OT: Our Favorite Guitarists

[Replicant]

A better version, imo.

That was nice...check this one out:

 

[Joe6cats]

If pressed to pick my favorite guitarist right now, it would have to be Pat Metheny. Professor
Pat is crisp, clear, concise, innovative, imaginative, inspriational; And can play the heck out of a guitar.
Hubert Sumlin is another of my favorites.

What say the rest of you?

 

[Replicant]

 

[PacoSwede]

I'll be the first to second Metheny.

Followed by Hendrix and McLaughlin, but I'm not familiar at all with many of these people, and only familiar with others by reputation. This is a very educational thread.

And thanks very much, Icebear, for the links. Just finished Jimi/John jam. Wowsa.

 

[Joe6cats]

If pressed to pick my favorite guitarist right now, it would have to be Pat Metheny. Professor
Pat is crisp, clear, concise, innovative, imaginative, inspriational; And can play the heck out of a guitar.
Hubert Sumlin is another of my favorites.

What say the rest of you?

GREAT thread! So many names I don't know, juxtaposed with ones I know and love, that I have much to explore. I was especially glad to hear shout-outs for B.B. King, Charlie Christian, Bella Fleck, Edgar Meyer... What an incredibly diverse world of great music guitar masters give us! I'll mention just a few I love, not to put up against those cited, but because some of the above geniuses put me in mind of them. If you love Django Rienhart, do check out the contemporary French group Caravan Palace. Pat Methany yes yes, and one of the best sessions he did was with the equally creative John Scofield. B.B.King/ Muddy Waters/ Lightnin' Hopkins and that lineage of Blues Greats all owe much to Robert Johnston who wandered into a "race music" studio to cut some paradigm-changing tracks, and returned to the Mississippi Delta to die young. God bless them all!

 

[ScarlettB]

There are simply too many great guitarists and a multitude of styles. Hendrix of course should be on any list. I saw him at Woolsey Hall when I was in 8th grade. It was a transcendent experience. For those loving jazz Django and Les Paul belong on any list.

Duane Allman, Leo Kotke, John Fahey and Santana are four more to toss into the discussion as were Jeff Beck and Mike Bloomfield mentioned earlier.
Classically Julian Bream and a host of others exist.

I had the privilege of performing with Duane Allman many years ago in GA and he was one of a kind, but I have to say, my favorite is Clapton. Hendrix would be next, then Duane.

 

[VAUConnFan]

What a great off-season thread!

But shame on every one of us (including me).

How in the name of Rosemary Ragle did every contributor (so far) did we all overlook B.B. King?

B.B. King!!

"Let the good times roll."

(good motto for next season.)

We were respectfully waiting for you to introduce B.B. King to this thread.

 

[Dairyair]

Jimi!

 

[Replicant]

I had the privilege of performing with Duane Allman many years ago in GA and he was one of a kind, but I have to say, my favorite is Clapton. Hendrix would be next, then Duane.

That's amazing Scarlett! Thinking of the Allmans, we need to give a shout out to Dickey Betts.

 

[speedoo]

I had the privilege of performing with Duane Allman many years ago in GA and he was one of a kind, but I have to say, my favorite is Clapton. Hendrix would be next, then Duane.

Wow. I never got to see Duane live, in fact he and Berry were gone before I got turned to the Allmans. But after a friend played a few of their albums I was hooked forever.. What exactly did you do in performing with Duane?

 

[uconnfan68]

Well, if you are talking transcendental then John Mahavishnu McLaughlin jumps directly into the conversation. HE did an album with Carlos Santana who was another student of Sri Chimnoy was Love, Devotion, Surrender was soaring transcendentalism.
Al Di Meola is another great who has gone unmentioned and, also, recorded with McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia.

Another jazz giant is Joe Pass whose work with Oscar Peterson was a match of giants. Peterson who was the antithesis of Count Basie could play a couple dozen notes where one might do for the Count but Pass could swing with both and played with all the jazz greats. LINK Peterson and Pass LINK 2 Joe Pass solo Summertime

I'm surprised you didn't include Larry Carlton in your jazz section (on lots of Joni Mitchell albums).
And the guy Clapton played with recently in England... name escapes me (Joe something), but a great blues guy. Also Robert Cray.

Great thread.

 

[VAUConnFan]

I'll be the first to second Metheny.

Followed by Hendrix and McLaughlin, but I'm not familiar at all with many of these people, and only familiar with others by reputation. This is a very educational thread.

And thanks very much, Icebear, for the links. Just finished Jimi/John jam. Wowsa.

Very much agree about this being an educational thread. Takes me back to a youth during which many a day was spent with friends just listening to records. Listening to guitarists is pretty much how this entire day has been spent.

 

[ScarlettB]

Wow. I never got to see Duane live, in fact he and Berry were gone before I got turned to the Allmans. But after a friend played a few of their albums I was hooked forever.. What exactly did you do in performing with Duane?

My band opened for them for a couple of performances in GA. I got to jam with them and did some back up vocals. I was only 15 years old and in high school at the time. The rest of my bandmates were several years older. I mostly sang lead in my band.

 

[VAUConnFan]

I had the privilege of performing with Duane Allman many years ago in GA and he was one of a kind, but I have to say, my favorite is Clapton. Hendrix would be next, then Duane.

What was your instrument(s)?

 

[tomcat]

Have been a huge Knopfler fan for years. The sound, the precision of his work, his songwriting, the just-plain-fun of his music. If you think he is just Dire Straits, may I recommend from his solo work, "What It Is" and "Heart Full of Holes," two very different things.

 

[ScarlettB]

What was your instrument(s)?

My instrument was my voice. I was the female lead vocalist and played tambourine. I can play a little guitar and keyboards, but not well enough to be comfortable in front of a crowd.

 

[VAUConnFan]

I'm surprised you didn't include Larry Carlton in your jazz section (on lots of Joni Mitchell albums).
And the guy Clapton played with recently in England... name escapes me (Joe something), but a great blues guy. Also Robert Cray.

Great thread.

Larry Carlton, absolutely. Played for a while with one of my current favorites, Fourplay, who I hope to see up in Tarrytown, NY on June 1st. Carlton succeeded Lee Rittenour, and was replaced in Fourplay by Chuck Loeb.

Joe Bonamassa.

 

[VAUConnFan]

My instrument was my voice. I played tambourine and can play a little guitar and keyboards, but not well enough to be comfortable in front of a crowd.

Still singing?

 

[ScarlettB]

Still singing?

In the shower.

 

[uconnfan68]

Larry Carlton, absolutely. Played for a while with one of my current favorites, Fourplay, who I hope to see up in Tarrytown, NY on June 1st. Carlton succeeded Lee Rittenour, and was replaced in Fourplay by Chuck Loeb.

Joe Bonamassa.

That's him. Thanks.

 

[Bobanozz]

When it comes to Guitar virtuosos I like the ones that are multi talented and can excel at any style.
One name comes to mind. Steve Howe from Yes. He can play Rock Classical Country Flamenco
IMHO he's the best "all around" guitarist in the world. Here's a video of his Chet Atkins influenced The Clap and his Classical inspired Mood for a Day.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Bootsy Collins

 

[DaddyChoc]

Jimi Hendrix
Mark Whitfield
Stanley Clarke
Carlos Santana

Santana is "tuff"

 

[DaddyChoc]

"Old Love"... Eric Clapton live in Hyde Park!

A Top 5 all-time performance for me

 

[Icebear]

When it comes to Guitar virtuosos I like the ones that are multi talented and can excel at any style.
One name comes to mind. Steve Howe from Yes. He can play Rock Classical Country Flamenco
IMHO he's the best "all around" guitarist in the world. Here's a video of his Chet Atkins influenced The Clap and his Classical inspired Mood for a Day.

I meant to include Howe who was a favorite since the first time I saw him when Yes was still playing a college circuit tour at Gettysburg College in 1971-2