George Van Eps - I've Got a Crush on You

[gmdinformation]

George was Lenny Breau before there was a Lenny Breau.

[schnickman55]

The finest, most masterful musician - consummate technician and analytical genius. We miss you everyday George. The Gretsch Van Eps Model, with moded pickups, was my main axe for many years, one made in 68, one in 69.

Former student

[csong808]

Thank you so much for putting this up! Pure gold.

[gnm109]

A master. I had the pleasure of seeing him live in 1966. Man, could he play! Among the greats of Jazz guitar.

[soup2nuts1]

I find jazz usually boring - but here at last I'm hearing all those inner voices moving - very cool!

[busessuck1]

@soup2nuts1 So the question you gotta ask yourself is this, do you think jazz is boring, or have you not been listenin to the enough jazz?

Well have you... Punk?

[nmfarlow]

just astonishing, Van Eps and his Lap Piano... :D

[fracarciofo]

Fantastic on the baritone guitar. Without words :|

[CAGED1702]

@fracarciofo

Just for info: it is a Gretsch George Van Eps 7-string guitar - otherwise I agree with you: without words..!

[Stricknyne1]

Simply beautiful, the highest level of taste. What an inspiring artist. I have listened to his recordings and read his books, but would never have been able to see him play if you had not posted this. I wish I could have spent one hour with him. Thank you so much.

[hkjazzman]

The guitarist's guitarist!!

[reverseengine]

genius.

[BebopL5]

Thanks for this. Van Eps was simply the tops.

[nickv6241]

This is my great uncle.. glad you all appreciate his talent

[ButchBolesGuitar]

@nickv6241 Hi nickv6241 - Anyone who is a serious student of Jazz guitar has heard of your uncle! And, been influenced by him. I used to work at Huntington Music in 1977-78. I saw him peek through our store window a couple of times. I was just starting my jazz journey then, but my friend and I knew who he was...it made our day. I remember walking several miles to buy one of his books when I had started playing professionally! He should be remembered.

[dksnyc]

I had the privilege of being taught guitar by George before his death. Truly one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time.

[bogeyat3]

George is the MAN, and also the Dude! love this song, no slacker.

[gabri3l367]

George Van Eps , un signore della chitarra. Grande gusto , raffinatezza e classe .

[1960COBLudwig]

Master at work, I was moved by him when I first heard him on the South Rampart Street Band with Nick Fatool on drum it changed my perception of music THESE guys COOKED.] with style.

[TheTheurgist]

George was indeed the masters master! Recall that Ted Greene after writing Chord Chemistry sought George out and studied for some time with him. Every city has something analogous to George--here in Richmond Va we had Jerry Fields who my friend and teachers Pat Martino and Tal Farlow held in very high regard (Jerry out Djangoed Django). And after teaching teachers and Pros alike myself for more than twenty years I feel confident in saying George was stellar!

[TheTheurgist]

George was indeed the masters master! Recall that Ted Greene after writing Chord Chemistry sought George out and studied for some time with him. Every city has something analogous to George--here in Richmond Va we had Jerry Fields who my friend and teachers Pat Martino and Tal Farlow held in very high regard (Jerry out Djangoed Django). And after teaching teachers and Pros alike myself for more than twenty years I feel confident in saying George was stellar!

[alhajem]

I like the Ahmad jamal version more

[resourceyourself]

Hello, I am trying to track down some possibly unpublished Van Epps music for a small college on Long Island where they might want to make him famous among their students. Do you have a way I might be able to contact his daughter? or his agent? I'd appreciate hearing from you about this. Thanks for any help you'd care to give. Jan

[huatut123]

he's my friend's dad's uncle ya'll!

[resourceyourself]

@huatut123

[merc0049]

George was masterful, but there are guys out there like him. Nobody knows about

them because they don't rap about hoes,

rims, busting caps and poppin' bottles

in the club. When I went to Berklee,

Larry Baione was my teacher. He was the best. Al Defino taught there too.

These guys could play anything.

[futboler454]

@merc0049 I like cats that can do both, though...like D'angelo

[KoxxMobilhome]

Guys like these they don't make anymore.

[blueturtleblues]

...Sweet as flowers of Orange tree smelling in July...!!!

[edudzzaj]

amazing player

[kungfutongue]

A fucking jazz scientist...who else would write a series called Harmonic Mechanisms....what a gift he was....

[4578a]

No one else really sounds like this,it's his own thing.

[miriyaa]

that's fucking boring!!!!!!!!! SNOOP DOG RULZ!!

[mustard87]

STFU

[rayhuner328]

terrible

[IceBarrier]

Fantastic!

[merc0049]

This man is a pioneer.

He is smooth, swings...

It looks effortless to him.

[entity3sf]

Too pedantic for my tastes.

I prefer a little soul. I'll take Joe Pass or Ted Greene any day.

[eyebonez13]

yea, this guys just sucks right

Joe Pass is so different, no similarities at all

[obviously sarcasm]

[silversilver1975]

Beautiful!

[mibifinalist]

when this hits tempo, van eps' inner line just steals the show

[shnewsman]

I know Bucky plays a Benedetto now. And he has for quite some time. But years ago, he played a Gretsch George Van Eps single-pickup model; dark green and black. Most Van Eps Gretschs out there now are single-pickup, hence my comment that Van Eps' guitars were one-offs.

[sanddancer01]

@shnewsman All the Gretsch Van Eps production models had two pickups, I've got one myself. If Bucky's only had one then that was a modification he made. The early Van Eps models came with the appalling floating sound unit which almost everyone removed and replaced with a decent bridge. Van Eps' guitar was fitted with a bridge he made himself. Other than that it was no different to the production model

[shnewsman]

Bucky Pizzarelli's 7-string Gretsch is a single-pickup; the most common models to survive that era. The guitar Van Eps plays here is extremely rare and if you can find one...buy it and insure it.

[dhgate2]

Bucky plays a Benedetto.

[edcerc]

what kind of guitar is that. it looks more semi hollow then hollow am i wrong?

[fa2302]

I've tried to respond a couple of times several days ago, but the replies haven't shown up yet. =:(

The guitar is a Gretsch 6079 or 6080 George van Eps model manufactured from 1968 thru the early 70s. I originally thought it was semi-hollow like the original Chet Atkins Country Gentleman but the published specs say it's a hollow body.

~frank

[spacepatrolman]

Right, the semi hollow bodys have painted on f holes but the hollow bodies have cut out f holes thats a gretsch 7 string [george van eps originaly had an epiphone 7 string ] see also bucky pizzarelli

[ytsejam87]

Lovely.

[vikingmerijn]

It's a seven string Gretsch. Gretsch made in the 1970's a model called the Van Eps model. It had 7 strings...

[WouterJ]

It also was the first production made electric seven string guitar. Predating the Ibanes Steve Vai Universe by twenty years.

[djziggurat]

Wow, I never knew that.

In his face, and I like vai

[handsupbud]

"Courthousequeer"..LMFAO...I work at a courthouse and one of the employees is gay so that really made me laugh.

Thanks Pal

[number1saxophone]

To "Jizzguitar213" and "Courthousequeer1" - you guys are obviously jealous that I'm in a kick ass band. It's not bragging if you know you are good and everyone else says so too. I suggest you guys quit commenting and use all that energy to practice harder. Then someday you'll be able to swing like we do.

[zeppelin2392]

haha man. i checked your stuff out. you guys are terrible.

[JustGimmeFiction]

love your stuff!

[wisesatyr72]

this guy came up w/the 7 strings idea?

[JazzGeetar213]

I'm not sure if he was the first to play a seven string but it's definitely "his instrument" if you get my drift. I too would be interested to find out if he was the first.

[wisesatyr72]

Ive seen him in a guitar catalogue article playing a Gretsch 7 string guitar that he made w/the company in the early 1930's

He taught Bucky, father of John Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola, Howard Alden..check them out on youtube..hehe

[edcerc]

i love avant garde jazz but i can always appreciate the beauty in classic jazz when played by masters like this.

[number1saxophone]

In that case, you'll love my band. We recently decided to start playing JAZZ. It wasn't hard.

Most folks say we've got the best band on youtube and they are probably right.

[CourthouseSquare1]

most folks say that people who comment on videos only to brag about imaginary talent are homosexual.

[JazzGeetar213]

I really don't like to comment on other people's comments, but I can't let it go. That's actually a little insulting.

If it wasn't hard then you didn't do it right.

[lougar1]

I played his guitar when I met him. It's a seven string Gresch. I met him at Steamers in Fullerton CA when he played with Ron Eschete both on seven strings. It was incredible. Steamers has some greats all the time. Free most days except on Friday and Saturday. Van Eps is indisputably the master of harmony. He learned from George Gershwin who was his fathers accompanist. At the end here he tells how he knew Gershwin and how their lives entangled at different times in his life.

[jsm355]

Master Guitarist / Musician's Musician

Marvelous !! Saw him in early 1980's when I was just 23-24 years old.... Jaw dropping performance !!

[praterzen]

old man's jazz.....wonderful

[salhervi]

Just a Genious of Harmony!

[245webster]

I saw George Van Epps when I was a young rock and roller.. I'd say about 1969... I was in E.U. Wurlitzer..which was like the Sam Ash's of Boston.. anyway.. they were giving away tickets to hear George demonstrate his new 7 string Gretch.. so we went.. didn't appreciate it at the time.. all I really remember is that he made everyone laugh by making his guitar sound like the perculator in the Maxwell House commercial.. wish I knew then what I know now.. I would have enjoyed his whole performance.

[CarlosLeChacal]

sinner! :)

[crowsong111]

yeah, that is absolutely fantastic..

[MattAlexan]

Thank YouTube and the author for this! I've known this man's name for a very long time -but this is the first I have seen & heard him. -Worth the wait!

[ShadoPrey]

what guitar is he playing? also, what is the 7th string (what tuning)? If anyone knows, I'd appreciate it :)

[jessejackson]

7th is tuned to A.

[marcelcelmar]

he plays a gretsch 7 string....in: AEADGBE

[theprofessiona1]

Simply amazing. The first time i've ever heard of George but it certainly won't be the last that i hear him.

[ishouldntbeyoutubing]

In 1974, Bill Challis arranged Bix Beiderbecke's piano pieces for five guitars. A recording was made (MES/7006). The players were Bucky Pizzarelli, Art Ryerson, Allen Hanlon, Tony Mottola and Barry Galbraith. Bucky listened to the playback and said "It sounds like George."

[fiddlercrab3]

Quite possibly the funniest story I've heard on Youtube all year! (Admittedly, the year is rather short thus far, but hey, who's counting?) ;-)

[anitadavideduo]

amazing!!

[simguit]

Most underestimated jazz guitar player of all time.

[lexo30]

@simguit Not sure about underestimated: any intelligent player who's listened to Van Eps is aware that he operated on a level of technique far beyond most of us. I've never heard of a guitar player aware of Van Eps who didn't basically acknowledge that he was a master.

[campocat]

Man I've been studying his method for years and this is the first time I see the guy. Now I know why he is such a big influence on me. Amazing!

[dreadnought45]

Sorry, that's Ken Rowan

[dreadnought45]

Another 7-string finger-style guitarist. Just kidding-don't get angry. Just reading the comments below. Knowing music theory and knowing how to build chords and progressions does not make for a good player, jazz or otherwise. Just enjoy the music of a genius. May God bless him.

Kewn, Toronto

[Drunkenmetalfreak]

THE KING OF 7 STRING

R.I.P. George

[mmmgjl]

Post more please!

[Gtrhd]

What a pleasure to see George play. His solo Beatle record is exceptional; he always makes the technique a slave to the melody instead of the other way around.

He's so musical; many thanks for this Mr Jazz Guitar 1!

[deleteme50]

i got a crush on u rachel

[jlgeorge]

You are witnessing the performance of a genius whose influence will continue indefinitely. Totally inspiring.

[wintermoon1939]

Van Eps makes solo greats like Joe Pass seem almost human...he's that good

this is a study on harmony to the nth degree, he rephrases/reharmonizes the tune over and over

[jazzpsalti]

This is the dude who set the unmatchable standard for solo guitar improvisation! Love it! But don't be discouraged... as jazz musicians you should be encouraged to take the baton and move the guitar places nobody expected! If you can even get halfway to this guy, you're great, but throw in more modern rhythmic patterns (one mere example) and you've REALLY got yourself a gig!

[cbeck62]

I'm thinking something like Segovia for jazz guitar. man o man!

[easguitar]

Has anyone out there "tried" to work through the Harmonic Mechanisms for Guitar by George Van Eps?Good God, you would need 10 lifetimes to just scratch the surface!!!

[rbgtr]

It's not so much a mystery. The "doing" takes practice and Van Eps was a master. There are maybe 15 or so true masters of this art form. But the "theory" is rather simple. There is a melody, ok? Build a mood around that, note by note. Experiment. Certain intervals, the dim, aug, minor9th, major 7th, 13th, create a certain feeling. It's the way Joe Pass taught. Forget the scales, that's nonsense. Learn how to create a feel around the melody. Great possibilities there.

[jazzpsalti]

LOL, forget the scales. Sure, forget them, or don't. Bill Evans didn't. If you want to play jazz without feeling in the confines of chord changes, you learn how to modally play every tune, understand the modal interchanges over every type of harmonic movement, and then you can really let your imagination soar, and your soul will thank you for it. That's why Bill Evans can make Polkadots and Moonbeams sound like it was Debussy all along! So I wouldn't forget the scales. Without scales...no chords

[bradley1107]

Obviously everyone has a different approach, but "forgetting" the theory behind what you're playing is pretty common advice coming from jazz musicians "learn it and forget it" you may have heard before. Because ruminating about scales and chords is a sure fire way to suck the life out of your playing. But whatever works for you I spose

[jazzpsalti]

???

[bradley1107]

are you confused about something?

[jazzpsalti]

Well, apparently you thought I was ruminating about chords and scales? I don't think I was... but I DO think that there are idioms in the various eras of jazz and they could/should be tapped into. And there's also this thing called woodshedding, which involves musical analysis on some level. If you don't disagree with either of these things, then I don't suppose there's anything else I need to say to you, is there?

[bradley1107]

I wasn't criticizing your approach, although what im reading from you seems a bit 'defensive posing as patronizing'...But I was merely pointing out an alternative approach to playing jazz, something there is no "right" way to do. And when I said "ruminating about scales and chords" and I think I referenced you, don't be so paranoid.

[fiddlercrab3]

My two cents: You can't paint a painting without... paint.

[jazzpsalti]

that's a pretty good way to put it!

[Threepwoodist]

@fiddlercrab3 You also can't drive a car without a car!

[DimondR]

Well Said. What a treasure!

[zarolhovski]

so beautiful !!!!!!!

[tbsiv]

When I was 18, I told my dad that I wanted to hear a great guitarist. What I had in mind was Jimi Hendrix, but my father gave me an original recording of Mr. Van Eps. I was sold immediately! I don't listen to very much instrumental music or jazz for that matter. In fact punk rock and metal are my thing. If anybody out there has other videos of Mr. Van Eps, please share that with the rest of the world. He was an amazing musician!

[matguitare]

7 strings jazz guitars rules

[Pickinbuddy]

A GRAND MASTER on guitar....

His Father was a master on gut stringed 5 string banjo!

[sevenstringjohn]

Master. Thats all I can come up with. sorry.... I'm dumbfounded.

[cafdo]

Perfect. The chords are so well executed, it almost sounds like a piano. Superb

[deangelico]

hank you so much for this great clip from George.He was a true Master. if you have any more from this concert please please post

[Nynxman]

George Van Eps simply put had no equal. When he performed in person, the audiences that came normally included some of the country's best jazz guitarists such Howard Roberts, etc. The more I listen to him, the more I realize that I can't play and have so much yet to learn. The world has no idea what it has lost. Only jazz musicians really know.

[tokaibob]

George Van Eps, the father of modern guitar harmony! What nice man he was too. Great fun to talk with. Always charming and so intelligent.

[Kovinis9]

George Van Eps was my Uncle, and he played with Paul Whiteman and Benny Goodman along with many others including Frank Sinatra with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Ray Noble, Matty Matlock. He also part of Jack Webb's, Pete Kelly's Blues Band. He was also in the movie Damsel In Distress and was good friends with George Gershwin.

[Pickinbuddy]

His technique is absolutely classical! He was always such a brilliant player and arranger.

[cave82]

Van Epps looks like a politician in the British Parliament.

[coolsbiCarol37]

NICE...VIDEO

[guitaress1]

I love his little turnaround---bweedop bweedop!....dop-adoodle-ee-bop­! To heck with the tune, I just want to hear that!

[wintermoon1939]

he reharmonizes the song again and again.

just the greatest, a true guitar player's guitar player.

[Chordwayze]

Van Eps did have a seven string guitar (An extra bass string) He called his guitar his 'Lap-Piano'.

Just before he passed on, he made three CD's with Howard Alden.

'Handcrafted Swing'

'Thirteen Strings'

and 'Seven and Seven' that one, made when Alden got himself a seven-string too. The CD's have a great crop of standards, some of the ones you don't hear too often.

[snuffy39]

I feel vindicated by all the favorable comments as I know nothing about music except to my ears he was a fine guitarist. He played in Bemmy Goodman's band for quite awhile which means if he was good enough for Benny he was very good

[snuffy39]

i don;t think Benny ever spelled his name like I just did so sorry. Other sources say Van Epps guitar had an extra string and he played for Paul Whiteman, not Benny

[randyk4]

Years ago when I had first heard one of his tapes I knew I had to keep my eyes open to find out what else he recorded. Now I am getting his stuff on discs.

[timjmoran]

WOW!! ABsolutely InCREDible!! This is why I LOVE YouTube and have spent countless hours looking up different players. Mr.Van Eps is

a real master.. and note how he looks like he is barely breakin' a sweat,playing this incredibly intricate stuff, with nary a wasted movement.. just amazing... one of the ALL-time greats. no doubt.If only there were more.

[jertz1]

Now, here's a master! George Van Epps makes those strings--all seven of them--ring like a bell!

[claryscat]

Isn't this the Stuff? I'm a tenor player. '04 got in a car wreck and busted ribs. May friend gave me a Strat. Just started playing it & have been playing every day since. My natural feeling was to play with my thumb and fingers, pick feels unnatural. This clip is mind bending stuff for me! Sound, phrasing, voice leading and heart felt things to say... Beatiful!! Picks? Why?

[KurtCobain213]

Picks apply a completely different sound...U can be absolute and say fingers/pick is better...Both have advantages/disadvantages and are suitable for different sounds or styles

[KurtCobain213]

can't**

[fiddlercrab3]

Truth. In fact, the two are complementary. Case in point: search "Bireli Lagrene and Sylvain Luc."

[zinnington]

One of the great real masters. He's the guy that everybody else goes to hear. He's the guy the scares the crap out of every body else.

[jellyfishsquid]

Wow! What a treat! I didn't think anyone else even knew about George Van Epps. I am so pleased to find this video posted...I have regained the will to live. All the text comments reassure me that there are still people out there who appreciate this music and will keep the flame burning. Thanks a million for posting this. Brilliant!!!

[franco6719]

Wooooooooww!! What a chord soloist. Lovely!!

[claptonfan1000000]

This is great! look at his beutiful hands

[10aaa]

The amazing Van Eps at work! Is the full video available somewhere? Wouldn't mind paying top dollar to see the rest of it. Thanks to MJG1 for posting!

[VANEPSMAN]

This is like hearing God. Too bad my dial up is so slow it is interrupted every 3 seconds for another 30 seconds for my buffer to fill. I have a 67 Gretsch 6079 7 stringer on its way to me now that George owned. Could even be the one in the video. WOW!

[lazur1]

The best. Usually, even top guys have to get into tricks, quotes, or references to other styles to keep up the flow of such a piece, but VanEps does it with the pure force of perfect voice leading. The 100s of internet heroes who jam on one mode for 20 minutes,(both the shredders & the meditative acoustic gurus), need to hear this, a lot.

[tokaibob]

I love George's playing. So inteligent!

[guitar1amore]

fantastic. picks? who needs 'em

[1frankn]

I thank you for this. Unbelievably good. For me along With Ted Greene, Lenny Breau and Ron Eschete Mr. Van Eps represents the greatest of chord melody players.

[houseofcharm]

What a treasure. Saw George at Tal's life celebration concert in 98 and was awed then as now. My recently passed teacher, Ray Gogarty, an old friend of George said he played guitar like a piano-now I'm getting a clue what he meant.

[davens99]

We are so lucky to hear and see this. Thank you so much for posting it. Van Eps was a genius.

[mysticmoose]

many many thanks

[mothermoore]

Check out Ted Green another Master of harmony also sadly gone.

[bluespuppet]

Does anyone know if any footage was ever taken of the George van Eps/Howard Alden collaborations? That would be as amazing as this video. I can't bow low enough to this legendary master. Thanks for posting this gem!

[hoodaman]

WOW. I've been waiting sooo long for footage of van eps. he is the greatest chordal player ever.

[superpicker]

Wow!! Sure made it look easy didn't he? And it ain't, beleieve me. This guy was one of a kind. Thanks for this great video.

[Musikologist]

My Teacher Alan DeMause is a student of George and a fellow 7 String guitarist.Thanks for posting this video,Musikologist

[guitarzin]

He plays with his soul, definately!

[GP4T]

What a pleasure to see George live.Thanks for posting this!

[kovachian]

Absolutely brilliant artist. However, George Van Eps did not innovate the seven string guitar. It had been around since at least the early-mid 19th century, well over 100 years before Van Eps.

[bruced47]

What a craftsman he was. Love the way he voices his chords....very mellow.

[tonyguitarned]

arrrsome amazing guitarist wot a loss

[eightstring]

A million thanks for a video of the Master !!!please, please if you have more...please upload!!!

RC

[ionahoopii]

Best video I've seen yet on Youtube. I can't thank you enough.

[jason8string]

"I've Got a Crush On You". What an appreciative audience for this master fingerstyle player with his awsome 7-string guitar. Cheers.