I was born in 1939, and raised in Hawai. I started playing guitar when i was 9 years old. Later,In 1953 we moved to southern California. I played country western till about 1958, when I first heard Julie London sing "cry me a river", on her album with one of my hero's Barney Kessel backing her. That changed my life. I ruined two records copying the beautiful guitar that was backing her singing.in fact i copied so many guitarists that when i play,i dont remember what i copied,or if its me or them.LOL. I played nite clubs 6 nites a week from 1960 to 1983. Then i got burned out,and quit playing guitar altogether for 25 years. I just started back recently. I dont use modes or scales. I dug my theory out of old jazz records that i would copy back in the 1950's.Ive been told i use modes and scales,but im not aware of it. when i improvise, I just think of the melody. I dont think about scales or modes. I dont even think about what chord im in. But i know the chords to every tune I play to back up others. It would probably be better if i knew all those modes and scales but im too old to change my ways. I use my thumb a lot on my left hand when i play chord solos. some people say its wrong. But there is no way i could make some of these jazz chords without using my thumb. If you play classical guitar, then you should be more strict. Anything goes with jazz. I play music with my ears, and i dont get caught up in how you should hold the guitar etc,etc. to me, its just what sounds good to me. not how I look. I used to drive everybody nuts singing bebop lines.
I never married till i was 53 years old. That changed rather quickly when i met marlene. Im very glad i waited!
Back in the 1950's, I would walk into a music store and play a chord solo on "Misty" or "Moonlight in Vermont" and they would offer me a job teaching. Not many people knew those jazz chords back then. Now everybody knows them,and its great to see. I used to think my left hand was holding me back as I struggled. But the right hand is the hardest to solve.
I sure hope you young people keep jazz alive for me till I reincarnate again. LOL
I love youtube and all the wonderful friends ive made.