Well, the good news is we have a great album here of traditional jazz featuring one of the great all-time guitar players, George Van Eps. The bad news is that my copy of this 1967 LP is pretty rough and I have to apologize for the somewhat excessive noise, pops and crackle that I was unable to remove on this rip. Still, I couldn't readily find a better version of this OOP album out there so I decided to post it for now because it really is absolute classic stuff. Van Eps was just so smooth and relaxed that you can't have a jazz guitar collection without a healthy dose of George in it. Of course he had that 7-string thing going on, as the album name proclaims, and that makes it all the more unique. Although the album obviously features Van Eps' 7-string guitar playing, there is also a lot of marimba player, Frank Flynn, which "frankly" I could live without here, but it has it's moments in complement to George's guitar work. The key is just listening along with this textbook guitar playing. Most of it is relatively simple or understated but it's wonderful work and brings these classic tunes to life so effortlessly. So check this out, forgive the poor quality of the vinyl, and let me know if you come across a better copy of this beautiful album as I will be happy to defer to that reference. But until then, I hope you can enjoy it as is...I did!GVE-7
George Van Eps - George Van Eps' Seven-String Guitar - 1967
Capitol ST 2783
Satin Doll
Prelude To A Kiss
A Blues Serenade
The Very Thought Of You
Kisses
Stop, Look and Listen
Sophisticated Lady
Glad To Be Unhappy
Serenata
Baubles, Bangles and Beads
A Libra Rhapsody
Come Rain Or Come Shine
George Van Eps - 7-string guitar
Frank Flynn - marimba
Jerry Williams - drums
