As a companion piece to this thread, I wonder what Dopers think about a companion list, that of the 100 Greatest Jazz Guitarists.
I’ve got Jim Hall playing in the background at the moment (with Bill Evans, Undercurrents) and of course he’s a gimme, as are most of the others near the top, though I might quibble with the ordering. I was glad to see one of my favorites, Emily Remler, on the list, even if only at 91.
All of the guitarists I consider ‘true greats’ are on there. Personally, my favorite all-around guitarist is Joe Pass, and Django’s running a close second. I’m pleased that Mick Goodrick made that list as well - his instructional book on harmonic voicings and upper extensions for the guitar, The Advancing Guitarist was the book singlehandedly responsible for my changing from an aspiring jazz guitarist to an ‘actual’ jazz guitarist. (By which I mean truly understanding what I was doing rather than ‘knowing which scales to use with which chords’)
However, there are some odd choices on there - Frank Gambale? Derek Trucks? Hiram Bullock? All fantastic guitarists in their own right, but jazz giants, not so much.
And I can’t believe that Tony Rice is not on the list. Admittedly, he’s known as a flatpicking & bluegrass guy, but his forays into traditional jazz are unbelievable. Tony’s playing on Green Dolphin Street from the Tony Rice Unit album Backwaters is the finest guitar rendition of the tune I’ve ever heard. That entire album is really worth checking out.
I would also suggest the Robin Nolan and John Jorgensen should be on that list as well.
I can’t believe that Barney Kessel only came in at 34. Not to mention Eddie Lang at 25. PISS on Pat Methany.
And where the fuck is Bill De Arango?
I’d remove Stanley Jordan in favor of Jeff Linsky.
Bireli Lagrene? Not sure if he’s all that, or just poh, wow, a Gypsy, just like Django. Hell with it, deep-six the kid and make some room for Bruce Forman.
I see one of the “More Jazz Guitar Greats” is Bela Fleck. Isn’t his axe the banjo?
Much past Django, Pass, Charlie Christian, Wes and a few others, they tend to bend together. It’s funny, but as a guitarist myself, I have alway tended to listen to horn players for jazz…
Depends on what you’ve heard Derek play. If you’ve heard his band do Afro Blue or Greensleeves or My Favorite Things or Naima, I think it makes sense.