Originally Posted by: The AceI don't think big band directors realize the mportance of having a guitarist play freddie green style - it does so much for the band in terms of keeping time, helping the music swing, not getting in the way of the piano, etc...

Count Basie understood that.

Indeed. A lot of more contemporary jazz groups don't, though. Take Soulive for instance (not a big band, but anyway) - their guitarist is very good, but he's just used like another sax or something. There are essentially three lead instruments with some standard backing from the brass. Perhaps they should get another guitarist :D.