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I'd like to see how many people posting replies to this thread play guitar, another instrument, or play nothing at all. Not that it changes the validity of anyone's opinion; just out of curiosity.
Joined: February 08 2008
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Posted: July 05 2011 at 23:31
Tony R wrote:
Triceratopsoil wrote:
Fred Frith absolutely slaughters just about anybody else.
All that tells me is that you over-use hyperbole.
Explain how and why and make this ubiquitous thread worthwhile.
Well you see, he carries around this large axe...
No really, I think he's one of the most innovative and yet still tasteful guitarists around. Whether for his ensemble work with Henry Cow or Art Bears or any of the many groups he's been a part of or during his solo performances, he always plays something to astound me (in a good way). Some of his prepared guitar pieces took a while for me to warm up to, but now they're a lot of fun to listen to. Plus, from all accounts, I've heard he has a good sense of humor, and that's a plus as well.
My runners up (sticking especially to prog) are Frank Zappa (I'm sure people know about him and what he can do already) and Uchihashi Kazuhisa (he does some really amazing things with his guitar and pedals).
If we were including artists outside of prog, Django Reinhardt and Derek Bailey would take second and third (respectively).
Joined: April 03 2010
Location: Canada
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Posted: July 05 2011 at 23:37
Sorry Mr. R I stopped reading this thread and didn't see your inquiry.
Mostly what Jon said; I've yet to hear any other guitarist whose sheer creativity and musicality hits me on so many levels as Frith, and, being a guitarist myself, the guitar player is generally the first thing I study in a group.
My second favourite prog guitarist is probably James MacGaw, I really loved especially what he did with One Shot.
Joined: February 08 2008
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Posted: July 05 2011 at 23:40
Frith also gets extra points from me for his bass work - not always complex, but always fitting. I'm a bassist. Kudos for his violin playing too, and various percussions, etc.
Joined: September 14 2007
Location: Netherlands
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Posted: July 06 2011 at 03:31
yam yam wrote:
John Mitchell (It Bites, Arena, John Wetton Band, Kino etc.) is all too often overlooked. All the names mentioned so far are indisputable greats, but John is pretty damn good too.
Cheers buddy ! Exactly my thoughts. By the way: John is also playing in Frost*. Check out Black Light Machine.
Joined: June 16 2011
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Posted: July 06 2011 at 16:06
He most certainly did play in Frost*, and received the Classic Rock Society "Best Guitarist Of The Year" award for 2006. Also sings, and is a recording engineer/producer too...a busy man of many talents!! Sadly Frost* was placed on infinite hiatus in March of this year, though Jem godfrey is working on some new material for a hitherto unnamed project, I believe.
Joined: April 26 2011
Location: United States
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Points: 336
Posted: July 06 2011 at 19:41
topographicbroadways wrote:
Oh joy.
Howe, Hackett, Petrucci.
And not a single f**k was given that day
Haha. It is such a typical answer but it is very true. I have been getting into Steve Hackett's solo work and it is amazing (particularly The Steppes).
Joined: January 20 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: July 06 2011 at 20:14
In no order:
Hackett -- because of his innovative sounds and modes Howe: because of his ability as a composer and the uplifting and spiritual feel to his music The Japanese band Happy Family's guitarist -- just amazing, powerful work. Anthony Phillips because Geese and the Ghost was such an amazing album Fripp -- because what he did prior to 1975 with KC and what he did occasionally on his solo albums and on a few tracks like with Eno and Gabriel.
--
Robert Pearson
Regenerative Music http://www.regenerativemusic.net
Telical Books http://www.telicalbooks.com
ParaMind Brainstorming Software http://www.paramind.net
I'd like to see how many people posting replies to this thread play guitar, another instrument, or play nothing at all. Not that it changes the validity of anyone's opinion; just out of curiosity.
I've been playing for 30+ years....still garage-band level playing but I pick up things quickly, I just can't play a million notes per minute :(
Joined: August 18 2008
Location: Anna Calvi
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Points: 22989
Posted: July 07 2011 at 09:58
Some of my current favourites:
Jeff Parker (Tortoise, Chicago Odense Ensemble, plus some solo jazz albums) Glenn Branca (some of the most innovative electric guitar music ever) Eivind Aarset (experimental/nu-jazz master, today's Gilmour) Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Plus a mention for the collective guitar sections of EITS, Battles, Jaga Jazzist, Natsumen or Agalloch, bands that I do listen for the guitar playing up to a certain extend, despite them not having anything to do withwhat is regarded is guitar virtuosity.
^^ Definitely deserves mention. He and McLaughlin were the first fusion
guitarists to my knowledge to touch on the "sheets of sound" concept
developed by Coltrane. But Holdsworth really took it to a new level of
technicality with his legato playing and left hand technique. This vid
is a great example of how good he was at playing through the key changes.
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