I never cared much for Joe Pass - even the "Virtuoso" recordings everyone raves about. I think "robot" is harsh, but he's kind of like the Oscar Peterson of guitar.
― Hurting 2, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 02:29 (sixteen years ago) link
"like the Oscar Peterson of guitar"
This is rather otm, but that's part of what I like about him.
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 02:29 (sixteen years ago) link
He's a little too perfect and pleasant all the time.
I do like the Joe Pass/Herb Ellis stuff. Have you guys ever heard them do Seven Come Eleven live? Holy fuck!
― Hurting 2, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 02:31 (sixteen years ago) link
Um, COUGH: http://download.yousendit.com/A9BFCAFE5985EE88
Look what came out of my throat
― Hurting 2, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 02:39 (sixteen years ago) link
Jim Hall for me
― Stormy Davis, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 02:46 (sixteen years ago) link
Jim Hall has the touch.
― Hurting 2, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 02:48 (sixteen years ago) link
A lot of these guys are not really jazz (Sonny Sharrock is a rock/r&b guitarist for sure). Pat Metheny's playing with Ornette is probably my favorite jazz guitar but he's disqualified with the relentless tastelessness of his other stuff. I can't remember who I voted for already, either Jim Hall or Freddie Green.
For the most part, guitar solos in jazz are really boring.
― theboyqueen, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 04:05 (sixteen years ago) link
"A lot of these guys are not really jazz"
lol dude you're a treat
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 05:51 (sixteen years ago) link
Perhaps I worded that incorrectly. It is difficult for me to compare what Freddie Green did and what Sonny Sharrock did. Better?
― theboyqueen, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 07:10 (sixteen years ago) link
Brandon Ross? Masujaa? -- Oilyrags
Exactly! Also - Richard Leo Johnson.
― t**t, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 08:37 (sixteen years ago) link
Django Reinhardt vote here
But for early jazz, you left out Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson too.
― bendy, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 11:32 (sixteen years ago) link
I do like Jim Hall, but I'm going with Derek Bailey.
― 2for25, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 12:29 (sixteen years ago) link
I left out Pete Cosey because I think of him more as a rock guy who played on some fusion albums
fair enough. actually I have no idea what Cosey did besides those Miles albums, was he a session guy in Chicago R&B?
but Derek Bailey, who is great, seems only tangentially connected to jazz too. and Eliott Sharp couldn't swing w/a machine gun @ his nutz.
― m coleman, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 12:47 (sixteen years ago) link
I don't think old Del Bailey would have been very chuffed to be described as a jazz guitarist
― Tom D., Tuesday, 26 June 2007 12:49 (sixteen years ago) link
yeah Cosey did Chess Studios stuff but even before that he played in ex-Sun Ra sideman and AACM co-founder Phil Cohran's group Artistic Heritage Ensemble. so he comes from a jazz background.
― Stormy Davis, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 13:14 (sixteen years ago) link
Django.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 13:45 (sixteen years ago) link
I miss Cosey on this, another "rock guy who played on some fusion albums" and, like Cosey, did it very well-Tommy Bolin.
I'll go with McLaughlin for "Noonward Race" alone.
― Bill Magill, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 13:50 (sixteen years ago) link
tommy bolin! he's much more of a rock guitarist than cosey -- a great one in my estimation -- and yeah his fusion stuff w/billy cobham and others is good. as is his fusion-y 1st album Teaser.
― m coleman, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 13:55 (sixteen years ago) link
Charlie Christian is the best.
― BlackIronPrison, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 14:50 (sixteen years ago) link
Confession: I've never heard note one from Derek Bailey. Further confession: I used to have a coupla albums by Django and Wes, but in general (Philistine rockist that I am), the only jazz guitarists I've ever paid much attention to are the so-called fusioneers - the ones who turn the amplifiers UP. I've never cared much for that fairly bland tone that is standard for jazz guitar (or used to be.)
Of the ones above, the only ones I've listened to a lot are McLaughlin, Sharrock and Ulmer. And of those three, I've gotta say John McLaughlin, largely to counteract all the ILM hate he receives on occasion. And for "Noonward Race". (Magill OTM.)
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 16:32 (sixteen years ago) link
McLaughlin is great on Mahvishnu stuff, Shakti, Miles records, etc., and deserves more credit than most just for that. But he's committed a long, seemingly unending string of jazz crimes. Also, fuck Friday Night in San Fransisco. That shit SUCKS
― Hurting 2, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 16:38 (sixteen years ago) link
Ok, it doesn't really SUCK, but it's super corny
Is that the guitar trio stuff?
― Jordan, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 16:41 (sixteen years ago) link
Yeah, Al DiMeola/Paco DeLucia/McLaughlin. Always gets repped by guitar doods.
― Hurting 2, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 16:45 (sixteen years ago) link
ponytails + Steve Vai guitar w/handhold cutout
― Jordan, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 16:48 (sixteen years ago) link
Jordan -- that's wot you'd like to vote for?
― t**t, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 17:11 (sixteen years ago) link
No, that = guitar doods.
― Jordan, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 17:11 (sixteen years ago) link
Hmmm...now that you mention it, I believe I only have two McLaughlin "solo" albums in total, and I've heard almost nothing he's done from the 80s onward, which could indeed conceivably suck. But damn, how many classic albums did he play on during 1969-72 alone? A dozen?
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 17:15 (sixteen years ago) link
"My Goals Beyond" totally kills.
― Oilyrags, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 17:17 (sixteen years ago) link
Charlie Christian is the best
Sure enough, he plays like a guy with his hat tipped back.
― Rich Smörgasbord, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 20:45 (sixteen years ago) link
Yeah, he's definitely on enough great albums to make up for even a lifetime's worth of lousy albums. No pun intended, as the Lifetime albums are really good.
― Hurting 2, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 20:50 (sixteen years ago) link
Does Chet Atkins count? Or Danny Gatton?
― Jubalique die Zitronen, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 22:32 (sixteen years ago) link
I'm probably lame but I'm voting for John McLaughlin. His playing with Miles is off the friggin chain.
― sonderangerbot, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 23:14 (sixteen years ago) link
DJANGO. *secret door to speakeasy opens*
― Granny Dainger, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 23:34 (sixteen years ago) link
Pete Cosey is on Electric Mud.
I don't think jazz guitar has really hit its zenith, there are some great players but there are few of these guys which are as amazing as writers. I think partially because there was alot more money to be made by guitarists playing other music without as much hard work.
The 70s and 80s were really good for jazz guitar. During this time for the first time the guitar became a more acceptable instrument in music schools. I think this is another major reason jazz guitar has not had as many important players as other instruments. Well that and you don't get into marching band playing guitar or at least it didn't happen much in the 40s to 60s.
Ralph Towner and Terje Rypdal probably also deserve to be on a list such as this one. They both have made some good records and have a unique sound for a "jazz guitarist".
― earlnash, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 23:42 (sixteen years ago) link
I wouldn't put Electric Mud on my resume! ;-)
I voted for Grant Green (am session completist nerd), but might have chosen Johnny Smith too if he had been listed (which he probably deserved).
I also really like Jimmy Bruno but he is just more of a tip to anyone who might care than that he should have been on the list.
― Saxby D. Elder, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 00:49 (sixteen years ago) link
Bruno's a great guitar teacher too.
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 01:26 (sixteen years ago) link
I have a Jimmy Bruno CD somewhere - it's ok.
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 01:31 (sixteen years ago) link
Is he the dog from The Triplets of Belleville? If not, I've never heard of him.
― Oilyrags, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 01:42 (sixteen years ago) link
No Steve Carlton option?
― calstars, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 01:45 (sixteen years ago) link
OK I was riding the M11 bus up 10th ave in Manhattan this eve and a grey haired older black guy w/guitar got on board at 48th. I won't say he looked EXACTLY like the late Sonny Sharrock but the resemblence was strong enough to freak me out, esp. considering this thread. uncanny.
― m coleman, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 01:52 (sixteen years ago) link
Well, admittedly he's no Allan Holdsworth.
― Saxby D. Elder, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 02:39 (sixteen years ago) link
xpost - Do you mean Larry Carlton? I think Steve Carlton was a baseball player.
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 02:48 (sixteen years ago) link
Grant Green, people! He could swing almost any tune he tried. Also, nice to see Tiny Grimes on the list. Everyone should hear "Marchin' Along" with Coleman Hawkins from the album Blues Groove (1958). Nearly 18 minutes long, Grimes solos for 8 minutes before Hawkins comes in.
― todd, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 03:02 (sixteen years ago) link
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/steve_carlton_autograph.jpg
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 03:09 (sixteen years ago) link
=/=
http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/images/local/vmgartists/133b6a57-0f1c-4c64-8a1b-226ceca3edce.jpg
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 03:10 (sixteen years ago) link
You just like the Gr- sound.
― Oilyrags, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 03:12 (sixteen years ago) link
Grant Green is pretty, but he's kinda boring on anything with more than a few chords.
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 03:14 (sixteen years ago) link
Uh, pretty GOOD that is.
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 27 June 2007 03:21 (sixteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― ILX System, Thursday, 28 June 2007 23:01 (sixteen years ago) link
For people who never clicked with Metheny or have only heard his smoother side, check out his playing on Kenny Garrett's Pursuance record,it's fierce.
― 50 Favorite Jordans (Jordan), Tuesday, 12 September 2023 01:12 (seven months ago) link
Having his name misspelled might not have helped his vote count.I'm enthralled by about half the tracks on his debut, respect his outing with Ornette, and everything else I've heard completely escapes me. Especially when he plays that guitar synth sound that sound like my cat talking to the birds: "mew mew mew mew mew mew...mew mew mew mew mew".
More to the point, where's Terje Rypdal?!?
― Halfway there but for you, Tuesday, 12 September 2023 01:03 (one hour ago) link
This is how I feel about a lot of his music. His sound ranges from tolerable to awful on most records for me, and sound/tone is everything to me. He smokes on that Trio 99/00 album though and sounds better than usual as well.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, 12 September 2023 02:35 (seven months ago) link
Oh yeah Question and Answer is good too, forgot that one
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, 12 September 2023 02:41 (seven months ago) link
And the Gary Burton album 'Like Minds' with Chick Corea and Roy Haynes, he's great on that.
― 50 Favorite Jordans (Jordan), Tuesday, 12 September 2023 03:53 (seven months ago) link
Also he did this crazy rob-orchestra thing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VymAn8QJNQ
― 50 Favorite Jordans (Jordan), Tuesday, 12 September 2023 03:54 (seven months ago) link
*robo
― 50 Favorite Jordans (Jordan), Tuesday, 12 September 2023 04:06 (seven months ago) link