HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Charlie Christian

Birth of Swing Jazz: Charlie Christian

Charlie Christian

Born on 29 July 1916 in Bonham, Texas, Charlie Christian had a hotel waiter for a father who also played trumpet and guitar. His mother was a maid who played piano. He was moved to Oklahoma City in 1918 where he took up guitar from his father in 1923, three years before his father died in 1926. Charlie was too talented to play guitar only to keep rhythm, thus was instrumental in helping to make the guitar a primary solo instrument in modern jazz. He had made a name for himself in the Midwest when he was discovered by Mary Lou Williams. Christian was among the first to employ the electric guitar. (Others were Alvino Rey, George Barnes and T-Bone Walker.) Having switched from acoustic to electric guitar about 1936, Williams referred Christian to record producer, John Hammond, who in turn referred him to Benny Goodman. It is thus Goodman with whom Christian made his debut recordings per the 'Hollywood Bowl' Camel Caravan broadcast in Los Angeles on August 19, 1939: 'Flying Home' and 'Jumpin' at the Woddside'. His first recordings to see issue were from a session with Lionel Hampton on 11 September 1939 toward 'When Lights Are Low', 'One More Letter From You', 'Hot Mallets' and 'Early Session Hop'.

Christian joined Goodman about the middle of the swing era. Though I've seen the swing period rigidly demarcated from 1934/35-1946 to flow into modern jazz or R&B, it is generally figured more widely in this history from development to "decline" from 1930-1950, about the time that television begins to show up and rock n roll is at the horizon. Christian played with all the big swing names from Buck Clayton to Fletch Henderson to Count Basie, but pursued early bebop with Dizzy Gillespie as well. Christian and Gillespie had recorded together with Hampton's band in 1939. They also left tracks at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem in 1941, among them 'Up on Teddy's Hill' and 'Down on Teddy's Hill'. Christian also participated as a leader on recordings at Milton's. He performed on electric guitar on nearly all his recordings. He plays electric on all titles on this page except his last session backing Helen Forrest with Goodman.

'Rose Room' Charlie Christian w the Benny Goodman Sextet

2 Oct 1939 in NYC Matrix 26133-A Columbia 35254

Clarinet: Goodman Vibes: Lionel Hampton

Piano: Fletcher Henderson

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Nick Fatool

Music: Art Hickman Lyrics: Harry Williams 1917

'Star Dust' Charlie Christian w the Benny Goodman Sextet

6 Oct 1939 at Carnegie Hall in NYC See Jazum 54

Clarinet: Goodman Vibes: Lionel Hampton

Piano: Fletcher Henderson

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Nick Fatool

Music: Hoagy Carmichael Lyrics: Mitchell Parish

'Good Morning Blues' Charlie Christian w the Kansas City Six

From the 'Spirituals to Swing' concert at Carnegie Hall on 24 Dec 1939 in NYC See West Q16007

Trumpet: Buck Clayton Tenor sax: Lester Young

Guitar acoustic: Freddie Green

Bass: Walter Page Drums: Jo Jones

Music: Count Basie / Eddie Durham Lyrics: Jimmy Rushing

'Way Down Yonder in New Orleans' Charlie Christian w the Kansas City Six

From the 'Spirituals to Swing' concert at Carnegie Hall on 24 Dec 1939 in NYC See West Q16007

Trumpet: Buck Clayton Tenor sax: Lester Young

Guitar acoustic: Freddie Green

Bass: Walter Page Drums: Jo Jones

Music: Turner Layton Lyrics: Henry Creamer 1938

'Till Tom Special' Charlie Christian w the Benny Goodman Sextet

7 Feb 1940 in NYC Columbia 35404

Clarinet: Goodman Vibes: Lionel Hampton

Piano: Count Basie

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Nick Fatool

Composition: Hampton

'Gone With What Wind' Charlie Christian w the Benny Goodman Sextet

7 Feb 1940 in NYC Matrix 26495-A or 26495-B as 1 of 2 takes

Blu-Disc T1009 or Columbia 35404

Clarinet: Goodman Vibes: Lionel Hampton

Piano: Count Basie

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Nick Fatool

Composition: Basie / Goodman

'Grand Slam' aka 'Boy Meets Goy' Charlie Christian w the Benny Goodman Sextet

10 April 1940 in Los Angeles Matrix 26744-B (take 2) Columbia 35482

Clarinet: Goodman Vibes: Lionel Hampton

Piano: Johnny Guarnieri

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Nick Fatool

Composition: Goodman / Christian / Hampton / Budd Johnson

'I Never Knew' Charlie Christian w the Benny Goodman Septet

20 Oct 1940 in NYC See Jazz Archives JA6

Trumpet: Buck Clayton Clarinet: Goodman Tenor sax: Lester Young

Piano: Count Basie Guitar acoustic: Freddie Green

Bass: Walter Page Drums: Jo Jones

Music: Ted Fio Rito Lyrics: Gus Kahn

'Wholly Cats' Charlie Christian w the Benny Goodman Sextet

7 Nov 1940 in NYC One of several takes

Trumpet: Cootie Williams Clarinet: Goodman Tenor sax: Georgie Auld

Piano: Count Basie

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Harry Jaeger

Composition: Christian

'Royal Garden Blues' Charlie Christian w the Benny Goodman Sextet

7 Nov 1940 in NYC One of 3 takes

Trumpet: Cootie Williams Clarinet: Goodman Tenor sax: Georgie Auld

Piano: Count Basie

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Harry Jaeger

Composition: Spencer Williams / Clarence Williams 1919

'As Long As I Live' Charlie Christian w the Benny Goodman Sextet

7 Nov 1940 in NYC Matrix: CO29029-1 or CO29029-2 as 1 of 2 takes

Columbia CK40846 or Columbia 35901

Trumpet: Cootie Williams Clarinet: Goodman Tenor sax: Georgie Auld

Piano: Count Basie

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Harry Jaeger

Music: Harold Arlen Lyrics: Ted Koehler

'Solo Flight' Charlie Christian w the Benny Goodman Orchestra

4 March 1941 in NYC Matrix 29865 Columbia 36684

Trumpet: Alec Fila / Jimmy Maxwell / Irving Goodman / Cootie Williams

Trombone: Lou McGarity / Cutty Cutshall

Clarinet: Goodman Alto sax: Skip Martin / Gus Bivona

Tenor sax: Georgie Auld / Pete Mondello Baritone sax: Bob Snyder

Piano: Johnny Guarnieri

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Dave Tough

Composition: Goodman / Christian Arrangement: Jim Mundy

'Waitin' for Benny' aka 'A Smooth One'

Charlie Christian w the Benny Goodman Sextet w Goodman out

13 March 1941 in NYC Blu-Disc T1006 / Columbia CL652

Trumpet: Cootie Williams Tenor sax: Georgie Auld

Piano: Johnny Guarnieri

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Dave Tough

Composition: Christian / Williams / Auld / Guarnieri / Bernstein / Tough

'Up on Teddy's Hill' Charlie Christian

May 1941 at Minton's Playhouse in NYC Esoteric ES548

Trumpet: Joe Guy / Dizzy Gillespie Tenor sax: Don Byas

Piano: ? Bass: ? Drums: ?

Composition: Christian

Unfortunately Christian had little opportunity to further advance, as he died of tuberculosis on March 2, 1942. His final recordings were on 11 June 1941 with the Benny Goodman Orchestra: 'Tuesday at Ten' (instrumental), 'Soft as Spring' featuring Helen Forrest, 'Down, Down, Down' featuring Helen Forest and 'La Rosita' (instrumental). Christian was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

'Soft as Spring' Charlie Christian (acoustic) w the Benny Goodman Orchestra

11 June 1941 in NYC Matrix 30649 or 30649-1 as 1 of 2 takes

Phontastic NOST7616 or Columbia 36219

Trumpet: Billy Butterfield / Cootie Williams / Jimmy Maxwell

Trombone: Lou McGarity / Cutty Cutshall

Clarinet: Goodman Alto sax: Les Robinson / Gene Kinsey

Tenor sax: Georgie Auld / Pete Mondello Baritone sax: Skip Martin

Piano: Mel Powell

Bass: Walter Yost Drums: Sidney Catlett Vocal: Helen Forrest

Composition: Alec Wilder Arrangement: Eddie Sauter

'Down, Down, Down' Charlie Christian (acoustic) w the Benny Goodman Orchestra

Charlie's second to last recording

11 June 1941 in NYC Matrix 30650-2 Columbia 36219

Trumpet: Billy Butterfield / Cootie Williams / Jimmy Maxwell

Trombone: Lou McGarity / Cutty Cutshall

Clarinet: Goodman Alto sax: Les Robinson / Gene Kinsey

Tenor sax: Georgie Auld / Pete Mondello Baritone sax: Skip Martin

Piano: Mel Powell

Bass: Walter Yost Drums: Sidney Catlett Vocal: Helen Forrest

Composition: Don Redman Arrangement: Eddie Sauter

Sources & References for Charlie Christian:

Robert Dupuis (Musician Guide) (alt)

Encyclopedia of the Great Plains

Last.fm

New York Jazz Workshop

Dave Radlauer (Jazz Rhythm)

Riff Interactive

Solo Flight

Texas State Historical Association

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Audio of Christian: Internet Archive YouTube

Chronology: Solo Flight

Chronology of Events: Solo Flight

Compositions: Second Hand Songs

Discussion: Jazz Guitar

Documentaries:

Artists Who Changed Music: Charlie Christian (Warren Huart / 2021) (alt)

The Brilliance of Charlie Christian (alt)

The Charlie Christian Story (Oklahoma Hall of Fame / 2025)

Charlie Christian: Pioneer of the Electric Guitar (David Briot / 2026)

Guitar Legends - Charlie Christian (Matt Pugliese / 2024)

Portraits In Jazz: Charlie Christian (Claude Ventura / Philippe Paringaux)

Solo Flight: The Genius of Charlie Christian / Gary D. Rhodes / 1992: Arcadia Records IMDb

Iconography: Solo Flight

Recordings: Albums: Solo Flight

Recordings: Catalogs:

45 Worlds

Discogs

Rate Your Music

Riff Interactive

Solo Flight (by catalog number)

Solo Flight (LPs)

Recordings: Compilations:

Charlie Christian Complete Edition / Media 7 Masters of Jazz:

Vol 1 Vol 2 Vol 3 Vol 4 Vol 5 Vol 6 Vol 7 Vol 8

Charlie Christian: First Master of the Electric Guitar (JSP Records JSP909 / 2002)

Recordings: Select:

The Genius of the Electric Guitar (Columbia CJ 40846 / 1987): Album Deep Dive Discogs

Wholly Cats (Benny Goodman Sextet / Columbia): Apple Music Solo Flight

Recordings: Sessions:

Solo Flight (78 rpm / 45 rpm)

Solo Flight (albums)

Solo Flight (alphabetical)

Solo Flight (solography)

Jan Evensmo (solography 1939-1941)

Tom Lord: leading 4 of 94 sessions 1939-1941

Repertoire: Music Brainz Solo Flight