song: Shenandoah
artist: Johnny Smith
album: The Guitar World of Johnny Smith (1963)
origin: Traditional: North American folk song, "Oh Shenandoah" (early 19th century)

electric archtop guitar: Johnny Smith

This is an interpretation of the traditional folk song, “Oh Shenandoah”, which has been around in North American folk music since the early 1800s. Though Johnny Smith's arrangement starts out fairly simple and diatonic, the polyphony and harmonic complexity gradually increases in during the 3 rounds. This is one of the finest solo guitar recordings from Johnny Smith's hand, and a great practicing piece for jazz guitarists. Decades later, Bill Frisell dedicated his recording to Johnny Smith who effectively inducted this old Folk standard into the world of Jazz guitar. Enjoy!