The Evolution of the Jazz Guitar
with Denny Ilett Guitar Player& Vocalist from England
To all our dear friends,
We invite you to a series of 3 musical lectures with the great Guitar player, Vocalist, the Artistic Director of Bristol Jazz Festival Denny Ilett from Bristol, GB!
In this 3-part lecture series guitarist Denny Ilett will discuss the role of the guitar in jazz. From its early origins as a purely rhythmic instrument in the 1920’s we will see the guitar displace the banjo as the instrument of choice in the jazz ensemble in those early years of recording.
We then discover how the guitar, in the hands of pioneering musicians such as Eddie Lang began to assert itself as a solo voice full of charm and colour.
The life and work of the incomparable gypsy genius Django Reinhardt will be explored and analysed and how his influence is still felt strongly in the 21st Century.
Later, we will see how the guitar finally took centre stage with the invention of the amplifier and the hugely important work of the tragic genius Charlie Christian.
From there we follow the course of the guitar as it slowly became the 20th Century’s most heard musical instrument and, along the way, we meet the jazz legends that expanded the vocabulary and possibilities of the guitar making it one of the most expressive musical instruments of all.
Strictly the Bristol-based guitarist is Denny Ilett has been playing professionally since the mid-80s, perfecting a range of guitar styles across jazz, blues, rock and swing that enable him to shine in almost any context. As Artistic Director and joint founder of the Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival he has brought to the city great names.
Denny Ilett is rare commodity – a virtuoso British guitarist and a talented writer/arranger, who has honed his chops not on the UK scene but rather by playing and touring with some of New Orleans finest including Lillian Boutte and members of such notable bands as The Meters, Dr John and the Harry Connick Jnr Big Band.
Recorded Musical Lecture No. 1
“The acoustic pioneers”
Lonnie Johnson on the early Louis Armstrong recordings and Eddie Lang with Bix Beiderbecke and Bing Crosby were two of the most important of the early jazz guitar pioneers. Their innovations paved the way for a whole generation of guitarists; a generation that culminated in the genius of Django Reinhardt before the electric amplifier saw a new dawn for the instrument.
Recorded Musical Lecture No. 2
“From acoustic to electric!”
The invention of the electric guitar and amplifier in the mid 1930’s gave the guitar new possibilities it didn’t have before. Suddenly, the guitar could compete as a ‘front-line’ instrument with the trumpet, clarinet and saxophone that had dominated jazz until then. The great Charlie Christian became its greatest exponent and inspired all jazz guitarists from that moment on.
Recorded Musical Lecture No. 3
“Charlie’s children”
We will look at, and listen to, the great jazz guitarists that followed in the footsteps of Charlie Christian alongside the changes in musical taste into the 1950’s and 1960’s. As Rock n Roll developed many jazz guitar players kept on exploring and innovating which led to the emergence of such greats as Wes Montgomery and, later, George Benson.
*The 3 links will be sent to you by email up to 24 hours after purchase and will be available for viewing up to about two weeks after purchase
*Each lecture lasts about an hour * If there is any difficulty in viewing or purchasing, you can write in WhatsApp to mobile number 0544347213 or email daniel.w@skygp.co.il
*Price 120 NIS or 28£ for the three lectures
We would love to see you with us!
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