when the Ventures did a rock/surf version in the 60’s.
May God keep you in his Holy Peace from the other side of the mirror,Johnny ! I spent many years listening to the mellow sound of your guitar,and now it's all over forever. R.I.P.
On the man very humble and always liked a good joke! He had guts playing those guitars after he let me tune them at a very young age before this very show? In Colorado Springs! The show was at a place called Figaros! There with my Dad Ray, if I can recall he had two guitars on stage That date, one DAngelico, One Gibson Johnny Smith model? One tuned in D and another tuned in E or E flat? Of course with the Black Dimond guitar strings... I never even thought I would see or hear this performance surface? Truly Amazing. showing Johnny still had it in his older stages in life! Dad Ray would look after Johnny's Shop and Music Store on eight street in Colorado, Springs, while Johnny was still playing and touring out of town... and my Uncle Willy Wilson did instrument repair there for many years.... Thanks for the Memories!
How nice to hear some new and extremly rare live music from the holy grail guitarist. there must be some more out there somewhere - would be great to see video/film of JS live. Uncanny technique with amazing harmonic knowledge = The master - Johnny Smith.
THANK YOU I have never heard Johnny Smith play live until now ! He got me into jazz and continues to inspire me and my playing. A true master and my personal favorite above all others. Thank you again this is a GEM !
I purchased this tape from Sandy Smith years ago and she also sent me a photo of Johnny at this gig, I later shared the tape with Bob Yelin. I wish Concord would have released this on a cd! As Barney Kessel said, there is no better guitarist than Johnny.
The article was published in Guitar Player magazine in the early eighties. Johnny is my personal favourite also. Thanks for posting this rare recording.
this figaro's was in c springs, where js still lives. after he moved to c springs, he played at shaners in denver, saturday night, for many years. i only saw him once there, and it was terrific stuff, as this shows. he is not only the best at this playing stuff, but his book method makes a lot possible for those of us with less talent. a good part of the figaro concert was available on tape from bob yelin in florida, who may still not have a website. it is all great.
Esta es una de mis versiones favoritas de este tema jazzero. Principalmente por Johnny Smith Soy aficionado a tocar guitarra Y realmente lo encuentro genial. Saludos desde Chile
Wow..that was fantastic. I saw Johnny play a couple times when I lived in Denver years ago. I'm a big fan. Nice to hear something new from JS. Thanks for the post man!
Oh my ! What a fantastic player - the only Johnny Smith album I have is a very commercialised release on which his exquisite sound is evident - however, until I heard this I had no idea that he had such facility as is demonstrated here - this is a revelation to me - absolutely wonderful - a joy to listen to - thank you !
"Note" DAgelico Guitar made in New York , in photo, John D produced under ,1700 handmade Guitars in America . inventor of the frontmic" pickup Johnny Smith I feel this gig may have been in Colorado? If so I was present with my father and I believed he had two different 🎸 guitars that day and it was wonderful!
Love this. The man still has his chops despite his own pronouncements to the contrary. I spoke to Johnny a few weeks ago. Where was this recorded? In New York?
Johnny Smith is at the pinnacle of Jazz guitar on this rendition. Where did you get this live recording? I hope there is a video of this somewhere. Stunning execution and incendiary speed and dexterity! Go Johnny go!
here is the only address i have for him: robert yelin 2601 Clint Moore Road #316 Boca Raton, FL 33496 he used to sell audio tapes, but they were not including this song or a few others that are on youtube. let me know if he is selling the whole thing on cd. thanks
Where did you get that information from Dave? He certainly did perform throughout his life and far after 1957. Just look through all the videos here and go to his website (maintained by his estate).
The grungy sound of that overmodulated guitar, obviously out of tune as well, even the unpropriate break at the start of his solo, it all doesn't matter with Johnny Smith, because of the exciting swing of it all.
I first discovered Johnny Smith when listening to the incomparable Stan Getz, I couldn't believe his stunning tone, phrasing and exquisite musicality. Restrained, with amazing bursts of heavenly notes. A true original, and for me an unforgettable Genius!!
My Neil on Piano! We have been married 27 years! How I wish I could have met him earlier and been there with him during those 30 years that his Neil Bridge Trio accompanied Johnny Smith.
Yes Ma'am a very amazing group of musicians, I was at that show with my father Ray DeWitt , Dad often would look after the shop on eight street in Colorado Springs when Johnny was still playing in New York! Wonderful Days! Thanks for the memories!
I started playing professionally in 1964 and got turned on to jazz guitar through Johnny Smith, Kenny Burrell and Joe DiOrio. I eventually bought two Gibson Johnny Smith double pickup models in the early 70’s. I still have both and even though I’m a retired geezer I play either one daily just to keep my arthritic chops up. Most people aren’t familiar with the original version of his composition “Walk, Don’t Run” that probably earned him a few bucks when the Ventures did a rock/surf version in the 60’s.
May God keep you in his Holy Peace from the other side of the mirror,Johnny ! I spent many years listening to the mellow sound of your guitar,and now it's all over forever.
R.I.P.
On the man very humble and always liked a good joke! He had guts playing those guitars after he let me tune them at a very young age before this very show? In Colorado Springs! The show was at a place called Figaros! There with my Dad Ray, if I can recall he had two guitars on stage That date, one DAngelico, One Gibson Johnny Smith model? One tuned in D and another tuned in E or E flat? Of course with the Black Dimond guitar strings... I never even thought I would see or hear this performance surface? Truly Amazing. showing Johnny still had it in his older stages in life! Dad Ray would look after Johnny's Shop and Music Store on eight street in Colorado, Springs, while Johnny was still playing and touring out of town... and my Uncle Willy Wilson did instrument repair there for many years.... Thanks for the Memories!
@srrfgod509 Super cool memories- thanks for sharing!
Smith simply destroys it here! Lyrical solo, and the bit of shredding after the head is jaw dropping. One of my favourite guitarists.
¡¡¡¡imponente,como suena esta banda,por dios!!!!un gran tema en manos de genios,no paro de escucharlos, desde Uruguay,saludos
How nice to hear some new and extremly rare live music from the holy grail guitarist. there must be some more out there somewhere - would be great to see video/film of JS live. Uncanny technique with amazing harmonic knowledge = The master - Johnny Smith.
THANK YOU I have never heard Johnny Smith play live until now ! He got me into jazz and continues to inspire me and my playing. A true master and my personal favorite above all others. Thank you again this is a GEM !
what a take off, i was not expecting that.
Each note Johnny plays is exquisite... beautiful. Each note counts and his picking technique and ability to 'nail' the changes are beyond belief.
I purchased this tape from Sandy Smith years ago and she also sent me a photo of Johnny at this gig, I later shared the tape with Bob Yelin. I wish Concord would have released this on a cd! As Barney Kessel said, there is no better guitarist than Johnny.
jOHN LENNON said there is no better guitarist than Barney Kessel
Are there any other tracks from that gig on the tape? I would absolutely love to hear more live tracks
@@guyduval2158 Who has more credibility as a guitarist: Barney Kessel or John Lennon?
Great stuff Dan. Please post more. The music world needs more high quality live stuff from this master musician and fine person.
The article was published in Guitar Player magazine in the early eighties.
Johnny is my personal favourite also. Thanks for posting this rare recording.
this figaro's was in c springs, where js still lives. after he moved to c springs, he played at shaners in denver, saturday night, for many years. i only saw him once there, and it was terrific stuff, as this shows. he is not only the best at this playing stuff, but his book method makes a lot possible for those of us with less talent. a good part of the figaro concert was available on tape from bob yelin in florida, who may still not have a website. it is all great.
Esta es una de mis versiones favoritas de este tema jazzero.
Principalmente por Johnny Smith
Soy aficionado a tocar guitarra
Y realmente lo encuentro genial.
Saludos desde Chile
Hola, me alegro que hayas disfrutado de la canción y gracias por escuchar.
Wow..that was fantastic. I saw Johnny play a couple times when I lived in Denver years ago. I'm a big fan. Nice to hear something new from JS. Thanks for the post man!
Wow thanks for sharing this, this is a real gem!
Great to hear this and how his playing has changed,,, A Great Master of the instrument,,,
Thanks!
Oh my ! What a fantastic player - the only Johnny Smith album I have is a very commercialised release on which his exquisite sound is evident - however, until I heard this I had no idea that he had such facility as is demonstrated here - this is a revelation to me - absolutely wonderful - a joy to listen to - thank you !
RIP Johnny Smith
Thank you, Dan. Much appreciated.
Love this man!
"Note" DAgelico Guitar made in New York , in photo, John D produced under ,1700 handmade Guitars in America . inventor of the frontmic" pickup Johnny Smith I feel this gig may have been in Colorado? If so I was present with my father and I believed he had two different 🎸 guitars that day and it was wonderful!
1:15 I love how he comes back to the solo again
Uno dei miei eroi ..... con grande swing... !!!
Yeah JS! Great tune.
Really will make you feel good!!!! Dobin
@itscarlini Hi there, not sure; there is a Figaro's in NYC though.
@patersondave44 Thanks for the info, I wasn't sure where it was. Thanks for the comment. Dan
Sounds like Daryl Goes on drums which would make sense for an early 80's gig in Colorado.
Yep - Neil Bridge Trio backed Johnny Smith for 30 years! Neil Bridge Piano, Bill Bastien Bass Derryl Goes Drums
Love this. The man still has his chops despite his own pronouncements to the contrary. I spoke to Johnny a few weeks ago. Where was this recorded? In New York?
Johnny Smith is at the pinnacle of Jazz guitar on this rendition.
Where did you get this live recording? I hope there is a video of this somewhere.
Stunning execution and incendiary speed and dexterity! Go Johnny go!
There are some others.But in general he is one of my top Ten Players.With Lenny Breau,Howard Roberts,Ted Greene,Wes Montgomery,Danny Gatton,...
jazzguitarfreaky +1 for Gatton
Marvelous. Wish I could have jammed with him. Not enough talent. Me, not Smith.
yah!
hi Dan would like to read the rest of the article A Private Lesson With Johnny Smith if possible. thanks.
here is the only address i have for him:
robert yelin
2601 Clint Moore Road #316
Boca Raton, FL 33496
he used to sell audio tapes, but they were not including this song or a few others
that are on youtube.
let me know if he is selling the whole thing on cd. thanks
@cliffworks4321 Hi Cliff, it's just a picture I liberated from the internet- sorry!
He stopped performing after 1957.
Where did you get that information from Dave? He certainly did perform throughout his life and far after 1957. Just look through all the videos here and go to his website (maintained by his estate).
mmmmmmmmmmmmm
Molt boooo, joan, Catalonia free, llibertat presos politics,💕💕❤️
The grungy sound of that overmodulated guitar, obviously out of tune as well,
even the unpropriate break at the start of his solo, it all doesn't matter with Johnny Smith,
because of the exciting swing of it all.