C&A:
Almost nine months since the last version of Six Appeal was recorded the
tune pops up once more, for the last time. on another radio show. At a
definitely faster tempo than all eight other versions in June of 1940, the
routine hasn’t changed noticeably other than now there are a tenor sax and a
trumpet (sax takes a solo, trumpet does not) instead of the vibes, and
pianist Milt Raskin, who doesn’t get a solo spot, is subbing for Johnny
Guarnieri – and the milieu has been hiked up a notch.
Charlie Christian hasn’t changed his 16-bar solo either, remaining mostly in
the lower frets for the first eight bars and transitioning to the higher
frets on the next eight. Only the details have changed, and only slightly –
principally in the fretting, which some guitarists may find of interest.
Measures 7-8 hold a favorite run that can at times be found in the
dominant-7 of minor-key tunes, such as Topsy and
Six Appeal (as well as on some
major-key tunes) – a beautiful phrase.
Charles’ work on the choruses after the solos is more inventive than before.
This last one may well be the best of all the nine recorded versions of Six
Appeal despite the drawback that the four-bar intro has not been released,
presumably due to the MC’s voice-over. Incidentally,
Charlie Christian’s guitar concerto, Solo Flight, was
recorded for the first time on this same radio broadcast.
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