For the most part, we tend to think of 1940s and 50s Jazz as mainly a male domain. Yes, plenty of wonderful female singers but all too few female musicians. Score one for the girls in the petite form of Mary Osborne, jazz guitarist supreme. Mary started on violin as a child, moving on to guitar and by her mid-teens was playing on radio broadcasts in her home state of North Dakota. She started playing in big bands and shortly after had her 'Road to Damascus' moment when she saw Jazz guitar legend Charlie Christian playing in Al Trent's band. Christian's dynamic style became Mary's prime influence and soon she was impressing, and playing with, the likes of Coleman Hawkins, Russ Morgan and Art Tatum. Moving on, she perfomed solo and with the Mary Osborne Trio, made recordings ( A Girl and Her Guitar LP) appeared regularly on the radio throuh the 50s and started a guitar-making company. Mary continued to play jazz festivals, recorded occasionally and finally passed away in 1992. Awaiting rediscovery, there are relatively few Mary Osborne recordings available, however, performances of 'I Love Paris' and 'These Foolish Things' are currently posted on YouTube showcasing her lovely, fluent playing.
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