Chris Flory - Playing With Benny Goodman

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Chris Flory recounts his experiences playing for Benny Goodman. Full lesson available on In The Style Of Chris Flory series available on our site.
Chris Flory played his first gig at the age of thirteen and continued playing in rock and blues bands until his late teens. He took his first jazz guitar lessons from Tiny Grimes, in Harlem, when he was seventeen. He continued studying jazz with another New York teacher for most of that year, but did not start playing jazz professionally until he was twenty and living in Providence, RI. He first led his own group there and then joined tenor player Scott Hamilton's quartet. That group temporarily disbanded in the summer of 1976 when Scott and Chris made their separate ways to New York.
In New York in the late seventies, Chris was around an impressive array of older jazz masters and played gigs with Hank Jones, Illinois Jacquet, Jo Jones, Buddy Tate and others. Scott Hamilton began to have more frequent work for the Quartet (later Quintet), including recordings for Concord Jazz and many overseas tours. Chris was a part of Scott's group until the early nineties. Benny Goodman employed Chris for his sextet from 1978 until 1983.In the 1980's Chris also worked for or recorded with such departed jazz greats as Roy Eldridge, Ruby Braff, Maxine Sullivan, and Rosemary Clooney.
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[@eohippusone]

How interesting! I saw Goodman live in 1963. Exciting!

[@h.sinclair]

that's deep Chris thanks for this !!!

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

I think Chis is the most underrated swinging guitar player in his era. He is so smooth and harmonic, and his solos are gorgeous. He was so lucky to play with some of the great players of that modern swing era from the early 80s to the modern era. Hamilton, Bunch, Vache, then Peplowski, Barrett, Sandke, etc...what an era. Also I appreciate the mention of Phil Flanigan, another one of my favorites and a really good person.

[@jdguitar1040]

"Put a pickup on it and be a bitch." LMFAO. Chris, you are 'da man :)

[@Crackers2549]

Fairly well is not the word for it, it was great playing by Chris during that 82 tour...! GG

[@AndrewJanusson]

Great stories about working with Benny!

[@midrangesupport]

great story about the guitar

[@paulgibby6932]

What model is it?

[@midrangesupport]

@@paulgibby6932 I believe that's a Gibson L-7. Likely 1940's to 1950's.

[@juanmatorres2103]

The Man!

[@DaveLynchJazzGuitar]

You should be extremely proud of that credential and experience....

[@epsdudez]

Amazing, thank you so much for this! I absolutely love Benny Goodman and his work and have always wanted to know more about the particulars of the style his guitarists played in. Definitely checking this lesson out. Is the lesson geared towards rhythm or soloing?

[@zakmartel3022]

I'm pretty sure there are lessons for both

[@epsdudez]

@@zakmartel3022 I'm more interested in the rhythm. I've always wanted to know more about the chord choices of American big band guitarists, particularly in the 30s.

[@Trombonology]

@@epsdudez In this video, Chris Flory mentions my favorite, Allan Reuss, who is the guitarist probably most closely associated with Goodman, particularly in the band's early prime. Reuss primarily used 3-note voicings for rhythm, usually with the the third in the chord serving as the bass note, to keep out of the way of the bassist who was taking care of the root notes. Big band calls for root notes, thirds and sevenths -- or shell voicings: just the notes to define the chord's character. You should check out these videos, which will provide all the essentials in this area: th-cam.com/video/j4vxvulM2KQ/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/qev-Sh-XUGo/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/EzpIT_8PoGQ/w-d-xo.html

[@epsdudez]

@@Trombonology Yeah, I've seen these videos before, but I never was sure if Goodman's guitarists used super minimal voicings like in the video. In a lot of records where the guitar is more clear, it sounds to my untrained ear like fuller chords. Will certainly rewatch these vids though, thanks!

[@dougmclaughlin6991]

You & Charlie C 👏

[@IsaacSmelcZhan]

He died way before the 80s.

[@Paul1963music]

yyyyy ????? Es más lo que hablas que otra cosa vos