Guitar Legends

A star studded soundtrack album featuring AXS TV star Sammy Hagar teaming up with Joe Bonamassa and Robbie Krieger (The Doors) on The Doors’ hit “Roadhouse Blues;” an unforgettable rendition of “Love The One You’re With,” featuring Krieger, Orianthi, Haley Reinhart (American Idol) and rock and roll legend Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top); a moving rendition of “Black Magic Woman” by Emily Estefan; Vernon Reid, the founder of Living Colour, shredding through the Jimi Hendrix staple “Crosstown Traffic”; and a thunderous finale featuring the night’s performers collaborating on the WAR signature “Low Rider,” among many others.

Oscar Alemán is one of the great unknown talents in jazz history. A brilliant guitarist who sounded very close to Django Reinhardt at times, Alemán was overshadowed in Europe by Reinhardt in the 1930s and spent much of the rest of his career in his native Argentina, remaining well known only in that country. This 1998 double CD from Dave Grisman's Acoustic Disc label has highlights from Alemán's career, including the eight selections he recorded during his three European sessions of 1938-1939, plus music from 1941-1947 and 1951-1954. Although the settings varied (including a sextet with violinist Svend Asmussen, a nonet, and two unaccompanied guitar solos), Alemán's basic swing style stayed the same, retaining its enthusiasm and creativity and remaining unaffected by bop. Sticking throughout to acoustic guitar and taking an occasional good-time vocal, Alemán is heard in peak form. He deserves to be much better known. A definitive two-fer from a major talent.