Absolutely the ideal exemplar of guitar playing in a big band setting.
That really had to have helped to play piano before guitar. When I first started, I stepped on a lot of toes before I learned to lean it out and comp with sparing harmonic discretion.
I’d agree with you about Freddie Green.
I started with “flutophone” in 1st grade. I grew up at a time when the arts were promoted in the public schools emerging after the Great Depression, WWII, and the greatest generation transitioning from deprivation to prosperity in the 50’s.
Yes the piano really helps to “see” all the intervals, especially laid out left to right low to high notes instead of “layers” with the guitar.
Managing when to blend in and when to stand out with the band is key.
I miss having a piano. We moved halfway across the country a little over 4 years ago and had to junk a very old (1920?) upright grand that I had since about 1976. I don’t know if I have the discipline to add in time to redevelop both instruments at the same time but having a keyboard handy helps to analyze chord extensions and progressions. I printed out a 2 octave keyboard to look at for some help.
My son asked for piano lessons at 6 years of age. There’s an 88 key electronic keyboard at his house he’s had since he was 16 or 17. He just told me last week that his son (6+ years old) is asking for lessons. The circle is unbroken.
And when it was time for my solo in the tune that I was featured, everything I planned on fell to the wayside and I just let my spirit go, ebbing and flowing with the band’s charted accompaniment and the rhythm section.
Giving my fingers a rest for a little bit now.
