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Charles Altura
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03-05-2026 01:22 PM
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To me there is no best but there most definitely are categories where one person may stand above the rest.
No one plays bebop with the accuracy and historic reverence of Pasquale.
To me no one has a better archtop sound than Peter.
I would reckon Ben Monder’s harmonic command is greater than almost anyone else’s.
Charles Altura may deliver the hippiest modern line playing but Kurt can’t be ruled out either.
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These are all great answers (and players). I agree that there are too many monster guitarists out there, all with different approaches and voices, "best" doesn't really have a definitive answer in this context. Right now, I would say Ben Monder is my favorite guitarist. Obviously his chordal vocabulary and original music are incredibly deep and complicated, but I've always thought of him as an incredibly versatile guitarist too. He can swing hard, he can play the blues, he can do sheets of sound Coltrane/Holdsworth kind of stuff, I've heard him play free, play funky stuff, he's able to get in where he fits in and always sound like himself. Mike Moreno is great at that, too.
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Ask the Ages is one of maybe a dozen of my all time favorite records.
Originally Posted by charlieparker
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Bruce for sure, I'd love to see him in concert one day. Originally Posted by JazzerEU
Then an x way tie between Jonathan Stout, Frank Vignola, Pasquale, Yuji Kamihigashi, Hirofumi Asaba, Jonathan Pizzarelli, the guy who plays with MrSunnyBass in the Jazz in the Kitchen series. Oh, can't forget the local Chicago cats Andy Brown and Joel Patterson. There's two jazz players, Frank and Molly, who live close by and can play circles around me.
There was a young Asian man who used to post solo guitar videos on a worn telecaster. I really liked his playing too. He seems to have stopped posting.
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Today?
Joscho Stephan has to in there somewhere and if this is not genre specific, Yamandu Costa.
DG
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Lots of good examples mentioned above.
Sadly, I don’t think Kenny Burrell is playing now.
As far as creativity and chops, I would put Pat Metheny out there. Very few artists still operate at the level he does so consistently and for so long. His latest Side-eye album is as good as any of his older ones, but I REALLY liked the epic sweep and story of From This Place.
Jonathan Kreisberg is on another level. His work with Dr. Lonnie Smith toward the end of Dr. Lonnie’s life was superlative, on Breathe for instance.
And in the non-jazz realm:
Richard Thompson—one of the most underrated fingerpickers out there. (Actually his specialty is hybrid picking.) And a GREAT songwriter and singer.
Derek Trucks—literally no one alive can play slide any better. And maybe no one dead. (Yeah I know Duane—Derek learned from Duane and took that to another level. Too bad Duane died so young.)
Marty Stuart AND Kenny Vaughn—the best team out there? Of course Kenny is the best chicken picker in Nashville, but Marty is a PLAYER on guitar and mandolin and fiddle. Marty owns Clarence White’s old B-bender and still tours with it—I saw him play it last year. Highly entertaining.
Billy Strings—THE best young guitarist out there. And with a voice and songwriting skills to match. It’s exciting to see a musician with limitless potential still developing his craft.
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Elijah Solo.
EDIT:
I took it to mean best new guitar player on the scene.
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I can't say who's "best." I can talk about preferences. My favorite current guitarist to listen to is Peter Bernstein. I've only been able to see him twice as I live in flyover country (and had tickets for another show but couldn't go due to a family medical crisis). His phrasing, timing, coping, tone, etc., constantly astonish me.
There's a raft of other guitarists on the scene that I really enjoy, which would include almost all of the usual suspects already mentioned here, but Pete's the top of the list that I would make a point of seeing. There are a couple that have been mentioned in this thread that I don't know about and will have to check out.
I was recently introduced to the music of Miroslav Tadic and I've been very much enjoying that.
Last edited by Cunamara; 03-17-2026 at 08:32 PM.
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Lage Lund. Great compositions and chops.
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My preferred guitarist right now and had been for the last 4 or 5 years is Kurt Rosenwinkel. Great compositions, outstanding technique applied in a very original way, incredible tone ... For me he's a unique voice in jazz.
I also really like Johnathan Kriesberg whom I saw twice in concert. I just regret he doesn't publish more albums...
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Kurt? Certainly unique. Some people can pastiche him, I guess, but it's interesting how much he remains his own thing despite everyone being influenced by him. Originally Posted by peg91
Went to see him with the Caipi band a few years back, came away a Pedro Martins fan.
I mean I’m not saying I preferred Martin's playing that night.
Actually I might be…. Still love Kurt though...
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Of course, Adam Rogers. There's something about his time feel I find mesmerising.
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I don't believe everyone is influenced by Kurt, and in fact I prefer those who are not. I don't think Julian Lage is influenced by him at all, and he's one of my favorites. Originally Posted by Christian Miller
Just saw this new (to me) guy Leo Larrat clip on FB, and he's got some rocking energy that I look for. I'm a fan.
https://www.youtube.com/live/y1wHufU...Le3LGz67ACSUhA
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I think he influenced people in other directions haha Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
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In both directions I mean
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Gilad has to be up there, but as great as his playing is this trio is really more than the sum of its parts. It really is on another level.
Which is why ‘best guitarist’ lists are kind of silly.
Ari Hoenig Trio - Live at Smalls Jazz Club - 03/16/2026 - YouTube
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Originally Posted by JazzerEU
And a super nice guy to boot. I met him at a clinic with Richie Cole's group.
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