Best Sounding Musicians


I'd like to compile my list of best sounding musicians under any circuimstances regardless of recording quality and regardless of instrument played or style -- will list. Many of us know that ability of musician to get best sound of instrument is also boutique ability and definitely part of musicians talent. For that ability I nominate following:

1. Jascha Heifetz -- violin
2. Bill Frisell -- electric guitar
3. Stan Getz -- tenor sax
4. Pat Metheny -- various guitars
5. Adrean Belew -- electric guitar
6. Wolfgang Hafner -- drums
7. Nils Peter Molvaer -- trumpet
8. Julie London -- voice
9. Richard Bona -- electric bass
10. Charlie Haden -- string bass
11. Joey DeFrancesco -- B3
12. Eric Clapton -- electric guitar
13. SRV -- electric guitar
14. Van Cliburn -- piano
16. David Gilmour -- electric guitar
17. Carla Bley -- piano
18. Jason Veaux -- acoustic guitar
czarivey
My very favorite "best sounding musician" is Louis Armstrong. The first musician I can recall that made me feel that he was singing through his instrument.
Trumpet --- Clark Terry
Tenor sax --- Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, Ike Quebec
baritone sax --- Leo Parker
piano --- Ahmad Jamal

violin --- Gil Shaham, Itzak Perlman
piano --- Vladimir Ashkenazy

electric Guitar --- Steve Morse, Steve Vai, Al DiMeola

drums --- Jeff Hamilton
Tosin Abasi

Colin Marston

Denis D'Amour (R.I.P.)

Weasel Walter

Josh Travis

Christopher Arp

Aphex Twin or Autechre (?!)
Well thought out list! Heifetz and Getz are stellar choices, the other 16 are very debatable. I would add Julian "Cannonball" Adderley-Alto Sax.