Allan Reuss - Rhythm Revealed

Allan Reuss is possibly my favorite guitar player. Allan played with the Benny Goodman band at its height from 1935-1938, reportedly taught Freddie Green, learned from George Van Eps, played one of the swing era's only real guitar features - "Pickin' for Patsy", and went on to do session work in LA in the mid-40's. There are some links in an earlier post to some samples of Allan Reuss' chordal solo work. Those are essential listening for learning to play chordal solos. But besides being a standout chordal soloists, Allan Reuss played fantastic rhythm guitar. Hearing 4-beat rhythm work, however, is usually impossible. But there's one example where you hear Allan loud and clear:

Kay Starr - The Complete Lamplighter Recordings 1945-1946.



http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000I4ZP/

I found out about this record from Whit Smith's recommendations on the Hot Club of Cowtown website. The record mainly features a series of sessions recorded in Los Angeles in 1945-1946. The rhythm section for most of the tracks is Zutty Singleton on drums, Red Callender on bass, and our boy Allan Reuss on guitar. The best part is that you can hear Allan well the whole time. There are several great chordal intros and interludes, but the real star is Allan playing rhythm over Zutty and Red. Top it off with Barney Bigard, Vic Dickenson, et al, and you've got some great tunes.

If you aren't sure what a swing rhythm section sounds like ... Zutty, Red and Allan Reuss is just about perfect.