Rank these players in your opinion

[exarctly]

This post is just for fun. Not about being 'right.' or to cause any divisive arguments. I am just curious where people rank these guys and why.
I am trying to put them on lists of eras they fit in. The way I will choose is not based on their guitar playing alone, but also on my over all interest with some of the stylistic choices and albums they have made or been sideman in. So if I like the records better I will give them higher points.

list one

John Scofield Pat Metheny Kurt Rosenwinkel John Abercrombie

list two

Lage Lund Jonathan Kreisberg Adam Rogers Gilad Hekselman

list three

Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Grant Green Jim Hall
----------
My choices...though I may change my opinion and need to listen to more of some of the guys on the list.

l Rosenwinkel, Scofield, Abercrombie Metheny

ll Lund Hekselman Rogers Kreisberg

lll Green, Hall Montgomery Burrell probably reverse Green and Hall...I do not know enough of Hall, but his harmonic concept is why I think I would favor him over Wes. I would rather have his knowledge and ability to be more abstract.

-------------

Also, Maybe KR belongs in list number 2. But he has been around since the 90's now (though they have been around a lot longer than that), and though not peers with the other guys in the list I put him in...I really do think that he is that good and worthy of being mentioned with and compared to the guys in the same sentence, or definitely better than the guys in the second list. But if this is too much for you simply leave him out of list one and include where you rank him in list two.

[Buster Loaf]

We can rank the forum members?

List one: as players

List two: as teachers

List three: as posters

[Tbirdjazzguitar]

Metheny, Scofield, Rosenwinkel, abercrombie

Kriesberg, Lage..Never listened to the other players yet

Montgomery!, Hall, Burrell, Green (havent listened to him really ever).

Just my opinion would be interesting to see other players opinions as well

[Vihar]

I. Metheny, Scofield, Abercrombie, Rosenwinkel

II. Hekselman, Rogers, Lund, Kreisberg

III. Montgomery, Green, Burrell, Hall

[Double 07]

This is invalid becasue George Benson isn't in there. Personally I rank him right up there with Metheny.

Proceed

[mr. beaumont]

Hall.

Okay, I'm done with all three lists

Sorry, I just can't give any rankings that I know won't change in a week depending on how I'm feeling...but Jim Hall is probably my all time fave, so I pick him.

Today. As of 9:15pm.

[Jake Hanlon]

for me based on time I've spent listening and learning from... strange groupings if I am honest but for these lists, here's my opinion, granted I think everyone listed are fantastic players.

John Abercrombie, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel

list two

Lage Lund, Gilad Hekselman, Jonathan Kreisberg, Adam Rogers

list three

Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell

[exarctly]

Wow. I am so far the only person to put Scofield above Metheny. I a mnot saying Sco is more talented. But I do think that I would rather play like Scofield. I think his phrasing and tone better. I feel like it is more laid back and in touch with a certain edgy country/funk/blues characteristic. I love Metheny and listen to him a lot. He is also at times a better composer or certainly more prolific. Though I do not always like the vibe he chooses on some of the PMG records. Anyway, I just thought someone else would agree with me about Sco. I think he has more of the feel and phrasing that I would prefer to listen to.

[mr. beaumont]

Sco is so hit or miss for me...for every record he does I like he does one I can't listen to.

[Jake Hanlon]

don't be surprised, you put those guys up there like that and you're splitting hairs.

As something to think about it, you need to re-arrange it somewhat. This Rosenwinkel int he same list as Metheny and Scofield etc is silly, yes Kurt is great and a big name for the music atm but he's not in the same league. PPut him with the guys around his age like Lund/Gilad.kreisberg/Rogers and then add Frissel. The "big 3" of modern jazz guitarists since the 90's sort of era have been Metheny/Scofield/Frissel and have been compared to each other ever since.... 3 very different players who have similar associations and credentials. All 3 of those guys are significantly big fans of Abercrombies (and visa versa) and all 4 of those guys bang the jazz guitar bible screaming Jim Hall! Jim Hall! (in a manner of speaking). None of them play like him but in all of them you hear the influence clear as day, and in all recorded instances of them playing together with Hall it's been just awesome.

All of those 3 guys also fall into that Jim Hall school of playing as well as having had some of the same teachers/influences yet all came out very differently. I would then take Hall out of the last list and put Martino and or benson in there with those hardbop players and have a list more like

The Fathers Wes, Jim Hall, Christian, Farlow, Django etc, the guys who started things for whom everyone sort of sprung out of, like a tree trunk

Post Bopish Jim Hall school, Abercrombie, Metheny, Sco, Frissel

Old School hardbop Wes school, Grant Green, Kenny,Benson, Martino etc

Modern/Current Young lions Rosenwinkel, Lund, Kesel, Gilad, Kreisberg, Rogers

it's a little bit of a better compassion if i'm honest.

What's even more interesting is omissions even in that list like McLaughlin, Stern, Barney Kessel, Vic Juris, Herb Ellis! I think i'm gonna just sit down and listen all day tomorrow to people I haven't though of in a while to listen to

[wizard3739]

I can't honestly rank these guitarists (IMHO, many of them are very good guitarists) but you left out too many of the recognized master jazz guitarists. With the small list you started with, IMHO, Jim Hall stands alone in the "master jazz guitarist" category and if asked most of the guys on your list would list him as their biggest influence.

wiz

[Tbirdjazzguitar]

Originally Posted by exarctly

Wow. I am so far the only person to put Scofield above Metheny. I a mnot saying Sco is more talented. But I do think that I would rather play like Scofield. I think his phrasing and tone better. I feel like it is more laid back and in touch with a certain edgy country/funk/blues characteristic. I love Metheny and listen to him a lot. He is also at times a better composer or certainly more prolific. Though I do not always like the vibe he chooses on some of the PMG records. Anyway, I just thought someone else would agree with me about Sco. I think he has more of the feel and phrasing that I would prefer to listen to.

I agree with you, But i dig metheny more. I actualy like his tone alot, and his playing to me is always "in your face" which i think is awesome. Also in everyone of his solo's theres a point that i like to describe as a rocket ship blasting off, basicly an awesome climax.

[fumblefingers]

interesting. great players all.

in my mind Wes and Metheny are considerably above the rest. in the case of Wes, far above.

[Vihar]

Originally Posted by fumblefingers

interesting. great players all.

in my mind Wes and Metheny are considerably above the rest.

That's my opinion as well, only I prefer Metheny out of the two, mainly because of his compositions.

Sco has this crazy awesome time though. And yeah, we could add many other "name" players like Benson, Frisell or Stern among others, but hey, they weren't on exarctly's original list for whatever reason.

[exarctly]

@ Jeff... I see where you are coming from. And I have used a similar idea when ranking people. To go more based off of their music concept as a whole than their playing. But in this case for whatever reason I still rank Sco higher because I am ranking him based on what I like about him and ignoring albums I don't love. Maybe that is unfair. But when he is on, he is in my top 5 easy. And though he is sometimes hit or miss, I think his track record has been decent at least. There were the records ScoLoHoFo pretty good, and Works for Me was really good. EnRoute was a good live record in trio form. This Meets that similar but with unique horn parts. And I love the records he did with Metheny (I can see your house from here) and Abercrombie (Solar). So I am saying based off these records and a handful of other things I am going to make my evaluation of him.
I guess my point is that I would take the best of his playing over the best of Pat's or maybe better stated, the basic concept of his time and tone.

[jtizzle]

This seems like fun. It goes against my beliefs as a guitarist but I'll still do it haha. I'll put up my reasons for the ranking too, for those who care and want to read my opinion.

List 1: I don't really listen to these guys that much, and don't like them that much. John Scofield is my favorite out of all these guys. He has a good style and I like some of his more modern sounding stuff. His trio album is actually great. One thing that I could never get past was his tone though. I just feel it's basically distorted. For the music he's playing it just doesn't match for me. I really dislike most of Pat Metheny's original stuff, but when he plays standards he actually sounds good. My teacher went to school with him in University of Miami and he tells me about how much of a monster this guy was so I mean, he could play. Just never got into his music, especially his fusion stuff (not a huge fan of 80s-90s fusion). Kurt Rosenwinkle is a bit of a like/dislike thing. I like some things he puts out, others I don't. Just can't put my hands on what I don't like, or even what I do. John Abercrombie is the one I've listened to the least. I think he overuses effects in many cases. But I've heard he's a great straight-ahead player, then again, I just heard, but I didn't hear him .
Anyways, my ranking will be in order of what I listen to the most, since I haven't paid much attention to the guys in this group.

John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkle, John Abercrombie, Pat Metheny

List 2: My favorite list. Love all these guys. Lage Lund is actually my favorite player, up there with Jim Hall. His solos are just so full of everything. He knows exactly when and what to play, and when to not play. He can play some GREAT straight-ahead stuff (as you have probably heard on his albums) and his modern stuff is also amazing. Jonathan Kreisberg is also one of my favorites. I saw him play down in Miami a few months ago when he released Shadowless. The show was so inspiring it made me want to practice so much. He has an amazing time feel, and his atonal/open/big interval lines are really crazy. Hekselman is a great player, but I haven't been able to get into him that much. Most of the times he's playing with Ari Hoenig, and I really hate how he plays, so that really turns me away from his music. However, one of the best performances I saw was him, I forgot who was playing, but he had Marcus Gilmore I think playing drums instead of Ari, who made the music SO much better. Adam Rogers is a really good player too, however his tone is so dead I can't stand to listen to him for more than a half hour at a time haha. His compositions are great though, and his tone actually matches some of his music. His song Sight is a really good example of this. Labyrinth is my morning alarm hahaha

Anyways, my ranking
Lage Lund, Jonathan Kreisberg, Gilad Hekselman, Adam Rogers.

List 3: There's one thing about Wes Montgomery that EVERY guitarist should take from him, which is his swing feel. That guy could swing like crazy. His octaves were some crazy things too. I also love how he recycles the same exact licks over and over in his songs and it still sounds fresh. Sadly, I'm only a fan of maybe 2-3 albums of his (can't say exactly, I have like 3 albums and the whole Riverside Box Set). I don't listen to much Kenny Burrell so I can't give much opinion on him. Grant Green is a really good player. Love his stuff, Solid is actually one of the albums that I keep on replay. His soul/funk/whatever you call it stuff is one thing I definitely don't like though.
Jim Hall... I don't think I have to say anything because everyone know how great he is already haha. But still. His concept of harmony is just incredible. His playing is also amazing. It's crazy how he can stretch out a song so far out and be able to come back in like if it's nothing. He's an amazing accompanist as well. He also has a great attitude, he loves playing and having fun with what he's doing. My teacher told me a story about how he saw Jim Hall in Germany with Scott Colley and Brian Blade and they were playing All The Things You Are, if I remember correctly, and they took the song so far out, that after 10 minutes of soloing and playing they all just stopped, and started laughing, because they had absolutely no idea where they were. It's great how they just laughed at that.

Anyways, my ranking
Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Kenny Burrel.

And for the sake of it, I'm gonna rank my top choices from each list.

Jim Hall, Lage Lund, John Scofield

[exarctly]

@ Jake...

I do know what you are saying. I was not trying to include everyone though. I just wanted three simple lists of the guys that tend to be my go to guys or ones that I am most familiar with. I know there are a lot more. It is just easier to rank two or three guys and I was curious which ones of those guys people liked more since I find them to be similarly interesting but each have a unique sound. It is more a fun thing. Not something I wanted to be so all encompassing.

I feel like a fool for not putting Frisell in that list. Truth be known, he may be my favorite because of his musicality and sparse playing. But maybe I want to leave him out because it is a lot different comparing him to Metheny than comparing Sco to Metheny. But I like him better than all those guys.

Now what you said about Rosenwinkel I had admitted what you contend was true in the OP. That I would understand anyone who dropped him from the first list and put him in the second where contextually he belongs. However, that said. He really has impressed me lately and drawn great praise from at least two of those guys. Plus his chord voicing, ability to play solo guitar, and angular horn player like approach and ability to pull off his ideas so fluidly in a style that is very angular and modern and with a vocabulary that is very fresh. To me, he is worthy of mention in that category. I also put him up there because I think he is a notch above the guys who came in list two, and he is a bit older than them as well, I think. Plus I think his over all concept of sidemen composition etc. is very compatible with my love of modern music. But I am not writing a book. Just musing on the internet. There are beliefs I would fight for, and ones that I think are less academic/rigid and more subjective. This discussion is more in the latter category.

I agree with Jeff's approach. You can't really rank these guys. It is like choosing your favorite friend. Sometimes some people stand out more than others, but the things they bring out of you or ways they interact are so unique that it is impossible to really say. And, the list would change from week to week anyway. There are things I like about Green better than all of them. Things I like about Pat, Rogers, Lund better than the rest. Depends on what mood I am in perhaps. Lately, I just make mix CDs from my library of all these guys and I never get bored just going from Frisell, to Sco, to Lund, Metheny, Rosenwinkel, throw in some Wes and Green, maybe occasional Holdsworth and the others. And when I get a mix I like I will just play that over and over for a while.
I Like rogers jazz playing. Thoguh the tone can be an issue when it is too dark like mentioned above. But I did not know until a year ago how awesome he could rip a tele in a fusiony country/avante garde jazz style till some records with Chris Potter. And he does hav some crazy lines. So, I like different people for different reasons.

Also, I wanted to get away from having to feel like you have to be historical and political about things and always say Wes is the best. To me the question is not entirely about who's playing I like or who came first, but who chooses the best sidemen, and arranges or navigates through tunes in the way that creates the best over all music experience (in your opinion). Sort of a cumulative grade based on Tone, phrasing, composing, choosing material and sidemen. Now maybe in one case I would choose player I love the way he writes or tunes he chooses, and to me that may score higher than a guy who is a better player. And in another case, someone may be such a better player to my taste, that I will rank him higher than someone who writes better music. This is why I like Sco better than Metheny. Yet the concept as a whole is why I may prefer Frisell to all of them. Though I do not always like what Frisell puts out either.

But I think I would give my grades most of all on which records or solos would I be most proud of if they were something I was capable of making. Which resonate most with me.

For me I think that it goes, Frisell, Abercrombie, Rosenwinkel, Green, Rogers, Lund, Metheny, Scofield. And I am kind of basing it on the feel of records I like by those guys. Not he ones I don't. And I put Green up there because he made some records with Elvin Jones and others from that era that I love as sidemen. I like his playing a lot but not as much as the others. And Abercrombie I earlier had ranked lower but I am realizing that when he makes a good record it can be really beautiful music. Like Timeless and Open Land.

But if I base it on playing alone that list changes to something like Frisell, Rosenwinkel, Scofield, Lund, Metheny, Rogers, Green... so the fun part is...realizing how difficult it actually is to rank them based on both my perception of their quality of records, and quality of playing.

I will never listen to Wes as much as I used to (though my true hero of guitar and the guy that really helped me he always is, and I will always revisit his playing occasionally) because as good and influential as he is, I would rather hear jazz that is a little more open spaced and angular and open to modernity and somewhat of an avante garde influence. I personally think it makes for better music as a whole. Particularly small group jazz that built from late 50's on. I still listen to Wes and always will. But his music is not my favorite. Same thing with Charlie Parker. I here so much in that guy that I do not hear in 99% of other players. But I would rather listen to something by Mark Turner just because of the fact that he is building his albums off of sounds and ideas that I relate to more.

So my idea is, why not rank people in two ways. One, More politically and historically respectful. Admitting that innovation and influence and respect for history is essential. And that way always including Django, Charlie Christian, Wes, Parker, Ellington, Coltrane, Miles, Evans,...the big names. They deserve the respect especially because they did what they did without as much that came before them. They are true pioneers and heroes.

But today I was less interested in this sort of list and more interested in. Who's music, comparing everything and anything to everything and anything else on a simple aesthetic plane, as if all the music just got released today, do you like more? Who of all the greats I listed resonates most with you as a whole as a player and writer and producer of material etc. And are you basing it on composition, feel of records, playing. Etc.

But I was not trying to include everyone, and I listen to a lot more players than that. I was not looking to write an all inclusive manifesto or almanac. There were just specific players that I wanted to see compared, and I was curious if anyone out there saw them in similar rank to me.

I think that it will be hard to judge one's opinion on some of it until 20 years from now, And then there will be new players to make it even more complicated. Gotta love jazz.

[exarctly]

But again, this is not meant to be all inclusive, or based in fact. I just wanted to see which of MY personal favorite players from different eras ranked or compared to each other in the opinions of the posters here who I definitely respect. I am sure most of you would have included more or left out some of the names (and I like a lot more players as well). I was just curious who would put my top three or four of each era or group in what order. This might help me see if I evaluate music similarly or differently to others. What of our priorities are the same or different, and when is it purely subjective. And maybe, see what am I overlooking, since I can not claim to have exhaustively studied all the players.

Apparently I am over looking Hall, because people love him so much. I occasionally try to get into Hall, but something about his tone does not work too well for me. Too much of a very dark jazz box sound. Which I know is traditional and I like it in other players, but his is a bit too dark for me. Sometimes I think Methenys is too dark too. I like the players that can play dark and bright toned, or just unique. Yet I know he is the favorite of at least a few of you. But I will not stop giving him chances because I recognize him as a harmonic master and poetic player.
UPDATE: I am currently listening to the Hall that I do own, and though the tone is not my favorite, it is part of what makes him who he is. But I am hearing things that I wish I had been paying more attention to. I am starting to "get" him. I hear ideas that nobody else is coming up with. I love it. I already own the duets with Ron carter. The record with Frisell, Some of the duets with Bill Evans, and Circles. What else do I need to check out to get into him as a player?

Perhaps a better question would be. What are your top 3 -4 guys in each era of jazz guitar if you have to divide it into a list of three eras. Early, middle period, and and newer players (it is tough because some over lap). And then which are you personal favorite of all the lists.

[Jake Hanlon]

yeah comparassions are always interesting, you get to see what people like and dislike, I always sort of held to my own self that someone's personal tastes are always immune to critique because that is what they like. Otherwise who's right is it of mine to say that they cannot like a form of music or art or what sort of car, or that they prefer Thai food to Indian food... we're all individuals and in the end we all get to make choices.

With music I always love to hear what people like and more over I enjoy conversations as to why people dislike some artists. When I was learning at first to play I couldn't understand why anyone would not want to be exactly like Wes, it seemed like the reason why he was loved was immediate and took no serious listening or commitment much like Grant Green, I was able to put on the record and just dig it right away.

I also 'got' scofield right away also, he's such an easy transition because of that 'rock' and 'funk' influence in his music that you can just buy into it as a young guitarist like myself which was coming into the music through Blues. Personally Jim Hall and John Abercrombie are my apex players and that is through my experiences as a Musician and through getting exposed to them at the right time for my ears.

Jim Hall's sound is dark, absolutely but it's also extremely acoustic, minimalised and harmonically he's so amazing. I didn't understand at first but through reading about him it was clear that all non-guitarists in his lifetime adored him, and I needed to figure out why. My listening matured and I figured it out. Abercrombie was the closest thing to Hall that I was able to dig into plus was more modern sonically and his rhythmic phrasing was more appealing to my musical tastes. Yes he did use a lot of effects, I found he did so tastefully. Many people for example complained a great deal about MEtheny's use of the Synth but with John people just accepted it to be far more natural. Abercrombie also treads the straight ahead and free jazz landscape so well that it can be bluring to know what is free and what is not with him, he makes me think and smile when I hear his music. Both he and Jim Hall are uncomprisming.

I saw Hall play about 6yrs ago with a pianist (Geoff Keezer) and it was such a moment for me that I was overwhelmed it felt. I met Mr. Hall in the hotel lobby and told him I was a huge fan and that was all I could do, he actually looked genuinely touched and would have liked to chat if he wasn't being swarmed by other's wanting to say the same thing. I spent a week with Abercrombie in 2008 when he was the annual major artist at UNT which was supposed to be Hall but unfortunately health issues forced John to sub for Jim, for me it was a fair trade. I got to play with John, hang out with him eat lunch with him take him to the hotel and airport. Could this have had a huge impact on my view of his music... without a doubt! In fact Abercrombie is coming up here in October to do clinics and workshops where I teach now thanks to our budget allowing it and I couldn't be more tickled about it... something about checking your voice mail and having someone say "Yes, Jake hello this is John Abercrombie"

We're a combination of experiences in life not only what we listen to on records. I would imagine if I had met Rosenwinkel or something like that I would have been like a lot of my friends who've met him and just pine for him. Be clear tho, I love his music and think he's just outstanding, but I make a stronger connection to say Pat Metheny through his recordings, the insightful interviews he gives and by getting to see two amazing performances of his (one with Mehldau...omg and one with the McBridge/Sanchez trio... wow). A lot of that stems form the fact that I live in a small town in Atlantic Canada that gets zero traffic of major international artists like these people and we as a University have to work very hard to attract anyone to come up and in the mandate, they have to be teaching also (or done a lot of teaching). For example, I think Metheny would be far too expensive (knowing what he makes for a performance now it would be impossible).

Interesting stuff I think. I think it's great you like Scofield more then those others in your list, it means you're really listening to what you like and that's great. I love Sco as well, my favorite records of his are very early like Roughhouse of course Works for Me is outstanding and those quartet sides with Lovano are just really influential to modern Jazz period! Most of the hip-hop/funk-jazz stuff I can take a pass on (although A Go Go is a good driving album).

[Vihar]

Originally Posted by exarctly

Sometimes I think Methenys is too dark too.

Yeah, it's an interesting thing with him. The core of his electric tone is indeed dark, I mean, flatwounds, tone knob rolled off and probably his amp/pre amp settings were/are dark as well. But on top of that he's got these VERY bright and sparkly delays going on too. It means not much of the pick attack will come through so it will sound kind of fluid which is good when you need to hear something horn like in your head like he does, but at the same time it has a bright, shiny quality as well because of the effects he uses.

[marcwhy]

Rosenwinkel should be in List 2 -- he is NOT the same "era" as the List 1 players.

Mick Goodrick should be added to List 1.

Peter Bernstein should also be in List 2.

[exarctly]

Well, I appreciate your input, and you are probably right. But I already have acknowledged that a few times now. This list is more me wanting to compare specific players that I am drawn to. Not to include everybody, or craft what a list should be. I was just looking for specific feedback on specific players.
And while I did divide it by era, I felt like cheating with KR because I like his playing as much as the guys in list one and more than the guys in list two. And he is someone who has been releasing music for over 15 years, which is a lot less than the guys in list one, but it is long enough to consider him an established player with longevity and not exactly a newer player like Lage Lund. But I admit he is closer to list two than one. I just wanted him compared to the guys in list one to see if anyone else liked him as much as those guys.

[jtizzle]

Exarctly, listen to Jim hall on his Live! album. Probably the best trio album to ever come out. His no-drums set up is pretty cool, Something Special and Jazz Guitar are good albums.
Albums that are not under his name that you NEED to listen to: His albums with Bill Evans and Sonny Rollins The Bridge.

His tone is a bit dark, sure, but it's not dead, which is the difference between his tone and Adam Rogers'. Adam Rogers sound has basically no dynamics to it. I don't know what guitar he uses, but it just sounds so artificial and electric. Jim Hall has a sound he gets directly from his guitar and simply amplifies it. It's the kind of tone I try to emulate myself. The acoustic guitar allows him to have dynamics, and he uses them well

[exarctly]

Thanks. Yeah, I always liked that Sonny Rollins Album. I will soon enough check out that live Trio record. That is exactly something I am looking for.

[M-ster]

Originally Posted by Double 07

This is invalid becasue George Benson isn't in there. Personally I rank him right up there with Metheny.

Proceed

Benson and Martino. How can they not be listed?

[Tbirdjazzguitar]

In addition to Jtizzles suggestions if you ever doubt Jim Hall at all, listen to the Concierto Album. That did it for me, the whole album is really subtle and melodic, especially with Chet Baker and Paul Desmond on horns with Jim.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by jtizzle

Adam Rogers sound has basically no dynamics to it. I don't know what guitar he uses, but it just sounds so artificial and electric.

I saw Rogers recently. He was playing his 335 through a Fender twin. Sounded great!

[Drumbler]

Of the names on those lists there are only two that rank in my book.

Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell

The rest are below them.

[exarctly]

I am just having fun. I was looking to compare certain players. Not include everyone that could be mentioned. There are just some that I favor and I wanted to see what other people liked or disliked about them or why they preferred one to another.
Martino not being there is not me saying he isn't good. I was just less interested in comparing him to some of the other guys. I have seen him a few times and I like him. I just personally am less interested in him, at least now.

The reason I find it interesting at all, is because it might help me discern in my future listening. Maybe someone hears something in a player that I don't and then I can check it out more. For instance, I have started listening to more Jim Hall now. I am glad that I did.

It is also about wanting to see which of some my favorite players are more or less respected and why or what elements of tone style and composition and phrasing seem to inspire you guys more than others and if there is a reason or if it is just taste.

[exarctly]

The reason I want Metheny Scofield and Abercrombie compared is that they all have a unique sound and style and occasionally use effects etc. (I am not saying there are not other guitar players like this as well). I wondered which of those three players appealed more to individuals and why.

The reason I wanted Lund, Kreisberg, Rogers and Hekselman compared is because they are the three newest guys to me, and my jury is still out on which ones are going to impress me the most. I really think I lean toward Lund, but its too early to say for sure. I thought though maybe someone
could convince me why one of those guys is clearly ahead or more special, or if it is purely subjective. I just wondered who of those new guys was making the biggest impression.