Classical, 12-String, and Beyond

In 1940, the jazz establishment was just coming to recognize the potential of the electric guitar as a lead instrument. After joining Benny Goodman’s orchestra in late 1939, Charlie Christian earned recognition as a 1940 Metronome All Star for his fluid lines and deep hornlike tone. By the time of his tragic death two years later, Christian’s approach had set a template for jazz guitar that remains valid to this day.

But 1940 also produced one of the few guitarists who would definitively break that mold by never playing electric:’s Anil Prasad in 2010. “It’s always been my approach to the instrument.”