Your 5 favorite living jazz guitar players

[marcwhy]

This is just today. I'm sure it changes tommorrow.

Not in any particular order:

Peter Bernstien
Rez Abbasi
Sylvain Luc
Jostein Gulbrandsen
Gilad Hekselman
Scofield

You cheated, Sharon -- that's six!

[jseaberry]

Wes Montgomery
Joe Pass
Howard Roberts
Emily Remler
Ted Greene

I don't care what anyone says. The ARE still alive at my house.

Your mailman must get some bigass Heebie-Jeebies every day with all those ghosts floating around your house.....send them to me sometime; I've learned how to cook lobster!

[nado64]

- Philip Catherine
- Kenny Burrell
- Kurt Rosenwinkel
- Ben Monder
- Jonathan Kreisberg

[Bryan T]

Younger, contemporary guitar players I gravitate to:

Nelson Veras
Julian Lage
Kurt Rosenwinkel
Charlie Hunter
Jonathan Kreisberg

[srlank]

You cheated, Sharon -- that's six!

And I thought I was exhibiting restraint!

(Thx for listing Steve Cardenas. I hadn't heard his music before!)

[jeromesteele]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more votes for John Abercrombie.

My list:

Abercrombie
Mick Goodrick
Lage Lund
Ben Monder

[marcwhy]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more votes for John Abercrombie.

My list:

Abercrombie
Mick Goodrick
Lage Lund
Ben Monder

These guys are in my Top 10. Nice list.

[marcwhy]

(Thx for listing Steve Cardenas. I hadn't heard his music before!)

Steve's The Man! Lots of sideman albums, so look around. Nice guy, too.

[jtizzle]

In order starting on my favorite:

Bernstein
Mike Moreno
Lage Lund
Miles Okazaki
Kurt Rosenwinkel

In all honesty, Lage would go ahead of Mike, but his new record just didn't cut it for me. Plus, I've been transcribing some Mike, so in terms of playtime, Mike is getting more of it.

[jeromesteele]

Miles Okazaki. He is awesome. Love his most recent album with Dan Weiss, Thomas Morgan and Miguel Zenon. Someday I hope to understand some of the things going on in his rhythmic concept. Probably should listen to a lot of Steve Coleman.

[Jonathan0996]

I'm jumping into this thread late, but now I've got the advantage of being biased by other people's responses.

Based on the time I spend listening, and in no particular order, I guess I'd say:

1. Jim Hall
2. Sheryl Bailey
3. Corey Christiansen
4. Peter Bernstein
5. Several others who are too close to call.


For me, the choice of favorites among living players hinges on them:

a. Being unique and modern without being overly angular or exhibiting some sort of contrived modernity
b. Having great chops and a real mastery of harmony
c. Having some mastery over controlled tension, as opposed to just playing way outside (or inside)
d. Having a fairly substantial body of work -- a track record
e. Producing satisfying music, not just impressive playing
f. Creating music that's both interesting and that feels good -- in other words, music that moves me
g. Having a great sound

[JazzVocab]

John McLaughlin
Adam Rogers
Joe Diorio
Bobby Broom
John Scofield

[BirdSong]

• Pat Martino (second all-time right behind Joe Pass). Martino is the best "single-line" soloist ever IMO.
  *Favorite Album - East
  
  
• Pat Metheny - not crazy about his single-line soloing, but he writes the deepest, most spiritual, and most beautiful jazz music ever IMO.
  *Favorite Album - Watercolors
  
  
• Earl Klugh - best chord-melody arranger since Joe Pass IMO.
  *Favorite Album - Solo Guitar

[HCarlH]

Robert Conti
Pat Martino
Martin Taylor
Julian Lage
Mike Stern

Personality is key for me. If I can tell who is playing in one or two measures....that's my yardstick.

[BirdSong]

• Pat Martino (second all-time right behind Joe Pass). Martino is the best "single-line" soloist ever IMO.
  *Favorite Album - East
• Pat Metheny - not crazy about his single-line soloing, but he writes the deepest, most spiritual, and most beautiful jazz music ever IMO.
  *Favorite Album - Watercolors
• Earl Klugh - best chord-melody arranger since Joe Pass IMO.
  *Favorite Album - Solo Guitar

Robert Conti
Pat Martino
Martin Taylor
Julian Lage
Mike Stern

Personality is key for me. If I can tell who is playing in one or two measures....that's my yardstick.

^^^^ Agreed. Very true.

Oops, I forgot two.

George Benson - (love his bluesy feel)
Stochelo Rosenberg - (a lot of fun and heart - not to mention his long fluent runs at blistering speed)

[wizard3739]

Ed Bickert
Doug Raney
Howard Alden
Ron Eschete
Jim Hall
& many, many other too close to call

wiz

[Bryan T]

I need to add Adam Rogers to my list.

[Spirit59]

I need to add Adam Rogers to my list.

Yes - a list without Adam Rogers on it....why, I shudder to think! An amazing player.

[Derekdaman]

Jim Hall
Julian Lage
Lage Lund
Jonathan Kreisberg
Pat Martino

[mskalandunas]

Julian Lage
Mike Moreno
Lionel Loueke
Bireli Lagrene

[bebove]

1)Kurt Rosenwinkel
2)Bill Frisell
3)John Scofield
4)Wolfgang Muthspiel
5)Pat Metheny

[Soco]

This is just today. I'm sure it changes tommorrow.

Not in any particular order:

Peter Bernstien
Rez Abbasi
Sylvain Luc
Jostein Gulbrandsen
Gilad Hekselman
Scofield

Thanks for mentioning me!

[dmorash]

Ed Bickert
Jim Hall
George Benson
Pat Metheny
Pete Bernstein

[staush]

Kenny Burrell
Joe Pass
Jim Hall
Wes Montgomery
Barney Kessel

[jasaco]

Tough choice but I know that Jimmy Bruno would be on my list.