I'm listening to Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue, which I just discovered last week. This is a brilliant record. Too often jazz guitarists sound like musak to my ears (I'm not interested in an instrumental version of Games People Play!). This is just great bluesy playing. I also enjoy John Scofield and Larry Carlton. Who else should I be listening to?

George Benson, Johnny Smith, Al Di Meola, Stanley Jordan, Allan Holdsworth, Lee Ritenour, Earl Klugh, Emily Remler, Larry Coryell, Bill Frisell, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, Paco de Lucia, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass...these are the ones that spring to mind.

There'd be dozens of others, I'm sure. I'm nowhere near being an expert when it comes to jazz. Those are some of the ones I listen to a bit. Especially Al Di Meola and George Benson. Emily Remler's a favourite of mine as well.

[YouTube]https://youtu.be/TIe5S3ZTDuA[/YouTube]


https://youtu.be/TIe5S3ZTDuA


Damn link!

Two of my favorites are Barney Kessel and Charlie Christian.

In addition to other's suggestions older Jim Hall (avoid the CTI & music masters), Joe Pass, Ralph Towner, Terje Rypdal, Lenny Breau, & Grant Green to start.

I'll echo Geff's recommendations for ECM Records artists Towner and Rypdal. Certainly not typical jazz, though; ECM label artists are often shunned by jazz purists. I have nearly a hundred ECM albums.

Thanks guys. These are great suggestions. I'll start in right away!

Pat Martino and he's a Philly guy and survived a stroke and had to reteach himself how to play.

He's a Jazz legend.

Also I suggest Al DiMeola and Bill Connors (both of Return To Forever).

Frank Gambale (also in my book) is a must.

I'll second Frank Gambale - he's incredible. I'm sure you'd like his music, Smiff.

Django Reinhardt

I don't know of any great jazz versions of "Games People Play" but you never know. Jazz has a way of making uncool things very cool indeed. I thought "My Favorite Things" was a corny song from The Sound of Music, and then I heard John Coltrane's version.

I agree on Coltrane, but I love just about everything he did. To my ear--and I know this is personal preference--when jazz guitarists cover popular tunes it sounds like muzak. The one exception is probably John Scofield's country record.

Actually, I kind of know where you're coming from. I have two jazz guitar versions of "A Day In The Life" (yes, the Beatles song) one by Grant Green and one by Wes Montgomery. While they are both pleasant enough to listen to, they do tend to take it into a smooth, safe place.

Exactly! And to me (or at the least the way I enjoy it) jazz should be the least safe kind of music. The jazz music that I love best challenges me when I listen to it.

Ellington did an entire album of Mary Poppins songs, & while far from my favorite it is definitely listenable. That was followed by '65 & '66 mostly covers of insipid pop songs & If I remember right a couple Beatles tunes. Again, more listenable than you'd think.

I assume you've heard Jeff Beck's killer versions?

I've been hooked on Fusion for the past couple days. Currently grooving with Allan Holdsworth.

Al Di Meola

Earl Klugh

Pat Metheny

Larry Carlton

Larry Coryell

Scott Henderson

Bill Frisell

Shawn Lane

Bill Conners

Jan Akkerman

Pat Martino

Stanley Jordan

Emily Remler

David Torn

Russ Freeman

Brian Hughes

Ryo Kawasaki

...just a few suggestions. You're probably already aware of them.

not jazz per say, but some of phil keaggy's electric stuff is darn close.

Some drummer-led albums featuring fusion-style guitar:

Billy Cobham - Spectrum (Tommy Bolin)
Alphonse Mouzon - Mind Transplant (Tommy Bolin)
Bill Bruford - One of a Kind (Holdsworth)
Tony Williams New Lifetime - Believe It (Holdsworth)

Also:
Brand X - Unorthodox Behavior, Masques, Livestock (John Goodsall)
Jonas Hellborg - Personae (Shawn Lane)

Thanks for reviving this, and thanks for the suggestions!

If you're not purist about your definition of jazz, then the flamenco-rock-influenced duo of Rodrigo y Gabriela will blow you away.

Another name I've not seen mentioned here is Bireli Lagrene.