The fusion of country and jazz started in the 1930s when western swing players like Jimmy Wyble, Junior Barnard and Eldon Shamblin began using jazz improvisation concepts over country progressions and feels. Early electric guitar heroes like Les Paul, Jimmy Bryant, Grady Martin and Hank Garland continued the evolution of the style through the 50s. Jason Loughlin’s 30 Country Jazz Licks You Must Know is a rewarding exploration of this exciting chapter of American music.
”I've hand-picked this collection of country jazz licks from the brilliant work of players like Les Paul, Billy Byrd, Grady Martin, Jimmy Capps, Junior Barnard, Chet Atkins, Eldon Shamblin, Roy Lanham, Jimmy Wyble, Speedy Harworth and so many more giants of the country jazz genre. These guys are the early heroes of electric guitar!
Learning these 30 licks will not only expand your country jazz vocabulary, they’ll also reveal how to incorporate jazz improvisation concepts over classic and contemporary country progressions, two-beat feels and country shuffles.”
As you work and play your way through the course, you’ll pick up on a Les Paul lick that shows you a flashy way to ornament a major arpeggio. You’ll learn how to combine a fiddle pattern and a swing line with a Roy Lanham lick. The Texas Troubadours are one of the pioneers of the country jazz genre and you’ll study a few of the licks played by none other than the legendary Leon Rhodes. Jimmy Wyble’s licks will reveal how to approach playing over changes.
You’ll learn some jazzy chord voicings ala Jimmy Capps, impose harmonic movement onto chord via a George Barnes lick, and learn how to play through a solo break in the style of Jimmy Bryant. That’s just a few examples of the essential approaches and concepts that you’ll be introduced to.
Jason demonstrates all of the licks over rhythm tracks and then breaks them down, note-by-note emphasizing the key concepts and techniques employed in the performance of the lick.
All of the licks are tabbed and notated for your practice, reference and study purposes. You’ll also get Guitar Pro files so that you can loop and/or slow any section down as you work through the lessons. Plus, Jason generously includes all of the rhythm tracks for you to work with on your own.