I would say that I sound most like Jim Hall with a touch of Wes thrown in. I was taught by Dale Bruning in Denver and he reminds me a lot of Jim Hall so I would imagine that is where I first acquired that influence. When all of my peers were listening to Zeppelin I was wearing out an 8-track of Wes' greatest hits and it's stuck with me ever since.
After Bruning my next instructor was Scott Fraser of Minneapolis. He taught me the Johnny Smith approach so I picked up some linear things there, long arpeggios, etc. That had its effect too and I will be forever grateful for the disciplined technique he taught me.
A number of years back I heard a song on the PA at Barnes & Noble and it sounded like a more accomplished version of me. It sort of shook me up at the time. Since I have ascertained that it was probably Jimmy Rainey.
In any event, for better or for worse, I sound exactly like myself and I probably always will.
