so I want to learn jazz rhythm guitar...

[truthspeaker]

Who should I be listening too? Any instruction books worth looking at? I already know how to play guitar, I just don't have any experience with jazz.

[muchacho]

1. Django Reinhardt

'nuff siad.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000005H2Y/qid=1078493289//ref=pd_ka_1/102-4792046-9244157?v=glance&s=music&n=507846

[DrDan]

2. try these

Dan Faehnle
Anthony Wilson
and my favorite - Russell Malone

[gottaB]

3. do you read?

you need a real book--you can dl one off of usenet

listen to anybody who inspires you, but listen good

always swing/groove

know your way around the blues

you say "rhythm"--everything you do will be rhythm. There are players in the Charlie Christian mode who excel at riffing. Others play more chords. Guys like Jim Hall play more textures.

listen to pianists and other rhythm players--like for instance vibes players.

If you go anywhere with it you will be taking inspiration from horn players. You will need to find your own voice--even if you're like Freddy Green or Oscar Moore and always in the background, you need to have a distinctive sound. So listen to how the horn players voice themselves.

[Xandor]

4. Ditto what gottaB said...

...and since you're interested in rhythm guitar, you could especially listen to Freddy Green, who was the great guitarist with the Count Basie band. He played almost straight four-beats-to-the-bar, but he also played a LOT of chord changes. A very important figure in jazz guitar. Here's an interesting site: www.bluebamboo.com/Freddy.html.