My Absolute Favorite Top 10 Jazz Guitar Solos

ByMitch Chmara December 29, 2020December 28, 2021

Guitarist and Jazz Guitar Today contributor Mitch Chmara shares his Top 10 Jazz Guitar Solos.

Wes Montgomery – Midnight Mood: This solo is poetry in motion through the heart via the thumb! The mood, tone, choice notes, and delivery. Emotional.

George Benson – Moody’s Mood: I love George’s development of his solo on this great tune, man it is so lyrical and zesty and fire, when called, scatted but the phrasing I love it!

Pat Martino – El Hombre: This album is a treasure chest of Martinoisms but Once I Loved is such Treasure. No wonder so many have transcribed it! This is a great period of the early mastery of Pat Martino!

Joe Pass – Cherokee (concept 2), Two For The Road LP: With Herb Ellis on rhythm guitar, this duet is a sheer masterpiece. Joe gives a lesson on bebop guitar playing that never grows old..so much fun!

Johhny Smith – My Foolish Heart Kaleidoscope LP: Johnny a one of a kind American Treasure…The Johhny Smith style is so elegant ..it pairs well with the finest dining. A class by himself his solo is like a classic novel read to you at nite hoping for another page to be read..this whole album is Class!

Continue to Mitch’s Top 10 Solos

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Mitch Chmara

Mitch Chmara is a Denver based guitarist Like many he was influenced early by Hendrix B.B., Roy Buchanan and JohnnyWinter. I wasn’t until high school that he first heard Johhny Smith, Wes and George Benson. In his own words, "I started the search for records to transcribe from Sonny Stitt, Charlie Parker, and Coltrane. I then got all the books I could buy on Improvisation.” To further his quest he met and sat with Howard Roberts (in Denver) and asked: "what can I do to improve my playing”? Howard’s reply was to "study harmony”! which led him to Ted Greene… According to John, Mitch is probably the best example of the evolution of Ted’s musical style. To be clear, Mitch made his living playing guitar in many styles and kept researching possibilities…Mitch’s books on Bebop lines (DVD) and Experiential Contrary Motion for guitar have sold all over the world.