100 greatest jazz guitarists
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Topic: 100 greatest jazz guitarists
Posted By: Manunkind
Subject: 100 greatest jazz guitarists
Date Posted: May 13 2005 at 13:38
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http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_z-prev/jz_jazzguitar1.html - http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_z-prev/jz_jazzgui tar1.html What do you think? I'm especially interested in your opinion on Pat Metheny being no 3, which puts him ahead of such monster players as Joe Pass or Alan Holdsworth, for example. While I'm definitely no Metheny-hater (jazz-heads have to have their own DT, too EDIT: Only now have I noticed that earlier versions of this list had Metheny as no 2 and even as no 1, above Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery ------------- "In war there is no time to teach or learn Zen. Carry a strong stick. Bash your attackers." - Zen Master Ikkyu Sojun |
Replies:
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 13 2005 at 23:07
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i don't think so...
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Posted By: Manunkind
Date Posted: May 14 2005 at 04:40
/\ Okay, that's one opinion. What about the rest of you? Come on, don't tell me that only two or three people here listen to jazz guitar . It's just as good as the best of prog. ------------- "In war there is no time to teach or learn Zen. Carry a strong stick. Bash your attackers." - Zen Master Ikkyu Sojun |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: May 15 2005 at 16:43
| There is an excellent book about jazz guitarists: Masters Of Jazz Guitar: The Story Of The Players & Their Music edited by Charles Alexander (publisher Balafon 1999, ISBN for USA: 0-87930-592-4, for UK 1-871547-85-70). Cover the field almost exhaustively. For instance, Chapter 13 written by Stuart Nicholson covers "Fusion: The First Wave" (Larry Coryell, John McLaughlin and Emily Remler who died at 33 in 1990), Chapter 13: "Pat Metheny", Chapter 15: "Fusion The Second Wave" is by Mark Gilbert (John Abercrombie, Bill Frisell, John ScofieldJack Wilkins, Barry FinnertyMick Goodrick, Mike Stern, Larry Carlton, Jeff Beck|). Both Gilbert and Nicholson are sympathetic jazz rock fusion fans. Chapter 16: "Shredding The Frets" includes Scott Henderson, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale. Currenlty reading the companion book on saxophonists |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 13:24
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agree... tal farlow should also be higher up on this list than where he is. i sometimes wonder if this generation REALLY knows what good guitar playing actually sounds like
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Manunkind wrote:Posted By: Intruder
Date Posted: May 19 2005 at 05:20
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It's really tough to rate jazz guitarists....I mean, in what context is the playing being judged? Ray Brown, the guitarist with the classic Oscar Peterson trio, was constrained to playing beside Oscar....who's runs up and down the keyboard practically dominates the trio's sound. Wes Montgomery was the band leader in most of his releases, so his prowess was spotlighted....thus, he probably garnered a few more votes than a player who was overshadowed by a band leader or played in a big band context. Also, WMontgomery used an octave technique, unlike, say, Grant Green, whose unique single note plucking style produced wicked solos! Best jazz guitarist? Dunno, but I will say my favorite jazz guitarists are: - Barney Kessel - Kenny Burrell....the bee-bop musicians guitarist of choice in the late 50s/early 60s - Jim Hall...the "Concierto" LP is probably my fave by a guitarist/leader - John McLaughlin....esp. his early ventures into fusion....check out the Extrapolation LP - Zappa - early and CTI era George Benson...a Wes clone, yes, but his work on the CTI label with leaders like Hubert Laws and Freddie Hubbard is fabulous. - Wes....oh, yes! BTW, Wes put out some horrible shyte at the end of his career ------------- I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there..... |
Posted By: Manunkind
Date Posted: May 19 2005 at 13:41
Actually I wouldn't be surprised if this entire list was just a bunch of names with all but the top 10-20 rated completely arbitrarily. ------------- "In war there is no time to teach or learn Zen. Carry a strong stick. Bash your attackers." - Zen Master Ikkyu Sojun |
Posted By: bluetailfly
Date Posted: May 19 2005 at 14:38
I'm not a total jazz fanatic, but I am familiar with the guitarists you mention, so I feel compelled to comment here. I don't believe Pat Metheny should rate above Holdsworth or Pass, and absolutely not above Wes Montgomery, who deserves #1 position in my opinion, with Django not far behind. Metheny's work sounds rather bloodless compared to Montgomery, et al. ------------- "The red polygon's only desire / is to get to the blue triangle." |
Posted By: Benighted
Date Posted: May 20 2005 at 01:19
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Forming a list of best Jazz guitarists is the same as forming a list of the best flavors of ice cream-there is no definitive list. |
Posted By: Manunkind
Date Posted: May 20 2005 at 07:11
Yes, but he had a large family to feed, so he just had to go commercial ------------- "In war there is no time to teach or learn Zen. Carry a strong stick. Bash your attackers." - Zen Master Ikkyu Sojun |
... so he should really be judged according to his work from the period where he had the most artistic freedom, and not from the one when he was under the pressure of circumstances. Posted By: Intruder
Date Posted: May 20 2005 at 07:23
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Wes earned his cash....the dude was ultra-straight. He'd record and be home with the family in time for dinner. As for the crap at the end of his career....forgivable in that he brought home the bacon, but unforgivable in that he tainted his discography, not to mention his legacy, with some real duds. ------------- I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there..... |
Posted By: Sir Realist
Date Posted: May 24 2005 at 23:19
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When you try to put together a list like this you end up
having to represent certain constituencies: the pioneers, the stylistic innovators, the virtuosos, the artists, the eccentrics... That makes it difficult to rank them numerically. ------------- I can have double standards, and you can't |
Posted By: Aaron
Date Posted: May 27 2005 at 10:27
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hahaha, i think there are only two guitarists on that list that i recognize, can you guys which two? Aaron |
Posted By: Poxx
Date Posted: May 28 2005 at 14:54
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There is one thing that makes that list completely invalid and arguably worthless, and that is the absence of Shawn Lane. They could have at least put him in the top 100, based solely on his guitar skills. He never became very famous, for a couple reasons - he didn't try to sell records(he made his own music the way he wanted to), he was fat, and he died. Awesome guitarist though. If you don't know him, get/check out: Powers Of Ten (live) |
Posted By: Manunkind
Date Posted: May 28 2005 at 14:58
You're so right. Shawn Lane = And yeah, as I wrote before, this list is probably 90% haphazard. ------------- "In war there is no time to teach or learn Zen. Carry a strong stick. Bash your attackers." - Zen Master Ikkyu Sojun |
Posted By: Vieux Prog
Date Posted: May 28 2005 at 18:21
I'm a BIG jazz buff and, having listened to many jazz guitar players, I find it silly to compare, say, Pat Metheny with Joe Pass: what's better, apples or tomatoes? (I find music polls silly, in general, and this one is no
exception...) I'm not a Pat Metheny fanboy and DT leaves me totally cold  , but I went
once to a PM Group concert and I can tell you it was great. Not your usual "cool guy sitting while playing" stuff---it was much more like a rock concert (there even was some scenography!). And Metheny is a very versatile guy, just listen to what he has recorded as side-projects. Joe Pass---ah, those incredible "Virtuoso" solo albums are a joy to listen to. But not very much to do with Metheny's music, ain't it? To me, neither is "better" than the other, they are different---and I enjoy the 2 of them
If you want further proof that this list is nonsense, here you have it: Lee Ritenour is in it 
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: May 28 2005 at 18:22
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Wow, Holdsworth at nr. 7. Who am I to disagree |
?Posted By: Sir Realist
Date Posted: May 31 2005 at 13:32
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Ritenour may be a great guitarist, but how would you know? ------------- I can have double standards, and you can't |
Posted By: Soul Reaper
Date Posted: June 02 2005 at 12:37
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Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian should be higher than Wes Montgomery, as they were two of the pioneers of jazz. Allan Holdsworth should have his own list entirely. ------------- "What's the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?" |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: June 02 2005 at 12:45
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The line between jazz and fusion is a very fine and wavering one. But I would put Django at the very top too. He was incredible. And just think that two of the fingers on his left hand could hardly be used! -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Soul Reaper
Date Posted: June 02 2005 at 13:23
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He was like the Yngwie Malmsteen of the 1930s. or is it 1940s. Doesn't matter. He was awesome, and better than Yngwie. ------------- "What's the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?" |