RICHARD SMITH -- Bye Bye Blackbird All fingerstyle guitar greats -- Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Lenny Breau, Doyle Dykes, Tommy Emmanuel -- each of them eventually obtained what they agreed was "The world's finest nylon-string electric guitar" crafted by "Kirk Sand of Laguna Beach California." What do they sound like? At their best, in the hands of a master like English-born Nashville resident RICHARD SMITH, they sound like this. Don't you love virtuosos who perform 'live' without making mistakes? None better than Richard Smith, you may agree. Thanks for sharing The Jazz Lounge. Celebrated elsewhere this day (11/21/2023) search " Great Melody, Great Lyric, Great Rendition, Songwriting Workshop, Harmony Central "
Around 16:30 Richard plays "Walking the Strings" -- best rendition since Chet's (an improvement on Merle's according to Travis). Left a footnote (below) for Deuce: I'm 76 and remember buying all Chet's latest ('1956 - 1958') recordings and hearing all these techniques which Chet invented. Like Ray Charles, he had no influences. Completely original and as all the greats will tell you, he was alone in that regard. All that technique and the best tone EVER on his signature Gretsch Country Gentleman. Played through a Fender amp. No one has replicated (perfectly) that tone. Think about that. P.S. My new favorite solo guitar rendition of the Gershwins' EMBRACEABLE YOU at 22:47 mark. Richard Smith is a jazz artist too!
00:00 - Bye Bye Blackbird 05:00 - Down Home 07:27 - Mr Lucky 12:56 - Struttin 16:38 - Walkin the Strings 18:45 - So Round So Firm So Fully Packed 23:00 - Embracable You 28:43 - Streets Of Loredo 32:46 - Danza Paraguaya 37:27 - Snowy Morning Blues 41:55 - Georgia on my mind 49:00 - Georgy Girl 53:19 - Elenor Rigby 56:30 - Spanish Flea 59:30 - Stompin at the savoy 01:06:00 - The Entertainer 01:10:44 - Polka Dots and Moon Beams 01:16:14 - Jingle Bells(Tease) 01:16:32 - Variations on a Theme by Mozart, Op. 9 by Fernando Sor
This guy is the greatest guitarist you've not heard of....but thank God for you tube now he will get the exposure and acclaim he so richly deserves...way to go bro !!!!!!
Georgie girl. What the hell can you say? No one can play this song better than Richard with the feeling he puts into it. This is a song that lifelong guitar players wish they could play this well.
Loved to hear Richard mention 'ol Jerry is his favorite composer of guitar music. RIP Mississippi Wild Man,, the world of guitar (and comedy) will never forget ya ol feller. Richard does Jerry's music justice for sure. Well done Richard Smith.
You csn hear every nuance in Jerry's compositions and then Richard takes it to a new dimension. He's come an enormous journey since I first heard him play as a 9 year old at a John Knowles Seminar in London. He was good even then ..... better than most of us who had been playing for more than 9 years.
Yes he does. Funny isn't it,, virtually ALL guitarists (who aren't playing Flaminco style guitar) use that thumb inspired by none other than the great Meryl Travis. Among recording artists Myrle inspired them all.
I don't get it. Where's Richard performing in this vid? He's among the world greatest guitarists and it looks like he's playing here in front of a handful of sleepy folks during the coffee break of a senior citizen's Scrabble party on a Thursday afternoon in a community center. Indeed, he sure looks like he doesn't know what he's doing there.
Very likely this was an "By Invitation Only" performance intended for close friends fans as he was traveling to an engagement somewhere on Thanksgiving weekend. He took that eve as a chance to visit with friends at a convenient studio close to where these friends live. Just a thought as to why so few were there.
I'm really enjoying the guitar arrangements and of course the performances too. Are these your own arrangements? I would love to purchase the sheet music if it's available.
Richard Smith is an amazing guitarist! His accent is throwing me off. His bio says his English, but his accent doesn't sound English to me, but I have to admit that I'm not familiar with all English accents. He's sounds Australian to me.
Yes he is. Don't get me wrong because before nor since has there been another Chet Atkins because he brought so much to recording excellence and smooth, smooth listening enjoyment BUT,, BUT,, adding in all the elements of a Tommy Emmanuel and Richard just wasn't in Chet's wheel house. Yes I know it's sacreligious to say ANYTHING that can be construed as a negative about Chet's playing,, after all that could get a fella killed,, Chet Atkins is and will always be the GodFather of Guitar,,, but true is true. 🙂
Hi, I was making the comment about Richard…..He appeared with Chet at age 11playing Whispering……..he was great…..As Chet said…the greatest compliment one can receive is someone playing your music….and doing it better….Richard has certainly done that. I too love Chet…I got to spend some time with him when he appeared at the Sahara Hotel in Vegas with Boots Randolph and Floyd Cramer…..Chet was so accessible and humble..miss him.
I'm 76 and remember buying all Chet's latest ('1956 - 1958') recordings and hearing all these techniques which Chet invented. Like Ray Charles, he had no influences. Completely original and as all the greats will tell you, he was alone in that regard. All that technique and the best tone EVER on his signature Gretsch Country Gentleman. Played through a Fender amp. No one has replicated (perfectly) that tone. Think about that. @@quickdeuce
Richard would be the first to say "No, no -- but thanks Craig for the compliment." Lenny Breau asked me in that little boy voice of his "Whaddya think of Chet." Then stared at me intently. I knew I'd be judged by my reply: "I own everything Chet ever record but, I have to say your technique is even . . . " Lenny cut me short but provided a life-long quotable quote (shared with the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society in Nashville) " ... No, no, no, there is only one Chet."
Probly new strings...uses nylon strings and they stretch a lot plus some of the songs are tuned to alternative tunings...im just an old guitar picker jealous of that man's great talent....lol
@@David-ig8of It's nylon strung - all those pesky people in the audience breathing and sweating and clapping alters the humidity and temperature, and that affects the strings more than metal strings, and as a professional, he will be put off by being out of tune.
