Various Artists - Guitar Player: An Album of Contemporary Styles by Modern Masters

An exceptional two-LP guitar anthology created in association with Guitar Player magazine, bringing together an extraordinary cross-section of influential guitarists including B.B. King, Larry Coryell, Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Laurindo Almeida, Lee Ritenour, Irving Ashby and John Collins.

Unlike a typical compilation of previously released material, Guitar Player was conceived as a special recording project featuring newly recorded performances specifically for the collection. The result is a fascinating survey of guitar styles spanning jazz, blues, fusion, classical and Brazilian traditions, with each player given an opportunity to showcase a distinctive approach to the instrument.

Highlights include B.B. King's “Guitar Player,” Larry Coryell's “Toronto Under the Sign of Capricorn” and “Autumn in New York,” Joe Pass' “Django's Castle,” Laurindo Almeida's “Feelings” and “Samba for Sarah,” Lee Ritenour's “Valdez in the Country,” plus performances featuring the formidable jazz-guitar talents of Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Irving Ashby and John Collins.

Released by MCA Records in 1977, the collection is presented as a 2-LP gatefold edition with extensive biographical notes and photographs devoted to the featured guitarists. For jazz and guitar enthusiasts, it's both an impressive listening collection and a period document of some of the finest guitar players working in the 1970s.