Jazz Guitarists Who Use a Classical Guitar?

**maxsmith** · 09-17-2022, 12:49 PM

Hi, all, looking for jazz guitarists who play a classical guitar. Gene Bertoncini comes to mind, but I’d love to know others. Recommendations on players and albums would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

**Boss Man Zwiebelsohn** · 09-17-2022, 01:05 PM

Charlie Byrd is the first that comes to my mind. He was one of the first if not the first to use CG. Can’t recommend any albums though, just know him from live videos. First time I saw him was on Bavarian TV around 1990 at the Burghausen Jazz Festival with a constellation similar to this IIRC:

**Boss Man Zwiebelsohn** · 09-17-2022, 01:08 PM

Then there are of course the Brazilians but that is a special genre. (I think Charlie Byrd played a lot of Bossa as well BTW).

**Dennis D** · 09-17-2022, 01:15 PM

From the album called Collaboration

As good as it gets !

**kris** · 09-17-2022, 01:55 PM

**grahambop** · 09-17-2022, 02:22 PM

Slightly the other way round, but there was a good classical guitarist in the UK called Eric Hill who played jazz on the classical guitar, he has made a recording available here:

Eric Hill

**grahambop** · 09-17-2022, 02:27 PM

Ralph Towner (I’m not familiar with his recordings, I just know he plays classical guitar).

**grahambop** · 09-17-2022, 02:32 PM

John Scofield played a nylon-string guitar (I believe) on his album Quiet.

**Perdido** · 09-17-2022, 02:38 PM

Nate Najar

**grahambop** · 09-17-2022, 02:42 PM

Joe Pass made some albums on some kind of nylon-string guitar, e.g. Unforgettable.

He also did a couple of nylon tracks on the Catch Me sessions, e.g. this one:

**rictroll** · 09-17-2022, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by grahambop

Ralph Towner (I’m not familiar with his recordings, I just know he plays classical guitar).

a little jazz taste from Ralph:

**Stanford J17** · 09-17-2022, 06:12 PM

Francesco Buzzurro

Peter Sprague

Bill Harris

And the Barry Harris of classical guitar Mr. Thomas Echols

**Danny W.** · 09-17-2022, 07:51 PM

Danny W.

**Dave70** · 09-17-2022, 08:29 PM

**jazzkritter** · 09-17-2022, 10:07 PM

Charlie Byrd + Stan Getz = classical guitar jazz

**rpjazzguitar** · 09-17-2022, 11:13 PM

Chico Pinheiro plays both and burns on nylon.

Earl Klugh.

Romero Lubambo.

Ricardo Vogt.

**rictroll** · 09-17-2022, 11:20 PM

And Bill Connors once upon a time -

**kris** · 09-18-2022, 12:48 AM

NELSON VERAS

**oldHaus** · 09-18-2022, 01:03 AM

Pretty sure Adam Rogers is doing so on this track.

**kris** · 09-18-2022, 01:10 AM

I play a lot on classical guitar...

**Eclectic16** · 09-18-2022, 08:01 AM

Costa Lucasz (Costa Lukacs?)

Sylvan Luc

**maxsmith** · 09-27-2022, 12:31 PM

Thanks for all the recommendations, guys - I've already started digging into the list. Been listening to Nate Najar for a week or so - great stuff!

Thanks again, Max