Your favourite fusion guitarist

Dead heat for me between Holdsworth and Mclaughlin. I prefer Mclaughlin's output but I have (over time) started to prefer Holdsworth's playing.

BrufordFreak wrote: Just curious: does anyone know of any vids with Holdsworth playing acoustic guitar?

Hercules wrote: uduwudu wrote: Pat Metheny (awesome) and Al Di Meola.  I do think Paco De Lucia should be mentioned - he did great fusion work with John McLaughlin and Di Meola  - this is fusion - not jazz rock. Frank Zappa was a quite good fusion guitarist. His Hot Rats helped the fusion sub sub sub genre very much. Paco de Lucia was on a different level to any guitarist I've seen. The Friday Night in San Francisco album is just breathtaking. Whilst Di Meola and McLaughlin play brilliantly, the effortless genius of de Lucia steals the show. whether you'd class him as a fusion guitarist, I don't know, but he was incomparable as a flamenco player.

The usual suspects for me:

McLaughlin, di Meola, Goodsall, Holdsworth

mainly for their work in their respective bands.

Love Holdsworth - Bruford 'One of a Kind', 'Blues for Tony' and specially Gazeuse!
McLaughlin, all of Mahavishnu
Di Meola with RTF, and Goodsall with Brand X
Abercrombie I know less, but love 'Ralph's Piano Waltz' song.

This made me think of one of my favorite fusion albums, Cosmic Messenger, and think I really like the guitar work there.. I believed it was Jamie Glaser on that record, who I saw live in 2013 with Jean Luc Ponty's 'The Atlantic Years' tour to my delight! (ah.. something priceless to see the best jazz fusion recreated right from the 70's...), but it turned out he wasn't! and was Joaquin Lievano.


Don't know if you've seen this vid but since some of Paco de Lucía other works were mentioned, I thought it does no harm to post this one here.


"Caña de Azúcar"

Apparently, I'm not allowed to vote in the poll, but I am able to voice an opinion.
I'd have to vote for the Maestro; Allan Holdsworth.

Progosopher wrote: BaldFriede wrote: uduwudu wrote: I do think Paco De Lucia should be mentioned - he did great fusion work with John McLaughlin and Di Meola  - this is fusion - not jazz rock. I didn't include him because I think of him more as a Flamenco guitarist. I was thinking of Paco as well but mostly as a joke since he was part of the Guitar Trio. I would put him up with anyone listed here. My vote went to John McLaughlin, probably the boldest of the bunch and certainly extremely versatile.

Heh, Paco was the first guy I thought of as well..even though I don’t think of him as a fusion player per se, but sure pop on a specific night in San Fran and there he is outplaying the very best from the jazz quarters (in my opinion;).
The man was a one-off. Truly. I’ve never heard anyone play an acoustic guitar with the same level of skill, innovation and sheer emotive power.
...but I have to be in the mood for his music...and then I throw on Entre Dos Aguas and just sit back and revel in the onslaught of guitar sounds that just as well could’ve been spawned by a Jimi Hendrix that went the flamenco route.

I voted for John Goodsall, but it is hard to beat John McLaughlin as a choice as well! 

Holdsworth but only when he's playing as a side man, I'm not a fan of his solo stuff.

uduwudu wrote: Pat Metheny (awesome) and Al Di Meola.  I do think Paco De Lucia should be mentioned - he did great fusion work with John McLaughlin and Di Meola  - this is fusion - not jazz rock. Frank Zappa was a quite good fusion guitarist. His Hot Rats helped the fusion sub sub sub genre very much.