Your favourite fusion guitarist
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=121978
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Topic: Your favourite fusion guitarist
Posted By: BaldFriede
Subject: Your favourite fusion guitarist
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 05:33
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Who is your favourite fusion guitarist? I threw in a few names that are usually considered to be completely on the jazz side, like Emily Remler or Ralph Towner, but I wanted their names in there because they are among my favourite guitarists. Feel free to comment. Multiple choices allowed. -------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Replies:
Posted By: Rivertree
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 06:02
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Alan Holdsworth in the first row, mainly due to his fantastic appearance on 'Bundles' also John McLaughlin and Larry Coryell I'm missing Gary Boyle here, great list nevertheless ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Rivertree" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 06:21
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Cool poll. Holdsworth will never be equaled, he was groundbreaking and innovative. Holdsworth>Metheny>DiMeola>McLaughlin>Gambale>Scofield>Goodsall
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Posted By: Mortte
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 06:32
| Really haven´t heard all of these, but anyway I chose other who is Jukka Tolonen. Fusion is not my biggest fav music, but listened it a little. McLaughlin of course great specially in the calmer pieces. |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 06:37
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Don't know some, love a number of them, but vote for Jan Akkerman only, as this was the one here whose name immediately jumped at me making me think I'd love to hear him playing now. |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 07:37
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My picks are Emily Remler and Volker Kriegel. An example each: Emily Remler: Volker Kriegel: This is not your run-of-the-mill fusion guitar work with 10000 notes per second, though some of that firework is going off in these examples too. But there is a lot more.
------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 07:49
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So many great ones on the list. Most have such individual styles that they could be number one to me on any given day/mood. So I went with 'other' to throw some other favorites into the mix. Terje Rypdal Alex Machacek Jan Zehrfeld (Panzerballett) David Fiuczynski (Hiromi's Sonicbloom, Screaming Headless Torsos) Marton Kertesz (Special Providence) Kristo Roots (Phlox) ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow">  https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 07:55
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I wanted to have some women in the poll because female instrumentalists are definitely underrepresented in jazz, fusion and rock. So a few men had to be "sacrificed". ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 10:39
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I probably "like" the music, sound, and melodies of Pat Metheny best, but I would never ever turn down a chance to see or hear the amazing John McLaughlin. His output in the 1960s with Tony & Miles, his 1970s solo, with all versions of Mahavishnu or Shakti, the 1980s in several forms and styles (the Paco/Al acoustic "super" trio, Belo Horizonte, his work with the Labeque sisters, his classically-oriented "Mediterranean Suite," the amazing Round Midnight soundtrack, his trio with Pino Pallodino & Trilock Gurtu, all remain among my favorite albums from that decade), the 1990s with his gorgeous acoustic guitar tribute to Bill Evans, Time Remembered, and the release of Trio of Doom LP with Jaco & Tony in Havana, even his stuff from the 2000s like Industrial Zen and Floating Point have been highly satisfying. John McLaughlin is, in my humble opinion, the most versatile, enigmatic, adventurous, virtuosic, and successful artist I know in that he has contributed to the creation of so many top notch albums over such a wide swath of styles and eras over his 60 year career. No one else even comes close! (No, not even Tony Levin!) ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: Argo2112
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 10:45
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Nice list. I when with Holdsworth . Steve Morse is another name that comes to mind.
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Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 11:36
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Holdsworth all the way. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 11:54
Nice to see Emily Remler(who died way too soon) on here but where is Terje Rypdal? 
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Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 16:40
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Of those I've seen live: 1. Al Di Meola 2. John McLaughlin 3. Larry Coryell 4. Pat Metheny ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: progmatic
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 16:45
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Goodsall, DiMeola, Abercrombie, Holdsworth, McLaughlin, Connors ------------- PROGMATIC |
Posted By: hugo1995
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 17:20
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err hello, Phil Lee from Gilgamesh ------------- interests: Moon Safari, Gilgamesh, Egg, ELP, Soft Machine, Gong, Opeth (Everything pre watershed), Brighteye Brison, The Flower Kings |
Posted By: HackettFan
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 22:58
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Other: Frank Zappa, although wanting to work with the list as given, the actual vote I placed was for Jan Akkerman. I like Holdsworth a whole lot and he is the most skilled, but something about his legato technique seems a little aloof to me in the end. He also uses a lot of scales, but I never get the exotic feeling from him that the scales he uses ought to contribute. Like most musicians unable to escape the tether of traditional Jazz, it becomes more about the feeling and mood of the chords than the scale - unfortunately. ------------- A curse upon the heads of those who seek their fortunes in a lie. The truth is always waiting when there's nothing left to try. - Colin Henson, Jade Warrior (Now) |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 23:36
This, so much. Though I do love McLaughlin, ADM, Metheny and yes, Emily Remler too. Also names that came up later like Shawn Lane or Scott Henderson. It's tough to draw lines and compare titans. Still, Holdsworth was just so unique. |
Grumpyprogfan wrote:Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 14 2020 at 23:39
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Abercrombie for his artistry, though Larry Coryell was the best I've ever seen live and Holdsworth is of course on another level. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 00:30
| Controversial maybe but John Petrucci for the 2 Liquid Tension Experiment albums. I believe these are wrongly designated as Progressive Metal (understandably because its basically Dream Theater without LaBrie but with Tony Levin) . They are both fusion style albums to my ears so I will stick with that. |
Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 02:02
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Holdsworth has a horrible electric guitar sound. McLaughlins electric guitar sound is a mess ------------- All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock. |
Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 05:56
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Holdsworth is technically brilliant and innovative, but his guitar sound is sterile and his music is not pleasant to listen to. Akkerman is great and so is McLaughlin, but my vote goes to di Meola, who combines technical skill, a great tone and musicality in a way none of the others can match. ------------- A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life. |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 06:32
| ^Everyone hears differently but I love Holdswoth's tone and his compositions. I still listen to his music on a regular basis. DiMeola is great but I haven't listened to any of solo records in years. |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 07:09
| Too many great ones to choose from. Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin, Jan Akkerman, Allan Holsdworth, etc. I could vote for all of them. I would add Jeff Beck to the list. |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 08:57
Basically, if you come from more of a ROCK background and prefer stuff to be melodic, you will like DiMeola more. He has the best tone of the big four of fusion (McLaughlin-ADM-Metheny-Holdsworth) and the sweetest melody too, pretty Santana-like but with a lot more shred. But if you like jazz, you will appreciate the adventurism of Holdsworth much more. I recently did a re-listen of ADM and found it fairly predictable going after a while. I NEVER get that from Holdsworth.
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Posted By: siLLy puPPy
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 10:08
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I love so many of these guitar gods but John McLaughlin took it to the level that i love the best and Mahavishnu Orch is stil one of the creative pinnacles of the jazz-fusion world so gotta go for Sri Mac -------------  https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 10:37
Steve Morse could be on here too for his work with the Dixie Dregs. Another one might be Ed Wynne from Ozric Tentacles. Also, even though I'm not that familiar with him Shawn Lane.
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Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 12:42
His music is not pleasant to listen to until you've had your fill of everyone else. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: uduwudu
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 13:30
| 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. |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 13:37
I didn't include him because I think of him more as a Flamenco guitarist. ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 14:13
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Holdsy ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 15:22
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. ------------- A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life. |
Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 17:00
| John McLaughlin followed by Frank Gambale |
Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 18:00
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Holdsworth but only when he's playing as a side man, I'm not a fan of his solo stuff. ------------- Ian Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/ |
Posted By: Progosopher
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 22:21
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. ------------- The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty" |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: January 15 2020 at 23:22
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I voted for John Goodsall, but it is hard to beat John McLaughlin as a choice as well! One upcoming talent in the USA is Fareed Haque, check out his performance of Mahavishnu Orchestra's "Dance of Maya" with the California Guitar Trio. He turns on the 6 string afterburners at 2:38! ------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!! |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 16 2020 at 00:41
The Dixie Dregs is not a band I've paid any attention to and didn't even realise Morse was in the band! I like his solo stuff although I realise its not fusion .
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Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: January 16 2020 at 04:34
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. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: tamijo_II
Date Posted: January 16 2020 at 08:07
Is it allowed to say Frank Zappa  ------------- Same person as this profile: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/member_profile.asp?PF=22524" rel="nofollow - Tamijo |
Posted By: Cylli Kat (0fficial)
Date Posted: January 16 2020 at 19:03
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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. ------------- (Insert Clever Words Here) I'm actually this guy: https://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=17597" rel="nofollow - Cylli Kat |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 16 2020 at 19:08
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^ You just need to post a few more times, I think. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Machinemessiah
Date Posted: January 16 2020 at 21:22
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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" |
Posted By: cemego
Date Posted: January 17 2020 at 04:48
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Holdsworth all the way... but shouldn't Phil Miller be on here? ------------- listen to streaming stuff! no commercials! http://wmom.servemp3.com:8000/listen.pls |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: January 18 2020 at 09:54
I felt the same "effortless" coming from McLaughlin in those concerts, whereas Al Di seemed to be working so hard. John and Paco had this "spirit flowing through me" auras about them. Same in the Trio when it was Coryell was the third. I LOVE Larry Coryell--the man could express emotion so well--but he still felt "human" while McLaughlin and De Lucia felt "super-human." ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: January 18 2020 at 10:02
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Just curious: does anyone know of any vids with Holdsworth playing acoustic guitar?
------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: January 18 2020 at 10:04
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Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: January 19 2020 at 17:15
Thank you! This is awesome! Reminds me of Larry Coryell playing an Astor Piazzollo song! ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: Ruby900
Date Posted: January 20 2020 at 14:56
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Dead heat for me between Holdsworth and Mclaughlin. I prefer Mclaughlin's output but I have (over time) started to prefer Holdsworth's playing. ------------- "I always say that it’s about breaking the rules. But the secret of breaking rules in a way that works is understanding what the rules are in the first place". Rick Wakeman |