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Eddie Lang

Eddie Lang was the first Jazz guitar virtuoso. A boyhood friend of Joe Venuti, Lang took violin lessons for 11 years but switched to guitar before he turned professional in 1924 with the Mound City Blue Blowers. He was soon in great demand for recording dates, both in the jazz world and in pop settings. His sophisticated European sounding chord patterns made him a unique accompanist, but he was also a fine soloist. He often played with violinist Venuti and with Red Nichols's Five Pennies , Frankie Trumbauer and Bix Beiderbecke (most memorably on the song "Singin' the Blues"). He played in many orchestras including Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra , Jean Goldkette and with Paul Whiteman (appearing on one short number with Venuti in Whiteman's 1930 film "King Of Jazz"). Lang was a versatile player who could back Blues singers, play Classical music, and jam with the greatest musicians of his day. He was the house guitarist at Okeh from 1926 to 1933. Using the pseudonym of Blind Willie Dunn, Lang often teamed up with Blues guitarist Lonnie Johnson. Eddie Lang led several dates of his own between 1927 and 1929, including an interesting session with King Oliver and Johnson, under the name of Blind Willie Dunn and his Gin Bottle Four. He worked regularly with Bing Crosby during the early 1930s and appears briefly with him in the film "The Big Broadcast". Tragically his premature death was caused by a poorly performed operation, where he lost too much blood during a routine tonsillectomy. Bing was deeply disturbed by Lang's death, not only because he suddenly lost one of his best friends and most talented sidemen, but because he had personally urged Lang to have the operation.

Jazz This Week: Sean Jones, Galactic, Pat Metheny Unity Group, Andre Delano, a Tribute to Eddie Lang, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
March 6, 2014

As the city wakes up the morning after Fat Tuesday, there's no post-Mardi Gras slump in the schedule of jazz and creative music in St. Louis. This week includes shows from several noteworthy touring musicians, plus a homecoming performance from a well-known expat, and much more. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, Sean Jones returns to Jazz at the Bistro to open a four-night engagement continuing through Saturday. The former lead trumpeter with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Jones ...
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Recording

Jazz This Week: Chick Corea and Bela Fleck, Alarm Will Sound, Tributes to Dave Brubeck and Eddie Lang, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
March 21, 2013

Spring officially arrives tomorrow in St. Louis, and while it remains to be seen whether or not the weather will cooperate by being appropriately spring-like, the next few days definitely include some jazz and creative music performances worth seeing. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, the 20-member new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound returns for the second performance of their St. Louis season at the Sheldon Concert Hall. The program will offer a preview of AWS' concert next month at ...
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Interview

Don't Forget Eddie Lang, Please!

Source: Jazz Lives by Michael Steinman
October 26, 2010

Our '20s guitar man South Philadelphia's Eddie Lang, the “Father of Jazz Guitar" who died in 1933, lives again at Chris' Jazz Cafe. By Dan DeLuca Inquirer Music Critic From Django Reinhardt to Jimi Hendrix, the names that commonly appear on argument-starting lists of the greatest and most influential guitarists of the 20th century are familiar. But there's one flat-picking virtuoso from South Philadelphia typically left out of the conversation, whose music has receded into obscurity despite a ...
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Event

Eddie Lang Day in Philadelphia: October 25, 2010

Source: Jazz Lives by Michael Steinman
August 2, 2010

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Recording

Mosaic Records Set To Release The Classic Columbia and Okeh Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang Sessions

Source: All About Jazz

Mosaic Records is proud to announce the release of The Classic Columbia and Okeh Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang Sessions, the first collection in 40 years dedicated exclusively to these often overlooked pioneers. This outstanding 8-CD set sheds new light on violinist Venuti and guitarist Lang, two boyhood friends who became jazz' first full-fledged stars on their respective instruments.

In similar fashion to two other recent Mosaic sets The Complete Okeh & Brunswick Bix Beiderbecke, Frank Trumbauer and Jack Teagarden ...
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