Back in the summer of 1973 when I was in High School , I took a 5 day jazz guitar class with Johnny Smith. This took place in NJ. There were 15 of us in the class. I got to eat lunch with him and play with him. He walked us through his jazz guitar books. What was most memorable was he gave me a private performance of Golden earrings. What makes him stand out is use of chords mimicking piano voicings. He is a super guy. He was also a licensed pilot. I still have his personally autographed guitar books.
Reading some of the comments here sparked me to write my own tribute such as it is to him. Johnny Smith, remains one of the many great guitarists of a varied number of genres that I like to listen too. When starting my own intrepid journey learning to play the guitar some thirty years ago. A good friend at the time loaned me a jazz tutorial book, authored by him. This book, introduced me to the modes as a musical vocabulary and remains up until today a prize in the possession of things I hold dear. I truly am an admirer and a life-long student of Mr Smith. R.I.P.!
My father took lessons from Johnny Smith back in the 80's. He still lives in our town (Colorado Springs) but he is 100% retired from playing. An absolute legend.
Without a doubt, one of the most gifted guitarists of all time. Technically highly advanced and so lyrical. An absolute master , so pleasurable to listen to.
Thank God for this. I have finally seen the best Guitarist in the world. I have listened to him my whole life and never seen him. Thank you for this post!!!
Johnny was a giant of jazz, his voicing and legato chords few could emulate. I have listened since Moonlight In Vermont and have loved this man since then. RIP Johnny Smith.
I had the great pleasure of playing with Johnny Smith while I was in service in Colorado Springs. My all-time favorite guitarist. He can play fast & clean and then play a ballad with the greatest voicings ever on the guitar.
I just now discovered this guy, and I'm glad I have! I've listened to all the jazz guitar greats, and this is the best jazz guitar player I've ever heard. I can't believe he isn't more famous!
Had no idea this even existed. He's one of those guys where just the name says it all. "...and then of course, there's Johnny Smith..." The epitome of class, sophistication, musical chops and one of the most beautiful guitar tones ever.
The most melodic player I have ever listened to. He was a true giant and is missed by all who were fortunate enough to hear him. Words are inadequate to describe the experience of his music. To hear him is to be healed. Never to be forgotten!
My grandfather was fortunate enough to be good friends with Johnny Smith in Colorado springs I met him numerous times and before my grandfather passed away Johnny Smith came and played right in the living room
Venant de mr atkins cela reste un compliment modeste dans le monde guitaristique jazz,mr joe pass était inégalable, le génie absolu de la guitare jazz, ont trouve parmi d'autres guitaristes excellent comme Jimmy raney, Chuck Wayne, lenny breau, ank garland, Oscar moore, Charlie Christian, René thomas, billy bauer, george VAN eps, tal farlow erb ellis ,mais incontestablement joe pass était au-dessus de tout les autres mr Oscar peterson, ainsi que mr erb ellis ,dizzy guilespie, ray brown et beaucoup d'autres géants du jazz l'ont admis, joe pass la classe absolue vive le jazz, ils y ont n'a pour tout les goûts et niveau 🎺🎷🎸🥁🎻🎼🎺🎷🎸👍👍👍❤
The strong point of Johnny Smith is that he is so melodic and never gets far from the melody. Joe Pass plays the head once or twice and after that the melody is lost and nearly every song sounds very similar. I get bored quickly listening to Pass, master though he is. He sounds great for a few minutes. Kenny Burrel, Barney Kessel, Johnny Smith, these are the jazz guitarists I enjoy most. @@yassineabdelkader2091
LEGEND. It's silly to try to rate the great ones, isn't it?. They each conveyed their own unique voice through the guitar. We all have our favorites, for whatever reasons. When you see and hear something this good--when the playing and technique disappear and you hear only beautiful music--you know you are in the presence of someone who has mastered the instrument.
I've admired this guy for years but am only now seeing video of him playing. Excellent, this tune almost brings a tear to your life, without a single lyric. my favorite type of music
To have this film clip, you must have direct line to God. Thank you so much for posting it. I can't tell you how much it means to me to be able to finally watch Johnny Smith playing, after all of these years of studying and listening to his music. Thanks again. Best wishes.
I was fortunate to see johnny Smth play in Denver at Emerson Street East restaurant on colfax and also recall seeing him play with Chet Atkins at the Paramount
The Legendary Johnny Smith doing what he does best! Stunning us with his amazing guitar technique and uncomparable sound. He's so clean and yet quick but always tasteful. The best of the best. Thanks for posting this!
Just beautiful! The entire band was fantastic and Johnny’s playing was superb. I heard about him awhile back and am amazed at his playing. A real master.
I first heard a Johnny Smith recording in the late 50s. He became an immediate favorite, and he still is. This is technically impeccable and so lyrical. He was a master.
Although he is one of the very few guitarists of his generation who can truly be said to shred (albeit quietly), he's also one of the very few jazz guitarists who can make me cry. Masterful stuff. I could sit and watch his hands for hours.
Fantastic Guitar interpretations, flawless melodic tones, Johnny Smith was the master. So beautiful! Thank you for posting this rare performance. God bless!
@@hunterandrus3320 I think he got that ine for free.Thr other one was stolen and when he went back to d'angelico and told him what had happened he would'nt take the 275 dollars what he had paid for the origininal one.Well i dont want to get too smart but inflation aside these instruments nowadays go ..................
I was very fortunate to see him play. My father was a local jazz guitarist in Trenton New Jersey and he took me to a Sunday afternoon jam session in Camden, New Jersey. From that time on, my father and I were Jonny Smith groupies and purchased every album his performed on. Jonny called my father on dad's 80th birthday and sent him a coy of the album Johnny recorded with Ruth Price, which my father had misplaced. I was at the tribute to Johnny Smith at the Smithsonian. He said he had stopped playing because he could find the time that it takes to practice and keep the level of perfection he need to play publicly.
Eh, he's okay. I'm just kidding! What a PHENOMENAL player! So clean, fast, yet lyrical and emotional too. Stunning dynamics and voicing, pace, you name it. That chord "grab" at 2:36 is something! Thank you for posting this wonderful performance.
I come back to see this every once in a while. The rippling arpeggios, the close voicings, the crystalline sound. I've loved Mr Smith since first hearing him in 1975, when I was 19.
Thanks for this post, and I am so happy to see all these wonderful, adoring comments acknowledging his greatness. Not long ago I thought that he might have been forgotten in this day of fast and furious,,,,, made my day!!!!!
I never got to see him play so thanks for posting this! I met him, he was sitting in the audience at a concert of great guitars in St Louis. At this time not much of his stuff had come out on CD, you had to hunt for his records, and I said, "would you believe I sometimes Drive 180 miles round trip to look for your records?" And he replied, "well you might try the Salvation Army." He gave me his autograph and posed for a picture with me one of the nicest professional musicians I've ever met
My father was friends with Johnny in the Colorado days, I remember Him as very kind and modesty was a trademark! Nothing but kind word's..... view a master with the guitar play and harness a very fine hand made D Angelico
I took guitar lessons from Johnny and his brother Ben in the 1960's. He was a wonderful person, very kind and patient with his know-nothing teenage students.
He taught me most of what I know about how to play the guitar. I spent the most memorable hours of my youth moving the needle back a groove at a time learning one note, one chord at a time. I sure would love to meet him some day.
This is real quality - delivered by a true gentleman and consummate musician. Thank you for allowing a bit of dignity in the crass world we now have to inhabit.
Johnny Smith used to run a music shop in Colorado Springs. Back in the 70's my grandpa traded him half a beef for a trombone for my dad. I never met him but he always seemed like a real gentleman and class act. My god that tone just slays me.
Aside from the bozo MC and that woman with the tee-shirt, this was great. Johnny Smith is one of the classiest musicians around. While this was obviously after his prime, you can still here the precision and elegance in his playing. His tone was like velvet and his phrasing was always cool, smooth and sophisticated. Johnny Smith...one of the all-time giants of music. Thanks for posting.
One of the only guitar masters i know of that could play root postion chords w/o drop 2 and 3 voicings. What a beautiful sound he created. What rare footage this is. Thank you so much for posting it.
joni achenbach My grandfather was fortunate enough to be good friends with Johnny Smith in Colorado springs I met him numerous times and before my grandfather passed away Johnny Smith came and played right in the living room
Rare footage of a rare talent. Thanks so much for posting it. I was an eleven year old kid when 'Moonlight in Vermont;' was in all the jukeboxes. It seems like I have spent my whole life trying to play that tune the way Mister Smith played it.
a fine guitar player and a teacher. One of the very best of his time. I found the studies in his " Complete approach for the Guitar" very comprehensive, particularly for chordal harmonies. A book that can very well serve as a study and reference to both the serious student and the teacher of the guitar.
Johnny Smith was a top notch Jazz guitar player but never achievded the fame and recognition that he so deserved. After the tragic death of his wife in the early 1960's he stepped away from performing and led a reclusive life for many years. His playing style is creative effortless and smooth.
not to many live vids of Johnny...what a superb player ...so fluid & pure-moonlight in vermont is a tremendous disc...sounds like lots of guitars sped up!
How wonderful! I've been a Johnny Smith fan since I was introduced in the early 70's when I studied guitar with Stacy Mckee in a little studio in downtown Denver. Stacey McKee toured with Les Brown, played with Louie Armstrong and, was friends with Johnny Smith whom I hadn't heard about. Stacy showed me how to play several JS chord melodies, I saw Johnny play at Shanners and at a women's college and I was hooked. Your video just made my day. I'll put down the uke and pick up the arch top.
And I thought "Moonlight on Vermont" was great ! And it was but This "What are you doing the rest of your life " just blew me away ! RIP Johnny Your talent will never be forgotten but it will sadly be missed !
Joe Pass and Herb Ellis also did a great duet of this, hard to say which I like best. Out of the four I've only seen Mundell Lowe live - great player. I wish I'd been able to see all of them.
Johnny Smith!The harmonys - unbelievable.He is one of the true originals. With Danny Gatton,Lenny Breau,Howard Roberts, Ted Greene, Ed Bickert he can play in the guitar olymp.Pardon Ed Bickert is still with us. Greetings from Germany
There are many great players, past and present. Johnny combines all the best features and meshes them into his own unique, unequalled style. And he is an originator. Guild, Gibson, Heritage and other top makers all named their TOP of the line guitar after him. Django knew him and loved his playing and other legendary players like Tal Farlow and Chuck Wayne said that they were inspired by him. That says volumes.
Maybe the greatest pick virtuoso ever. He is in his last phase on this video, but you can still hear the Johnny Smith of yesteryear in his playing. He is amazing.
Just a greatttt guitarist one that I aspire to play like... What a shame that he does not play out anymore, I wonder why?.........? We are missing so much :( DALLAS
Carvetop,I was thinking of learning it too most of it seems possible for me,but those descending chromatic things sound really tricky.Johnny is really an inspiration.Dan
Back in the summer of 1973 when I was in High School , I took a 5 day jazz guitar class with Johnny Smith. This took place in NJ. There were 15 of us in the class. I got to eat lunch with him and play with him. He walked us through his jazz guitar books. What was most memorable was he gave me a private performance of Golden earrings. What makes him stand out is use of chords mimicking piano voicings. He is a super guy. He was also a licensed pilot. I still have his personally autographed guitar books.
I'm so jealous! His playing was thing of cascading heavenly notes.
Reading some of the comments here sparked me to write my own tribute such as it is to him. Johnny Smith, remains one of the many great guitarists of a varied number of genres that I like to listen too. When starting my own intrepid journey learning to play the guitar some thirty years ago. A good friend at the time loaned me a jazz tutorial book, authored by him. This book, introduced me to the modes as a musical vocabulary and remains up until today a prize in the possession of things I hold dear. I truly am an admirer and a life-long student of Mr Smith. R.I.P.!
His wife that died was my mothers cousin (from Sweden). I met him at his home 1989 and he played for me. Very skilled.
R.I.P Johnny S
My father took lessons from Johnny Smith back in the 80's. He still lives in our town (Colorado Springs) but he is 100% retired from playing. An absolute legend.
Without a doubt, one of the most gifted guitarists of all time. Technically highly advanced and so lyrical. An absolute master , so pleasurable to listen to.
Thank God for this. I have finally seen the best Guitarist in the world. I have listened to him my whole life and never seen him. Thank you for this post!!!
I guess you have never listened to Allan Holdsworth, have you?
Johnny was a giant of jazz, his voicing and legato chords few could emulate. I have listened since Moonlight In Vermont and have loved this man since then. RIP Johnny Smith.
I had the great pleasure of playing with Johnny Smith while I was in service in Colorado Springs. My all-time favorite guitarist. He can play fast & clean and then play a ballad with the greatest voicings ever on the guitar.
This and Johnny Smith's "Moonlight in Vermont" are two of my all-time favourites ...
I just now discovered this guy, and I'm glad I have! I've listened to all the jazz guitar greats, and this is the best jazz guitar player I've ever heard. I can't believe he isn't more famous!
Another guitar great was Eddie Lang! He died so young!
Beautiful playing. A true master jazz guitarist!
Had no idea this even existed. He's one of those guys where just the name says it all. "...and then of course, there's Johnny Smith..." The epitome of class, sophistication, musical chops and one of the most beautiful guitar tones ever.
The most melodic player I have ever listened to. He was a true giant and is missed by all who were fortunate enough to hear him. Words are inadequate to describe the experience of his music. To hear him is to be healed. Never to be forgotten!
A comment worthy of the great man - thank you !
My grandfather was fortunate enough to be good friends with Johnny Smith in Colorado springs I met him numerous times and before my grandfather passed away Johnny Smith came and played right in the living room
Chet Atkins told Paul Yandell that Johnny Smith was the greatest musician he had ever met. Says a lot.
Venant de mr atkins cela reste un compliment modeste dans le monde guitaristique jazz,mr joe pass était inégalable, le génie absolu de la guitare jazz, ont trouve parmi d'autres guitaristes excellent comme Jimmy raney, Chuck Wayne, lenny breau, ank garland, Oscar moore, Charlie Christian, René thomas, billy bauer, george VAN eps, tal farlow erb ellis ,mais incontestablement joe pass était au-dessus de tout les autres mr Oscar peterson, ainsi que mr erb ellis ,dizzy guilespie, ray brown et beaucoup d'autres géants du jazz l'ont admis, joe pass la classe absolue vive le jazz, ils y ont n'a pour tout les goûts et niveau 🎺🎷🎸🥁🎻🎼🎺🎷🎸👍👍👍❤
Coming from Chet, that means the world!
He also said that Lenny Breau was the greatest guitarist walking the earth!
The strong point of Johnny Smith is that he is so melodic and never gets far from the melody. Joe Pass plays the head once or twice and after that the melody is lost and nearly every song sounds very similar. I get bored quickly listening to Pass, master though he is. He sounds great for a few minutes. Kenny Burrel, Barney Kessel, Johnny Smith, these are the jazz guitarists I enjoy most. @@yassineabdelkader2091
LEGEND.
It's silly to try to rate the great ones, isn't it?. They each conveyed their own unique voice through the guitar. We all have our favorites, for whatever reasons.
When you see and hear something this good--when the playing and technique disappear and you hear only beautiful music--you know you are in the presence of someone who has mastered the instrument.
I've admired this guy for years but am only now seeing video of him playing. Excellent, this tune almost brings a tear to your life, without a single lyric. my favorite type of music
To have this film clip, you must have direct line to God. Thank you so much for posting it. I can't tell you how much it means to me to be able to finally watch Johnny Smith playing, after all of these years of studying and listening to his music. Thanks again. Best wishes.
I was fortunate to see johnny Smth play in Denver at Emerson Street East restaurant on colfax and also recall seeing him play with Chet Atkins at the Paramount
The Legendary Johnny Smith doing what he does best! Stunning us with his amazing guitar technique and uncomparable sound. He's so clean and yet quick but always tasteful. The best of the best. Thanks for posting this!
Just beautiful! The entire band was fantastic and Johnny’s playing was superb. I heard about him awhile back and am amazed at his playing. A real master.
I first heard a Johnny Smith recording in the late 50s. He became an immediate favorite, and he still is. This is technically impeccable and so lyrical. He was a master.
Although he is one of the very few guitarists of his generation who can truly be said to shred (albeit quietly), he's also one of the very few jazz guitarists who can make me cry. Masterful stuff. I could sit and watch his hands for hours.
I love when a virtuoso musician not only impresses you but also reaches you on an emotional level. Great tune too!
Fantastic Guitar interpretations, flawless melodic tones, Johnny Smith was the master. So beautiful! Thank you for posting this rare performance. God bless!
One of the most beautiful sounding D'Angelico's ever ... Damn
It sounds otherworldly
@@hunterandrus3320 I think he got that ine for free.Thr other one was stolen and when he went back to d'angelico and told him what had happened he would'nt take the 275 dollars what he had paid for the origininal
one.Well i dont want to get too smart but inflation aside these instruments nowadays go ..................
Dude🤗🤗🤗🤗have a listen to his Mosaic
Records box
I grew up in Colorado Springs where Johnny had a music store for years....what a wonderful and humble gentleman he was....turns 89 tomorrow!
Gawd,,just too beautiful..technique is so precise but the feeling coming through hits you in the chest.
If I make it to heaven can I sit and listen to Johnny as long as I want?
THIS IS MY FIRST LISTENING TO THIS GUITARIST MAN HE WAS AMAZING ,I TIP MY HAT TO THIS PERFORMANCE AND-BOB HARDY THANKS FOR VIDEO.
Gorgeous. He's my favourite jazz guitarist.
I was very fortunate to see him play. My father was a local jazz guitarist in Trenton New Jersey and he took me to a Sunday afternoon jam session in Camden, New Jersey. From that time on, my father and I were Jonny Smith groupies and purchased every album his performed on. Jonny called my father on dad's 80th birthday and sent him a coy of the album Johnny recorded with Ruth Price, which my father had misplaced. I was at the tribute to Johnny Smith at the Smithsonian. He said he had stopped playing because he could find the time that it takes to practice and keep the level of perfection he need to play publicly.
What a Player.He has his own Sound.Nobody can copy him.
Greetings from Germany.RIP!
What a treasure this video is. An absolutely brilliant performance of a beautiful song. We're lucky to be able to view it. Thank you for posting.
No one on this planet played the guitar better than Johnny Smith.
Amen Brother!
Eh, he's okay.
I'm just kidding! What a PHENOMENAL player! So clean, fast, yet lyrical and emotional too. Stunning dynamics and voicing, pace, you name it. That chord "grab" at 2:36 is something!
Thank you for posting this wonderful performance.
I SURE MISS HIM.MY GOD WHAT BEAUTY.
I come back to see this every once in a while. The rippling arpeggios, the close voicings, the crystalline sound. I've loved Mr Smith since first hearing him in 1975, when I was 19.
I was playing this video for my mom at the Apple Store and she absolutely fell in love with his playing. I did too =) Johnny Smith is amazing!
Thanks for this post, and I am so happy to see all these wonderful, adoring comments acknowledging his greatness. Not long ago I thought that he might have been forgotten in this day of fast and furious,,,,, made my day!!!!!
How awesome is this? Wonderful!
Johnny Smith-of the crystalline arpeggio, splendor of tone, and impeccable taste. A treasured album of mine is "Johnny Smith" on the Verve label.
I never got to see him play so thanks for posting this! I met him, he was sitting in the audience at a concert of great guitars in St Louis. At this time not much of his stuff had come out on CD, you had to hunt for his records, and I said, "would you believe I sometimes Drive 180 miles round trip to look for your records?" And he replied, "well you might try the Salvation Army." He gave me his autograph and posed for a picture with me one of the nicest professional musicians I've ever met
My father was friends with Johnny in the Colorado days, I remember Him as very kind and modesty was a trademark! Nothing but kind word's..... view a master with the guitar play and harness a very fine hand made D Angelico
beautiful. absolutely. i feel like i am melting.
I took guitar lessons from Johnny and his brother Ben in the 1960's. He was a wonderful person, very kind and patient with his know-nothing teenage students.
I had to remind myself to breathe while listening to this piece. Gorgeous.
Me too. It's the 'effortless-ness' of the way he plays that is so incredible. A delight.
Same!
He taught me most of what I know about how to play the guitar. I spent the most memorable hours of my youth moving the needle back a groove at a time learning one note, one chord at a time. I sure would love to meet him some day.
This is real quality - delivered by a true gentleman and consummate musician. Thank you for allowing a bit of dignity in the crass world we now have to inhabit.
Johnny was one of the prettiest pickers ever! Such a beautiful style!
No one is the best period.I love Johnny Smith as well as many others.People like you make me feel sad.Dan
Johnny Smith used to run a music shop in Colorado Springs. Back in the 70's my grandpa traded him half a beef for a trombone for my dad. I never met him but he always seemed like a real gentleman and class act. My god that tone just slays me.
the master at work, out of this world jazz playing
Lost for words - utterly outstanding!
Aside from the bozo MC and that woman with the tee-shirt, this was great. Johnny Smith is one of the classiest musicians around. While this was obviously after his prime, you can still here the precision and elegance in his playing. His tone was like velvet and his phrasing was always cool, smooth and sophisticated. Johnny Smith...one of the all-time giants of music. Thanks for posting.
A true master. I got to see him twice back in the late 70's when I lived in Denver.
OMG!! Thought I'd never see a video of him.
Thanks so much!!!!
beautiful playing and beautiful DA.
One of the only guitar masters i know of that could play root postion chords w/o drop 2 and 3 voicings. What a beautiful sound he created. What rare footage this is. Thank you so much for posting it.
I also saw him Colorado Springs, in the 90's, what a treat.
joni achenbach My grandfather was fortunate enough to be good friends with Johnny Smith in Colorado springs I met him numerous times and before my grandfather passed away Johnny Smith came and played right in the living room
Rare footage of a rare talent. Thanks so much for posting it. I was an eleven year old kid when 'Moonlight in Vermont;' was in all the jukeboxes. It seems like I have spent my whole life trying to play that tune the way Mister Smith played it.
Wow!! Great - thanks so much for sharing this clip. Johnny Smith - an American Icon!!
a fine guitar player and a teacher. One of the very best of his time. I found the studies in his " Complete approach for the Guitar" very comprehensive, particularly for chordal harmonies. A book that can very well serve as a study and reference to both the serious student and the teacher of the guitar.
I'm stunned to see this after so many years admiring Johnny Smith as the epitome of jazz guitarists. Thank you very much for posting this video.
How wonderful to see the Great Johnny Smith. Thanks for Posting.
Johnny Smith was a top notch Jazz guitar player but never achievded the fame and recognition that he so deserved. After the tragic death of his wife in the early 1960's he stepped away from performing and led a reclusive life for many years. His playing style is creative effortless and smooth.
not to many live vids of Johnny...what a superb player ...so fluid & pure-moonlight in vermont is a tremendous disc...sounds like lots of guitars sped up!
rip Johnny. Such touch, such tone..Just the perfect note every time...
Beautiful....
Thanks for posting this
RIP Allan Dawson
I love Johnny Smith!!
This is the first time I saw him on video, thank you very much!!
Yes, he's really great!!!
Wonderful! Thanks for posting!
Such control. Masterful with his dynamics.
How wonderful! I've been a Johnny Smith fan since I was introduced in the early 70's when I studied guitar with Stacy Mckee in a little studio in downtown Denver. Stacey McKee toured with Les Brown, played with Louie Armstrong and, was friends with Johnny Smith whom I hadn't heard about. Stacy showed me how to play several JS chord melodies, I saw Johnny play at Shanners and at a women's college and I was hooked. Your video just made my day. I'll put down the uke and pick up the arch top.
OMG, seeing this just gave me chills. Johnny Smith, what a god.
The greatest jazz guitarist ever?maybe-maybe not---the greatest "musician" that ever played jazz guitar- ABSOLUTELY!!!!
this man is a master of the guitar
Thank you, what a great guitarist.
Johnny was such a very modest and kind person, not to mention the Best of players.
Wow, such beautiful lines!
This is wonderful music!
What a treat. Johnny is one of the greatest ever...
And I thought "Moonlight on Vermont" was great ! And it was but This "What are you doing the rest of your life " just blew me away ! RIP Johnny Your talent will never be forgotten but it will sadly be missed !
My teacher´s teacher. A legend. "The man with the Blue Guitar"... God bless his soul.
Joe Pass and Herb Ellis also did a great duet of this, hard to say which I like best. Out of the four I've only seen Mundell Lowe live - great player. I wish I'd been able to see all of them.
They used to have this full concert on here but they took it down and it makes me very sad.
What an amazing clip! My favorite video on youtube!!! Thanks!
Johnny Smith!The harmonys - unbelievable.He is one of the true originals.
With Danny Gatton,Lenny Breau,Howard Roberts, Ted Greene, Ed Bickert he can play in the guitar olymp.Pardon Ed Bickert is still with us.
Greetings from Germany
There are many great players, past and present. Johnny combines all the best features and meshes them into his own unique, unequalled style. And he is an originator. Guild, Gibson, Heritage and other top makers all named their TOP of the line guitar after him. Django knew him and loved his playing and other legendary players like Tal Farlow and Chuck Wayne said that they were inspired by him. That says volumes.
The one and only Johnny Smith! What a treat!
Maybe the greatest pick virtuoso ever. He is in his last phase on this video, but you can still hear the Johnny Smith of yesteryear in his playing. He is amazing.
Masterful work RIP Johhny
Just a greatttt guitarist one that I aspire to play like... What a shame that he does not play out anymore, I wonder why?.........? We are missing so much :( DALLAS
just beautiful!
Carvetop,I was thinking of learning it too most of it seems possible for me,but those descending chromatic things sound really tricky.Johnny is really an inspiration.Dan
That was fantastic
Really great.
Greetings from germany!
Fantastic! Rare indeed thanks!
Johnny Smith--he's the best !
Johnny Smith is the King of Jazz Guitar.
I meant to say very similar to johnny smith guitar. Then discovered johnny. Wow what a sound
That was most excellent.