George Barnes and Mary Osborne

Brad Little

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Two often overlooked guitarists, one was a Guild player. I saw him in the '70s with Bucky Pizzarelli, was mostly a reed player then and don't remember what he was playing.
 

guitarslinger

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I knew and played with Mary Osborne. She was a fixture in my, then, home town of Bakersfield Ca married to a band leader musician named Ralph Scaffidi. She had some extraordinary guitars my favorite of which was an Elmer Stromberg. She was very complimentary of the Artist Award I owned at the time.
 

gjmalcyon

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I am a big George Barnes fan.
His collaborations with Ruby Braff were brilliant.
Love George's tone--



Wanted to thank you and @Brad Little for posting - I picked up all of the Ruby Braff/George Barnes collaborations I could find on EBay, and I'm loving them.

In fact, I'm listening to To Fred Astaire With Love on my office music server as I type this ...
 

Teleguy61

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Wanted to thank you and @Brad Little for posting - I picked up all of the Ruby Braff/George Barnes collaborations I could find on EBay, and I'm loving them.

In fact, I'm listening to To Fred Astaire With Love on my office music server as I type this ...
Glad you enjoy them.
I think Barnes's playing is excellent, very distinctive, and he and Ruby were an outstanding pairing.
 

gjmalcyon

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Glad you enjoy them.
I think Barnes's playing is excellent, very distinctive, and he and Ruby were an outstanding pairing.
The immediate thing I noticed about Barnes is his intonation. It is dead perfect. His playing reminds me of Lionel Hampton: not too many notes, not too few notes, just the right amount. And I really enjoy how he harmonizes with Braff's lines.

Thanks again for posting that
 

Teleguy61

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The immediate thing I noticed about Barnes is his intonation. It is dead perfect. His playing reminds me of Lionel Hampton: not too many notes, not too few notes, just the right amount. And I really enjoy how he harmonizes with Braff's lines.

Thanks again for posting that
Yes, that had very succinct arrangements.
I like the way Barnes used what was, for the time, a very bright tone, but he controlled it very well.
Made his sound very distinctive.
 
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