Favourite Player Poll

**Vladan** · 06-22-2013, 01:42 PM

I thin it was about Duke. Like, Even DukeThe Greatest liked Django Unchained.

**Spirit59** · 06-22-2013, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by RichieW

...But he was comfortable playing bebop aswell as swing and impressionistic works.

I didn't know Django was into impressionism. Can you point me to any examples of him playing this way? 'T'would be much appreciated!

**mr. beaumont** · 06-22-2013, 09:23 PM

I dunno about impressionism, but rhythm futur is abstract expressionism in sound...

Django's painting was kind of impressionist though.

**Tag** · 06-24-2013, 09:41 PM

Damn. I voted for Benson, but how can you play any better than Django? I forget what instrument he is playing and just melt into his melodies. His flow of ideas seems endless. Djangos the man.

**ScoHolds** · 08-23-2013, 07:33 AM

Holdsworth by a good margin, but practically any of those players could be rated as greatest ever, really. They're all phenomenal.

**Swingster** · 09-21-2013, 02:33 PM

The two greatest guitar players I've ever heard are Django Reinhardt and Lenny Breau.

**locorogue** · 12-27-2013, 12:31 AM

Tuck Andress

**snoskier63** · 07-24-2014, 08:01 PM

And there was no mention of Frank Vignola or Tommy Emmanuel. Tommy is not typically known for jazz, but he and FV, along with Vinny Raniolo, have collaborated on some amazing jazz tune. Just check out this one example of the three of them playing on How High the Moon...

As for my vote, it was Barney Kessel. While he started as a disciple of Charlie Christian he took it way beyond that. Not only did he influence countless jazz players, but some of the techniques he regularly applied on an archtop with minimal or no effects are being widely used from rock to heavy metal. As far as his versatility, he was one of the most recorded, if not the most recorded artist across multiple genres, from jazz to rock, and can be heard on some of the greatest rock as well as jazz recordings of all time. Just look at his recording with Julie London and hear how much he was able to do with just one guitar. "Best" is truly a very subjective term, and is impossible to determine, so this is really an exercise in futility, but entertaining none-the-less.

**Bigsbyguy** · 07-25-2014, 03:37 PM

So many great players! My #1 lifetime choice is always Tom Morrell a brilliant Dallas musician/arranger. Standard guitar or Steel he had so much soul I don't know how he contained it all!
From the list, Tal Farlow, and Barney Kessel.
I'd also vote for the Oscars! Aleman and Moore? I don't believe Oscar Moore ever got his due and Aleman was brilliant!
And Freddy Green!

Johnny Smith? Jimmy Wyble? Jimmy Shirley? Tiny Grimes? Johnny Cucci was playing Jazz on a Strat back when they were considered planks. John And Bucky P too.

**daveg** · 07-30-2014, 07:26 AM

I would like to see GEORGE BARNES added to the listed.

He was a phenomenal player in a variety of roles - Jazz / Pop.

He was also (possibly) one of the very first to record on Electric Guitar.

DG

**vinlander** · 08-08-2014, 10:02 PM

Well couple years later, I have to say my choice would be different now, more between Tal Farlow and Billy Bean, but man am I digging Martino so much lately, can't stop listening to Live at Yoshi's

**pubylakeg** · 08-09-2014, 06:27 AM

T. Farlow, J. Raney, R. Thomas, B. Bean, ........

**Bobbyjr** · 08-13-2014, 02:58 PM

I listen to some Grant Green every day!

**tdearn** · 09-30-2014, 01:46 PM

That was a difficult decision between Kenny Burrell and Wes. I went for Kenny but only just. Probably because his bluesy style is easier for me to approach as a player.

**acoustictones** · 10-19-2014, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by Eivind August

Voted for Django, though I would've liked to see Al Di Meola here. But of course, that's more like fusion...

Yup, I also voted for Django, but Al Di Meola was my original guitar hero

There may be flashier players than Django (although he was no slouch) but I simply love his sense of melody! His solos just seem to be melodies within a song, and I love that.

**bobby d** · 10-20-2014, 01:05 PM

John Abercrombie has the lowest score but he is really quite amazing. His solo starts at 4:35 on this video.

**goldenwave77** · 02-06-2015, 12:25 AM

Can't respond...

Johnny Smith and Howard Roberts not on the list. Both are extremely versatile and good at single-line and chordal stuff, and their stuff consistently just grooves, in a way that most other players stuff does not.

**Griffot** · 10-16-2015, 07:07 PM

Given the restrictions of the list it had to be Joe Pass for me. I'm an aging drummer from Australia but I've seen Pass several times and he could do it all and be a nice guy as well. He was never less than stunning as a player. But then there's Wes, and Tal, and Barney and ..........

**Robertkoa** · 01-02-2016, 07:56 PM

Benson swings so hard that it sounds like R&B and Blues....but it's his own Style of Jazz Guitar.

Anybody else swing as hard on Guitar ?

I love that he is as Funky as Hendrix or Prince but playing Jazz.....

**Bobalou** · 01-03-2016, 09:18 PM

Benson is absoloutely amazing. He's the only one out there who really perplexes me. With anyone else I feel like I could cop their style if I devoted enough time to it. But with George some of the stuff he plays it's just on another world or summin. Like the most amazing improv I've ever heard.

My other guy is Metheny. I suppose because my jazz leanings, as far as original music, run in the jazz fusion direction. I like his modern fusion direction while still having a real jazz improv style. And he's an amazing composer.
.
Okay I picked two guys. Guess I always gotta be different.

**coolvinny** · 01-04-2016, 01:06 AM

Apparently I already voted on this poll a couple years ago, for Barney Kessel. Today, I'd vote Kenny Burrell based on the available selections - but Billy Bean is actually my favorite. I can't fault the poll though...when it came out I had not yet even heard Billy.

**BigBear** · 05-17-2019, 10:35 PM

Didn't see Larry Coryell in here.

Probably Metheny, although McLaughlin and Coryell were probably my first favorites.

**rmpmcdermott** · 05-18-2019, 08:39 PM

Martino, Benson, Frisell, McLaughlin, Ellis.

I can't pick just one. Though I voted for Pat since he was my first favorite jazz guitarist.

**JCat** · 07-30-2019, 12:55 PM

There are many great players that didn't made it to the short list, but seriously, Herb Ellis is really too important to be excluded.

**Robertkoa** · 08-13-2019, 05:16 AM

Well, for me , I always liked George Benson's emotion and his ability to "play it raw" and his great rhythmic feel whether he's playing straight jazz or R&B influenced stuff.

George Benson brings the true African American Jazz feel to and through the Guitar to my ears , often he sounds really soulful even on Standards .

And for me he is usually really fun to listen to.

**Robertkoa** · 09-01-2019, 02:06 PM

Now here's one of the most brilliant and well rounded and versatile Guitarists on this entire list.

And one of the best. As many of you know , playing fancy single lines even over 'difficult ' changes requires skills to make it sound good - and if you don't have the chops or 'time' it won't work no matter what anyway.

But making Solo Guitar Arrangements sound really great is exponentially more rare ..

And to my ears the above sounds great - and only twenty or fewer Guitarists ( maybe 50 ?at most ) could in History could Play it nearly as well....
AND it's musical and sounds great not just Technical .

So Jon Kriesberg - in addition to everything else can play- great Solo Guitar - great guitar arranger too.

Rare skillset and Musical - not a trick ...should be on the list.

Along with Yamandu Costa ....

**pingu** · 09-02-2019, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by snoskier63

And there was no mention of Frank Vignola or Tommy Emmanuel. Tommy is not typically known for jazz, but he and FV, along with Vinny Raniolo, have collaborated on some amazing jazz tune. Just check out this one example of the three of them playing on How High the Moon...

.

wow that's great !

I wish I had a right hand like Frank V
he kind of throws it at the strings and
it bounces back like a ball .... wonderful

great great playing by all

**gggomez** · 09-02-2019, 06:22 PM

Yes Jonathan Kreisberg is my favourite so unfortunately I cannot vote. Glad to see him mentioned by some others.

**Midnight Blues** · 09-06-2019, 06:36 AM

Wes & Kenny; 1 & 1A.

**Ulrich** · 09-29-2019, 03:12 PM

I would appreciate to expand the list. There's none of the the young players, like Julian Lage.

**Todd** · 11-21-2019, 02:32 AM

Joe Pass with Wes close behind

**guga7** · 11-21-2019, 11:39 AM

Last week Julian Lage, the week before Grant Green, this week Bill Frisell, and so on

**md54** · 12-02-2019, 01:51 PM

MARTIN TAYLOR! The most important, innovative, finger style jazz player in the history of jazz guitar. How could you not include him?

**takefive** · 02-07-2020, 02:34 PM

Are my eyes deceiving me? Where is Herb Ellis?!

**mr. beaumont** · 02-07-2020, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by takefive

Are my eyes deceiving me? Where is Herb Ellis?!

In 2007, when this poll was started, Herb Ellis was unknown to the world.

**takefive** · 02-07-2020, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

In 2007, when this poll was started, Herb Ellis was unknown to the world.

**Robertkoa** · 05-13-2020, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

In 2007, when this poll was started, Herb Ellis was unknown to the world.

Haha.

I remember as a kid seeing Herb Ellis on one of the talk show bands , recognizing him from Guitar Player Magazine coverage - and remember thinking I could not hear his chords cause he was mixed so low ..( Merv Griffin Show or Tonight Show ? ).

**Fz2016** · 06-25-2020, 08:36 AM

I tend to usually pick the player with the most ideas! Obviously when soloing. I also really dig original tone like Frank Zappas tone! He was also a great ideas player being a composer! Technique/chops are just a means to an end. So I pick Wes because he always had great original ideas and a unique tone. Crazy that everybody says not only he couldn't read but didn't know much theory either! That I find hard to believe because his playing was definetly theory sound! I even read somewhere that he didn't know his chords but I know for a fact that isn't true! I have a live video where in between tunes he tells the piano played what chords/changes to use. Plus his brother played piano!

**Fz2016** · 06-25-2020, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by Gabriel

Oh, wow. This was a tough choice. I mean, whats to gauge a favorite? Is it the guy that did the most for jazz? the most unique style? prettiest tone? Really, you can make favorites but in same way or another I'm sure every one of them has changed our ideas of jazz guitar for the better. Personally I don't have a favorite Jazz guitarist. Most of my style is influenced by guys who play piano bass or horn, anyways.
Yeah isn't it interesting how most jazz guitar players are influenced by every instrument except there main one. I love them all but I'm not just a guitar player so who knows. I play piano and bass too. Dabble with the drums but don't have a kit currently. Actually I'm probably more of a bass and/or piano player as far as skill wise. I kinda knew i was a bass player early on in my guitar playing for two reasons. First I always wanted to play lines and in the beginning my teacher said that maybe I was a bass player on account of the way I played! I did get into harmony on the guitar later on tho by way of the bass and the piano ?. Sorry for giving you guys my life story lol. I got carried away!
-G

Yeah isn't it interesting how most jazz guitar players are influenced by every instrument except there main one. I love them all but I'm not just a guitar player so who knows. I play piano and bass too. Dabble with the drums but don't have a kit currently. Actually I'm probably more of a bass and/or piano player as far as skill wise. I kinda knew i was a bass player early on in my guitar playing for two reasons. First I always wanted to play lines and in the beginning my teacher said that maybe I was a bass player on account of the way I played! I did get into harmony on the guitar later on tho by way of the bass and the piano ?. Sorry for giving you guys my life story lol. I got carried away!
-G[/QUOTE]

**Big Mac** · 07-22-2020, 03:35 AM

I need to write in Rene Thomas.

**jameslovestal** · 07-22-2020, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

I need to write in Rene Thomas.

Rene Thomas has a solid recording legacy; Wish I was able to have seen him in person.

**Marcel_A** · 08-07-2020, 08:36 AM

Metheny is favourite. A brilliant, allround player with a unique style, but above all: composer. Magnificant stuff that man made and is still making. Beautifull colaborations with other heroes of mine: hancock, brecker, pastorius.

**Matt Milton** · 08-07-2020, 08:47 AM

George van Eps, my favourite jazz guitarist, didn't make the list.

**jameslovestal** · 08-07-2020, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Matt Milton

George van Eps, my favourite jazz guitarist, didn't make the list.

Did you every see Van Eps live? I was lucky enough to see him a few times playing with Howard Alden in Southern California, where George lived and where Howard was born.

**Clint 55** · 10-28-2020, 01:56 AM

Tal is my #1 favorite. Barney Kessel and Grant Green are next and also Charlie Christian and Kenny Burrell.

**S F** · 02-02-2021, 07:41 PM

I'm surprised Charlie Christian is not top 5! I voted for Wes.

**jameslovestal** · 02-02-2021, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by S F

I'm surprised Charlie Christian is not top 5! I voted for Wes.

There could be many reasons mostly related to the fact he had a short career due to dying so young; Lack of recordings. Hardly no one at this forum has seen him play live. He only played one style of jazz (e.g. even with Django we have recordings of him playing more modern jazz later than just gypsy jazz).