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Who was the best jazz guitarist ever?


Since all music is "subjective", I lay no claim to any objective truth to anything I write on this subject.

Johnny Smith was the first to make me aware of the guitar as a jazz instrument. Before him I considered it to be a country and western or blues instrument. "Moonlight in Vermont" is his most famous album, it contains some of the most beautiful versions of standards I've ever heard.

Kenny Burrell who was often featured with Jimmy Smith on organ was the next jazz guitarist I became aware of. While his work with Jimmy Smith was tops, "Midnight Blue" on Blue Note, is my favorite album.

Wes Montgomery came to my attention twice, that's because according to some; he was better and more inclusively "jazz", before he became famous. The "Wes Montgomery Trio" recorded in 1959 is one example of a recording made before he became famous. His "Round Midnight" had a deep soulful intensity that's hard to match; but jazz guitarist's also have bills to pay.

Grant Green is the best jazz guitarist ever, his prodigious output makes that statement. There are some who claim, that out of all of the versions of "Round Midnight", his is the best.

There are many guitarist's I like who may or may not fit the description of "jazz guitarist". I'll leave the strict definition of that to others. Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, and Paco De Lucia are guitarists I like a lot whatever category they fit in.

Since I prefer the broad definition of "jazz" as opposed to the strict definition, if you think your favorite guitarist fits the description; so do I. Who are your favorite guitarists?
orpheus10

Showing 2 responses by duanegoosen

duanegoosen
355 posts
 
Not sure real sure the "all music is subjective" statement works, (both musical notation and sound physically exist). It may be more reasonable to assert that opinions, (which often can be chock full of prejudices and misconceptions) are subjective.
The assumption that there is a best jazz guitarist at any given moment requires some big blinders. To claim there is a best jazz guitarist ever is pretty rich. Critical thinking / epistemology issues aside... this site has a couple of pretty extensive favorite guitarist threads... lately i've been trying to get pretty much any recording w/ Marc Ducret on it.
duanegoosen
355 posts
 
Nice one Orphy... especially the stop sign, (talk to the hand girlfriend) zinger, (sorry that you weren't comfortable w/ the possibility that the "all music is subjective" mantra is B.S.). Noting that there are other favorite guitarist threads isn't the same thing as saying that there are too many of them, (but it would be easier and might make more sense to add to an existing thread instead of starting a new thread that isn't really new). Anyway, I like favorite guitarist threads just fine and mentioned Marc Ducret as a recent favorite. If you thought an inquery was made about him in that post you might want to look up the word up before using it in the future. Also the last time I checked naming a favorite guitarist requires less audacity (and ignorance) than to suggest that someone is the best jazz guitarist ever.
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