Who, in your opinion, is the "best" guitarist on the scene right now and why?

**djg** · 03-02-2026, 08:30 AM

i listen to the same guys i listened to 30 years ago. like JvR, Pete Bernstein, Bireli. from the current crop i like milan novak and boyer. the dutch guitar school is still producing a lot of talent, due to former students of overgaauw carrying the torch.

**James W** · 03-02-2026, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by Strat-itis

Though I generally support taking opinions on seemingly subjective topics like music and backing them up objectively, I think there are way too many monster jazz guitarists today. From old tenured masters to young virtuosos. The field is waay too deep to even subjectively declare a best. There's no best. People will have their favorites tho.

Agree with this. There is no best and I'm not sure I could even tell you who my favourite (singular) is! All I can tell you is that the living guitarist who I listen to the most is John McLaughlin, according to my end of year streaming report from youtube.

**Alter** · 03-02-2026, 10:04 AM

I think Peter Bernstein. The sound he gets out of each note, the superb phrasing and musical essence in whatever he plays, the comping that is so advanced..

**mr. beaumont** · 03-02-2026, 10:19 AM

So many good ones. If I had to pick one it'd be Bobby Broom. He plays the way I want to play when I grow up.

**j.l** · 03-02-2026, 12:19 PM

Rejecting the question is totally fair—I do worry about how the "best" framing makes this competitive. I heard it as an invitation to play a zero-stakes game—something like: "there are so many different skills in playing jazz guitar; how do you weight their importances and value the relative excellences in them of players currently on the scene, such that one person approximates an ideal of what you care about?"

I'm not sure that playing the game itself is deformative; I don't think that anybody actually thinks there's an objective "best." And your personal estimation, both in valuing different excellences and in your sense of who best puts together a complete package, can change by the hour. At the very least, this thread has had me listening to Reinier Baas for 24 hours, which I hadn't done before!

**pauln** · 03-02-2026, 02:48 PM

For me, Wes

**Bob_Ross** · 03-02-2026, 02:54 PM

I love this thread if for no other reason than it's allowed me to compile a list of guitarists who I've never even heard of (!) but now must check out. Thanks guys, keep 'em coming!

With the usual caveat that There Is No "Best", I guess my nomination for this thread would be Julian Lage. He's the one contemporary (can Lage still be called "contemporary"? he's been around for 2+ decades already) guitarist who I find consistently, almost relentlessly, engaging...there's never a moment when I'm not fascinated by his playing.

Bill Frisell also has that quality, but he leaves a lot more space, moments of respite where I can digest what he just played without being distracted by what he played next. But maybe Frisell should be tied with Lage for my nomination.

If Allan Holdsworth were still alive he'd get my vote too.

**Stefan Eff** · 03-02-2026, 02:58 PM

For sure I would choose Julian Lage, but I really don’t like his actual songs. But there is a guitarist who one wouldn‘t mention in a jazz forum:

Who, in your opinion, is the "best" guitarist on the scene right now and why?-img_6786-jpeg

Who, in your opinion, is the "best" guitarist on the scene right now and why?-img_6786-jpeg

I don‘t think in genres and I don‘t care for terms as long as the music is catching me. Mateus Asato is a virtuoso and he‘s doin unbelievable things on the guitar, but he‘s always strictly melodic. Too nerdy for pop, too pop for nerds. I love him and to me he‘s definitely my number one.

**kevmoga** · 03-02-2026, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

So many good ones. If I had to pick one it'd be Bobby Broom. He plays the way I want to play when I grow up.

Just saw him perform last week, I’d have to agree. Holy Cow!

**Mick-7** · 03-02-2026, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Bob_Ross

If Allan Holdsworth were still alive he'd get my vote too.

I see dead people.... right in this thread.

First time I heard Bobby Broom was on this record:
Chicago Jazz Orchestra: More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery album review @ All About Jazz

**RLetson** · 03-02-2026, 03:42 PM

Best-schmest. It's a mug's game.

I do, however, enjoy pretty much anybody Frank Vignola books for those Wednesday shows. And anybody who shows up on a Concord Records personnel list and who's still active (just to stay within the rules). And to suggest the limits of my tastes, I reluctantly admit that I couldn't last more than a minute into either of the Reinier Baas videos. But then, I don't listen to Zappa any more, and never did take to Captain Beefheart. Even at my greenest, I was a pretty moldy fig.

**Christian Miller** · 03-02-2026, 04:16 PM

Nelson Veras is RIDICULOUS

Quite often these days he comes with a bonus Kreisberg as well.

I’m all about the BOGOF deals

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**mr. beaumont** · 03-02-2026, 04:34 PM

Veras is amazing. And he gets OUT there.

**PMB** · 03-02-2026, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

So many good ones. If I had to pick one it'd be Bobby Broom. He plays the way I want to play when I grow up.

Me too. Earthy and abstract at the same time with a deep, unique time feel. I listened to nothing but his trio albums with Dennis Carroll and Kobie Watkins (or Makaya McCraven) for a while there on train trips to work - the Monk tribute record, Upper West Side Story (great original tunes) and My Shining Hour. Looking forward to their next one together dedicated to Bobby's ex-employer, Sonny Rollins.

**RLetson** · 03-03-2026, 01:42 AM

Listening right now to the Bucky Pizzarelli and Strings CD (from the Arbor blowout sale). It starts out with "Laura," and my wife said, "He was a happy guy, wasn't he." And I realized that everything I know about him--particularly his music--seems to confirm that. He's gone now, so beyond this current conversation, but if acquiring just about any recording he's on means anything, he's in pretty exalted company in my music library. (With Zoot Sims, Ruby Braff, Louis, Django, Grappelli, Ry Cooder, Gabby Pahinui, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Keely Smith, and old J.S. and Papa Haydn.)

**charlieparker** · 03-03-2026, 11:15 AM

Tough question. Hard to say I have a favorite from the current crop. Currently, I am really getting into Bernstein, love his chord solos and phrasing, i.e., more with less. I, also, really like Van Ruller, Kevin Eubanks, Scofield. Want to listen to more Cecil Taylor, too. It all depends on my mood .

I'm also a big fan of Sheryl Bailey.

**nyc chaz** · 03-03-2026, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by RLetson

Listening right now to the Bucky Pizzarelli and Strings CD (from the Arbor blowout sale). It starts out with "Laura," and my wife said, "He was a happy guy, wasn't he." And I realized that everything I know about him--particularly his music--seems to confirm that. He's gone now, so beyond this current conversation, but if acquiring just about any recording he's on means anything, he's in pretty exalted company in my music library. (With Zoot Sims, Ruby Braff, Louis, Django, Grappelli, Ry Cooder, Gabby Pahinui, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Keely Smith, and old J.S. and Papa Haydn.)

I just got that Bucky album two months ago,definitely of one his best.My favorite Bucky album is the one he did with Frank Vignola Don't Blame Me.As far as who is the best today,it's just a subjective exercise.Dave Stryker is a guy that deserves more attention in my opinion and has put out some really fine albums.

**Ascend to Victory** · 03-03-2026, 11:57 AM

The fluency of Yotam Silberstein's lines has me very impressed.

**Mick-7** · 03-03-2026, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Veras is amazing. And he gets OUT there.

Sounds like he's spent some time with Slonimsky's book, I recognized a couple of the melodic patterns he played.

**James W** · 03-03-2026, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by charlieparker

Want to listen to more Cecil Taylor, too. It all depends on my mood

The great albeit now deceased free jazz pianist?

**Mick-7** · 03-03-2026, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by James W

The great albeit now deceased free jazz pianist?

Yes, I didn't know he played guitar too.

Derek Bailey is kind of the Cecil Taylor of the guitar.

**wintermoon** · 03-03-2026, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by James W

The great albeit now deceased free jazz pianist?

likely meant Cecil Alexander

**charlieparker** · 03-03-2026, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Mick-7

Yes, I didn't know he played guitar too.

Derek Bailey is kind of the Cecil Taylor of the guitar.

What about Sonny Sharrock?

**rrbasic** · 03-04-2026, 08:31 PM

Pasquale Grasso, I don't know if he's the best but I certainly enjoy his playing.

**Xavilez** · 03-04-2026, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by j.l

I heard it as an invitation to play a zero-stakes game—something like: "there are so many different skills in playing jazz guitar; how do you weight their importances and value the relative excellences in them of players currently on the scene, such that one person approximates an ideal of what you care about?"

Well stated: What do I like and look for most in a sound and who does a great job of approximating that.

Playing specifics that I value the most include surprise, tension and release especially as they pertain to rhythmic elements and dynamics. Phrasing, syncopation, blue notes, density contrasts, versatility, etc. For these reasons I always cite Scofield as one of my favorites, for example.