Japanese exclusive remastered reissue packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve. Verve. 2004.
CD Reviews
Rare Gem of Jazz Guitar
james ludwig | Garden City, NY / Boston,MA USA | 09/19/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Billy Bauer is one of the most talented and original jazz guitarists to come out of the golden years of jazz, and yet he remains THE most underrated musician in jazz of the 40s and 50s. His work with Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz and many others profoundly influenced the future of jazz guitar, in a melodic and harmonic sense. This is Mr. Bauer's only recording as a leader and until now it has only been available on a rare and almost impossible to locate LP. This album contains a handful of originals, as well as several unique standards, and it concludes with an original solo guitar piece. "The Plectrist" is an essential recording for anyone who would wish to become wholly familiar with jazz guitar, or anyone who loves spontaneous, beautifully performed, joyous art."
Billy Bauer Guitar Master
G. Moore | Burnie, Tasmania Australia | 07/15/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Plectrist is without question one of the best albums I have had the pleasure of listening to over recent times. Despite the fact I have had the album for some time now I continue to keep it in the car for peace of mind whilst driving. It is music as sweet as nectar with a style of its very own. Billy Bauer is not only a class artist but is someone I would dearly love to listen to live."
Fresh and different
Don Steiny | Santa Cruz, CA USA | 08/22/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For people interested in a variety of guitar styles Billy Bauer is a great treat. I can't get his version of "Lullaby of the Leaves" out of my head sometimes."
Good to have this one on CD
Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 03/08/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Billy Bauer might not be as well known as Tal Farlow or Kenny Burrell, but he's just as good as both. This reissues the old Norgran LP from 1956, with some extra tracks thrown in. Bauer's original "Lincoln Tunnel" is an up-tempo swinger, but "You'd be so nice to come home to" is the highlight of the album. An enticing CD."
Buy This Before it's GONE!!
Dave Wilson | Melting Icebergs, Planet Earth | 12/30/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As a pro jazz/classical guitarist I've been aware of Bauer from his recordings with Lee Konitz and Lennie Tristano. These are wonderful recordings if you can find them(Tristano's Intuition on ProperBox 64 is a gem worth having!). Another is Konitz's Tranquility but not available at this time.
This recording was a complete shock to me because I never knew he recorded a session under his own name. It doesn't matter what songs are on this CD since Bauer's sense of melodic/harmonic embellishment are amoung the very finest ever. If you're a guitarist, do yourself a favor and buy this. If you're not a guitarist leave it for guitarists to buy...