Waddy Wachtel may be the quintessential sideman. He is an LA guitarist who played with Jackson Browne, Stevie Nicks, Melissa Etheridge and too many others to count. Think of the guitar on Stevie's "Edge of Seventeen" -- that's him.
Mike Campbell is another great sideman -- Tom Petty's guitarist for the last twenty years or so. And Kenny Aronoff, John Mellencamp's drummer.
I like Zaikesman's distinction between sidemen and band members, but it's harder to apply when you start thinking about jazz. Would that rule out Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, who played with Bill Evans? Jack DeJohnette and Gary Peacock, who make up Keith Jarrett's trio? Or how about Johnny Hodges and Cat Anderson with Duke Ellington's band?
Mike Campbell is another great sideman -- Tom Petty's guitarist for the last twenty years or so. And Kenny Aronoff, John Mellencamp's drummer.
I like Zaikesman's distinction between sidemen and band members, but it's harder to apply when you start thinking about jazz. Would that rule out Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, who played with Bill Evans? Jack DeJohnette and Gary Peacock, who make up Keith Jarrett's trio? Or how about Johnny Hodges and Cat Anderson with Duke Ellington's band?