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ASCAP Jazz Wall Inductees 2006
(1911 - 1987)
South Carolina's Freddie Green, the guitarist known as "Mr. Rhythm," was one of the greatest non-soloists in jazz history. His playing, often described as "more felt than heard," was always on acoustic guitar in an era during which the electric guitar came into its own. The late John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet once said of Green, "He makes the whole thing float…like he's put up a wall that you can paint on." John Hammond, who recommended him to an initially reluctant Count Basie, discovered Freddie Green in New York in 1937. Green remained part of the Basie Band for close to 50 years. Together with Basie, drummer "Papa Jo" Jones and bassist Walter Page, Green was part of the matchless All-American Rhythm Section of the Basie Band. Over the years, Green also played on countless recording sessions for many artists, including Gerry Mulligan, Coleman Hawkins and Billie Holiday.
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