Search - Buddy Emmons :: Steel Guitar Jazz

What could be better than jazz meets the steel guitar?

The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 03/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being a long time enthusiast of both the steel guitar and jazz, "Steel Guitar Jazz" united two of my great loves. Buddy Emmons seamlessly brings together two different worlds. Indeed, the music combines country-western's warmheartedness with the intelligence and coolness of jazz. Recorded in 1963, the instrumental recording has a wonderful feel that's very vintage, without sounding outdated. I find that the album's artwork beautifully captures the feel of the music. Buddy is accompanied by piano, sax, bass and the traps. What could be better than hearing Horace Silver and Sonny Rollins played on pedal steel? It sounds so good that I am left wondering, why did steel guitar jazz as a musical genre never blossom into a bold movement? Perhaps for the same reason David Grisman's bluegrass jazz never 'took off.' While the masses may have missed the steel guitar jazz movement, there's nothing keeping you from enjoying this groundbreaking and rewarding recording. Now if I can only figure out, should I keep such a disc in my country-western or jazz CD collection?"

Perhaps his best

John Estes | Pleasanton, California USA | 09/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is a reason this was re-released after so many years. That is because it is a seminal work in the evolution of Steel Guitar. Buddy went where no one had been before and never looked back afer that. This is a true classic."

"Steel Guitar Jazz" - Western Swing!

james banks | kansas city, missouri United States | 09/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Top notch swing album, Emmons at his best! The only problem that I can see with it is the misclassificaton of this album, along with other works from Emmons. The steel guitar is traditionally a jazz instrument, the use of which was pioneered by Texas swing and cowboy jazz, aka "western swing", players and bands. Buddy Emmons was a product of the WS (non-pedal)steel pioneers and his style and sound reflect their influence. Any doubt of that can be put to rest by hearing the work of the greats - Leon McAuliffe, Noel Boggs, Herb Remington, Bob Dunn, Jaoquin Murphy, Billy Briggs, to name a few.Just like the "boogie" movement of the 50's and the "hillbilly jazz" of the late 60's, "steel guitar jazz" is just good ol' western swing. As a side note, if you like the jazzier western swing sound seek out the 15 volumes of "How The Wsest Was Swung" by the great Tom Morrell and his Timewarp Tophands. Morrell, like Emmons, is one of the 3rd generation western swing steel players (exclusively non-pedal) and his work takes to the heights of the jazz age big band greats."