The Left-Handed Guitar Players That Changed Music By John Engel
BILLY MACKEL


guitar
Plays Guitar Left Handed with default stringing.
In band(s) : LIONEL HAMPTON


As soon as Charlie Christian began to amplify his guitar, audiences became hungry for increasingly more expressive and acrobatic displays of musicianship on the part of guitarists.  As a result, those essential musicians who confined themselves to a rhythmic role were inevitably pushed to the background in the public’s view.  To describe Billy Mackel solely as a rhythm guitarist would be ignorant of the frequent soloing contributions he brought to Lionel Hampton’s music and the way in which he helped steer the maestro’s swinging mayhem.  Mackel’s guitar was not only the solid and consistent binding element in Hampton’s band, but it played a key part in the energy and sonic particularity of Hampton’s music.  As his guitarist from 1944 to 1978, Mackel was the legendary vibist/leader’s most loyal collaborator.
© john engel, all rights reserved
Find out all about Mackel's superb playing and illustrious career, with testimonies from jazz musicians including the great Lionel Hampton himself, in the book Uncommon Sound.