Anyone that puts Allan Holdsworth at number one on a jazz fusion guitarist ranking is an incredible emotional and intellectual listener. This list is spot on!
In 1975, at the ripe old age of 20, I listened to Becks blow by blow for the first time in a store through electrostatic headphones. I was absolutely knocked out by his original inventive style that spans a wide range of dynamics from delicate to thunder! 47 years later, it remains one of my all-time favorite albums. And I believe it’s no coincidence that Jeff Beck was highly influenced by Tommy Bolin’s style, especially from Billy Cobham‘s album, Spectrum.
That album actually changed my life! I had gotten into jazz when I was about 17 years old, having been mostly listening to and playing rock prior to that. I'm a guitar player and I began to feel like I was playing the wrong instrument. Horn players can scream and honk on their axes and make one note last for a minute, while my big hollow-body jazz box wouldn't last more than 3 seconds before a note dies out. Then I listened to Beck's version of "Because We've Ended as Lovers" and was reminded how expressive a guitar could be with some distortion and light gauge strings. I still play with a hollow-body and heavy gauge strings on straight ahead jazz gigs, but for everything else (including wedding and corporate party gigs where you play pop/rock and my own original material fusion band that played in clubs for 15 years), I use solid-bodies with light strings. I still love sax and trumpet players, but I'm glad I stuck with guitar! Thanks, Jeff Beck!
Great list, maybe in a Top 50, you can include John Abercrombie, Larry Carlton, Mike Stern, Pat Martino, Jukka Tolonen, Volker Kriegel, Wayne Krantz, Frank Gambale, Shawn Lane, Greg Howe, Hiram Bullock. Gary Boyle, John Etheridge, Brett Garsed, Corrado Rustici, Steve Morse, Terje Rypdal, Robben Ford, Steve Khan, Ollie Halsall, John Goodsall, John Tropea, Ray Gomez, Georg Wadenius, Philip Catherine, Jan Akkerman, and Max Sunyrer.
Steve Khan, Hiram Bullock , Larry Carlton, Frank Gambale are favorites but I would also add David Sancious and Roland Bautista...if you know, you know.
Allan Holdsworth is Bradford's greatest musical export, and Bradford is UK City of Culture 2025. Had Allan been alive he should have got top billing, but I'll settle for the Post Office issuing a set of stamps in his honour. Holdsworth is a true original, how many other guitarists (or musicians for that matter) developed their own highly unique and beautiful harmonic language, spawning so many imitators? I stumbled upon the Bill Bruford album "Feels Good To Me" when I was 16, completely transformed my musical outlook (double bonus of AH and Dave Stewart).
Joe Satriani said in an interview: When 16 I thought I just needed some time and diligence to do what Holdsworth did. Now I'm 60 and I have no idea how he is doing this.
I love Alan Holdsworth too. The first time I ever heard him was on the UK song-"In The Dead Of Night"-the solo is quite short but the way it builds and builds just blows me away. Also love his contribution to the first two Bruford Albums.
Thanks Andy, a great video, Larry Coryell is my favourite with Tommy Bolin and Jeff Beck tied in 2nd place, As you know, there are many other great but lesser known jazz-rock guitarists from the 70's such as John Etheridge, Ray Gomez, Eef Albers. Ollie Halsall, Janne Schaffer, Jukka Tolonen, and Volker Kriegel, etc. My favourite post-70's jazz-rock guitarist is Scott Henderson. I love this subject and could go on for hours. Your work is highly appreciated.
John Tropea, Ray Gomez, Max Sunyer, Pat Martino, Jukka Tolonen, Volker Kriegel, Wayne Krantz, Gary Boyle, Bill Connors, Brett Garsed, Ollie Halsall, Terje Rypdal, John Goodsall, George Wadenius, Claus Bohling, and some others should be included in a Top 50. Great list Andy.
I mentioned that tour in this video I think...incredible what you can do when you tell your hands they are beautiful every day! JM is a force of nature...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer saw him at barbican few months back,took a mate,who had never seen him,he loved it.ive seen him a few times,i allways enjoy seeing john.these days though,he does hold back a bit,and gives his band loads of room,everyone gets a lengthy solo,but a husband drum solo,then a barot drum solo,then a husband/barot together drum solo,was a bit much for a guitarist like me,it was all very tight,slick,complex fusion,and mclaughlin was playing very much as a band member,rather than leading upfront.still cool,but i wanted to hear him let rip a bit more,like he did on the usa tour with jimmy herring,where on birds of fire he opens fire on a prs double neck guitar,and shoots sapphire bullets of love at the audience,and reminded me why many think hes no1,lift you out of youre seat stuff,he also sounded like he was playing through a amp at those mahavishnu revisited gigs,rather than going through some usb thing he uses now
Excellent ranking video of some of the greatest guitarists to have walked the earth! Yes indeed - Larry Coryell, Tommy Bolin, Bill Connors, Jeff Beck, Al Di Meola, and John MacLaughlin are all waaaaaaaaay up there on my list. The others you mentioned are also part of my record collection - very fine guitarists from whom I derive great enjoyment and inspiration as well. A couple more I would add are Shawn Lane and Terje Rypdal.
Thank you so much Andy. I’m on a train for a eight hour trip to northern Sweden…a bit bored. I always turn to TH-cam when I’m on these long trips. At age 69 I’ve been a rock/jazz fusion fan for more than 50 years and it was a true pleasure to watch your list. To me it doesn’t matter if one of your featured guitarists is ranked no 1 or no 10. They have all contributed to my musical experience and all of them have given me true and amazing musical experiences. Great video, thanks again!
Thanks for approaching these lists with the right attitude...they are entertainment! What I want is for half the list to be something the viewer can agree, and half where they don't, and then have a good chat about each artist.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Thanks for your reply. If I was to make the list, Bill Connors would be way up! Return to Forever with him on guitar was even better than the Al Dimeola version. He was unique. AD was/is sometimes predictable. Thanks again
Great list, I'm glad Bill Connors is in it, but it's so difficult to choose only ten, because there are so many greats, known or unknown. Personnally I would have added John Abercrombie or maybe Ralph Towner, but again your list is perfectly fine. I'm waiting for your video on jazz fusion drummers now..
I was a percussion major in the State's in the 80's. Every student I hung with had First Circle- what a great record. Bruford's solo albums introduced me to Holdsworth. One of a Kind is a top 5 fusion album for me.
What great picks. Really hard to argue any of them being on your top 10. My top 10 greatest fusion guitarists would be: 1. Larry Carlton 2. Scott Henderson (Tribal Tech) 3. Ted Hall (The Fents) 4. Tommy Bolin (By far Bolin's best work was on Alphonse Mouzon - Nitroglycerin 1975.) 5. Pat Metheny Group 6. Renaud Louis-Servais Group 7. Al Di Meola 8. Gary Boyle (Isotope) 9. Mike Stern 10. Allan Holdsworth
In terms of note choice and capacity to bring JOY to the listener ( which is extremely difficult) I would include players like Larry Carlton , Carlos Santana, George Benson (who is also a pure jazz virtuoso).
It’s always nice to have your own thoughts confirmed by someone who is a professional in the field, this was a very entertaining and informative list for me. Personally my life was changed when I heard the musician who is your choice for the number one spot, and my thought has similarly been ever since, we‘re dealing here not with the greatest guitarist but the greatest contemporary musician of any instrument. He‘s the one that opened the cosmic doors, the harmonic seals, reharmonising jazz and in so doing showed us the harmonic language in, in my opinion, a form true to the language of the universe.
A brilliant and well thought out analysis and thoroughly righteous ranking. I’m a huge fan of John McLaughlin but I wholeheartedly agree with ranking “Allan Holdsworth” at the tip-top. I’ve seen both Holdsworth and McLaughlin live starting in the 1970s but your analysis is spot-on. Bravo!
Love your posts. I was curious on your thoughts on Bill Frisell. Many years ago Guitar Player had an issue on the 25 guitarists who shook the world and Bill made the list. I'd never heard of him at that time. I took a chance and purchased Where in The World. Cool stuff. He's such an interesting player.
Love the list. Like the channel (this is only the second of your videos I've watched). Your choices are well-argued and impassioned. I'll put it out there, though, that you're guilty of a minor omission around the 5:30 mark when you say that the fusion guitarists "were ahead of what the rock guitarists were doing, they were ahead of what the prog guitarists were doing"; okay, no argument. However, you failed to say what people hesitate to say--that is, that they were also ahead of what the straight jazz guitarists were doing.
I love every one of these guitarist Im happy you gave credit to Larry Coryell he kind of gets lost in the shuffle, was a personal friend. John Scolfield never grabbed me for some reason although I'm fully aware of his contribution , Im also glad you put Scott Henderson in there he's my go to guy i'd like to see live now that Mr Holdsworth is gone. great stuff, My uncle Joaquin Lievano is pears with these guys you can hear him on Jean luc Ponty records cosmic messenger through civilized evil and his solo stuff ,has a cool project named Fwap with Andy West (Dixie dregs) .Yeah Tommy Bolin ! he did do great fusion stuff from the rock perspective ! others might like Steve Morse listed not a personal favorite, I did like John Goodsall of brand X other honorable mentions are Larry Carlton , Eric Johnson Robben ford. But great list can't really argue with it. oh yeah Lee Ritnour is not to shabby .
GREAT list, I absolutely share your assessment. What about a top 20 list with Ray Gomez, David Sancious (on guitar), Corrado Rustici, Philip Catherine, Jan Akkerman, Terje Rypdal, Ray Russel, Frank Gambale, Shawn Lane, Steve Topping, Alan Murphy... ?
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I see, there' always one more to add. 🙏Maybe next time you'll create a "greatest fusion violinist" list. Then it becomes a bit more manageable...😂
This is the first comment I've seen mention Shawn Lane. I'd think he deserves to be on the list. Maybe because he died young he doesn't have the body of work others do, but man could he play.
@@gregjustlovesyoutubeguidelines I am working on a mega video that looks at the 50 greatest jazz fusion guitarists and he is on that. I'm a big Shawn Lane fan but I have my reservations
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I'm not big into fusion so I'll certainly take your word for it. Just out of curiosity because you won't get an argument from me, what are your reservations based on? Technically ability? Composition? His short snausage fingers? I appreciate your response.
Is this YOUR list? Lol! And yes, Holdsworth! I've been listening to Holdsworth for over 4 decades and his playing continues to stimulate and expand me. Forget the technical ability, Holdsworth was communicating things through his guitar that Carl Jung could probably help explain. On the technical side, Holdsworth would fluently and with perfect economy and framing of expression...play multiple melodies in a split second, each perfectly phrased and placed within the context of the passing chords and then repeat several variations of the same melodies with different voicings and note choices and emotional effect within the next second of passing chords and nothing was superfluous. If you don't stop the world to hear it, you'll miss it. This is why I understand you about Holdsworth. It's beyond guitar with him. McLaughlin, DiMeola, Scofield all approach it in different ways but, they stay in the guitar ballpark. They still speak through the voices of their guitars and use the accepted language of the industry. Holdsworth makes the guitar speak HIS voice, the voice in his heart/head that never quite reached his mouth! And he just happens to have incredible things to say. Tangent: all the fuss we make about instruments, technical ability, style and so on when we know it's the human being who makes the music, not the instrument. We say "Yeah, we know." But, no...most don't know it half as deeply as they need to know it and because, IMO, commercialism and the industry, discourages people from exploring and respecting the side of the human experience that produces artists like Holdsworth... you get an industry and consumers who facilitate the conditions that result in someone like Holdsworth dying broke. I'm done. Thanks for the platform. 🙂
If it werent for Eduardo, most Americans would have never heard of Allan. RIP to both. I had a rare chance to see Allan at the Iron Horse in Northamton, MA ---he signed one of my hybrids I had pieced together. Next time I had looked him up he was gone.
Great video. So many fantastic guitarists not mentioned ..... Terje Rypdal, Mike Stern, Wayne Krantz, John Abercrombie to name but a few. When is your 'Harry Secombe - an appreciation' video coming out?
Great list Andy! Some of my favourite Guitarists/Muso’s of all time. Would love to see a show on Bill Frisell, John Abercrombie, Terje Rypdal etc.You know, those sorts of players. I think it’s up your street.👍🙋♂️
@@GCKelloch Beck does not write. But he did make some of the greatest fusion albums of the seventies. Stern was great with Miles and released some good albums in the eighties but I would not rank him as high as Beck
In NOV 2007 I was @The Jazz Cafe all day to see Allan Holdsworth's first return show in London,(He told me in 10 years),for quite a long time. I was there all day,at Soundcheck,and then the Show. Allan asked me what else I was doing that week. And I told him that I was there to see him ,and Jeff Beck 'sresidency the following day @Ronnie Scott's. So I did hear Allan say how highly he thought of Jeff Beck,and he wished he could see him,but had other commitments that week. I went to all 6 shows of Jeff Beck,and was put in the front row by Jeff's management because some deranged person kept playing 'Air Guitar',and ruining the video footage.So,history has it I witnessed Guitar History as Jeff Beck's Video was made,and I spent a day seeing Allan. I think for influence Jeff Beck's fusion is right at the top. But John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth were both so much ahead and pioneers as well,Love them all forever! This is a great Video,but should be longer just like your Drummer Top 25, please add: Mike Stern,Lee Ritenour,Larry Carlton,Ray Gomez,John Abercrombie,Frank Gambale,Steve Morse,Jimmy Herring,John Goodsall,Jan Akkerman,Corrado Rustici,Dean Brown,Jef Lee Johnson,also Carlos Santana's Fusion period is note worthy. And here is a name that many people never heard of: Chris Siebold of:(Kick The Cat)... Great video Andy!
90 comments, mainly telling me the guitarists I missed! I am currently compiling a '50 Greatest Jazz Fusion Guitarists' list which will become an epic video and hopefully not miss anyone out!
Not to question your choices here, buy I would love to have your take on Bill Frisell sometime. I believe he fits into the jazz fusion genre, especially his ECM records and his Lyle Mays collaborations. Great job Andy.
Shot out to Al....incredible musitian and player, always loved him, and got to him a little late, my first album was no elegant gypsy or Land of the Midnight sun, it was Kiss my Axe... forever hooked to his music. I would have thrown in there Robben Ford, man, very underated, and Larry Carlton too, but then it would've been a top 13 or so, hehe. Cheers
Can't wait...the tease of There And Back....AAAAAGGGHH! Beck finest troika (Blow, Wired, T&B). He never topped it like that. Eager to hear your words. Cheers Andy!
I know who your number one is already.....!!! I LOVE Jeff Beck....and There & Back especially.....hopefully Bill Connors will on your list!! How could he not be????
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Yeah, “fusion” is of course a tricky label. But if defined as the meeting of jazz & rock then I find it hard not to include Zappa. Or how should one view “Hot Rats” & “The Grand Wazoo”? However. I kind of regard Hendrix as an early pioneer of fusion, then Zappa made it more complex Fusion - and then the rest of history followed 😂
Ugh!!, You stuck an ice pick into my heart with the number 1 and 2 choices, lol. But these are yours…and so be it. You are redeemed though with your inclusion of Larry Coryell. The architect? Yes…spot on! Great video but I’ll get over it! 😁
My list was almost identical with one major exception. I love Allan Holdsworth but John McLaughlin to me is way ahead in the grand scheme of things. Allan goes into some amazing esoteric places but I think the breadth and versatility of McLaughlin's playing cannot be surpassed by any other guitarist. Fusion, Jazz, Rock, and Indian music. He has done it all and with this spine tingling inspirational quality that is truly transcendental. Henderson is maybe the most exciting player alive today. I would have added Steve Morse. Nice to see Bill Connors here but I've also been perplexed with his similarity to Holdsworth. Maybe they both had similar influences and came to the same conclusions at the same time. Jeff Beck just gets better with age and that is unique. Metheny has the most beautiful phrasing of anybody for me and I appreciate that he resisted the direction that most of the other fusion players were going.
Bill Connors in his Return to Forever and Stanley Clarke days sounded nothing like Holdsworth. He was more on the Mahavishnu side and sounded raw as hell; I loved that sound and preferred it over Al DiMeola. But later he started to sound a bit too much like Holdsworth. Not sure why he jumped on that Holdsworth bandwagon like so many other young guitarists back then because he sounded great before that.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer just listen to Espresso II by Gong. His virtuosity is integrated with someone else’s vision but is still immaculate. JM is unbelievable, but in his own terms. AH was a musician’s musician.
I love all those albums. Having bought Extrapolation in 1971 during my first year at uni, when my tastes expanded beyond rock and prog, and Spectrum when it was first released, those early pioneers made a huge impression on me. The only guitarist from those early years that I might have included might be John Etheridge. However, I would not have dropped any of yours out so maybe that's my top eleven. I would probably have put John McLaughlin at no. 1 but that's just me. 🙂 Richard
excellent list. I am not surprised that the great Gary Moore was nowhere in sight. His work with Colosseum II was absolutely masterful. I'm a drummer and any guitarist that I turned on to Gary never failed to be blown away. And not only was Gary masterful at fusion, he was masterful in hard rock and masterful in the blues! Gary was no one trick pony. Guitar players in the know rave about Gary. I don't think he got the recognition he deserved. And it's a damn shame that some people only know him as a blues player. Gary was so much more.
I agree with everything you said about Allan 110%. But....around 1980 (when I'd been playing guitar for about 5 years) I picked up an old record by James Taylor - a very very good folk guitarist. Halfway through the LP and there is an innocuous sounding romantic tune called 'Someone' and in the middle of that song I hear an acoustic guitar solo at blistering pace yet with beautiful melodies and sensitivity to the core of the song and my jaw hit the floor. Immediately I grabbed the album cover thinking ' who the hell is that' only to find it is John McLaughlin - what is he doing on this James Taylor record? It is still I believe the best acoustic guitar solo on record.
Dude, got it right abut the top two.. For the longest time, John and Allan were my daddies on guitar. Last year I checked out a RTF album with Connors, and realized that DiMeola sounded like him (having been a DiMeola fan for many years).. Of all the Yardbirds guitarists, Jeff Beck was the one that grew the most on guitar. Clapton focused on being a songwriter, and Page was Page.. All awesome accomplishments, but Beck took the guitar playing further. Of all the albums that helped me transition from rock to fusion, there was Blow by Blow, Inside Story, and believe it or not, Mother Focus. Jeff, Robben and Jan were telling stories..
Nice list! I would put Steve Morse on here instead of Bill Conners. Morse is a victim of being too versatile. Yes he's been playing rock gigs, but Morse and the Dregs where peak 2nd generation fusion with a unique dose of Americana.
I remember seeing Soft Machine with Alan Holdsworth at Birmingham University in the 70’s. During the first number he looked uncomfortable. He walked off stage mid-song then walked back on with his coat on and continued playing, it was a duffle coat. I agree Alan should be number one.
I'm glad that I clicked on this link. I usually avoid 'greatest' videos, but this was well thought out. I was at the edge of my chair waiting for whether McLaughlin or Holdsworth was going to land at #1. So apparently I took this seriously. :-) I read some comments from McLaughlin praising Holdsworth, so I don't think he'd mind the rating. John also told me that he really liked Jeff Beck (that was after both bands toured together). I missed Bill Connors in Return To Forever though. I never got nearly as interested in DiMeola except for his technique. Bill had such great focus, imagination and tone. DiMeola was a shredder. All IMO, of course. You're also right that there are two missing Holdsworth albums that have Bill Connors' name on them. An achievement in itself, but...weird. He didn't seem to think that he was channeling Holdsworth either.
I've seen 7 of the 10 guitarists on this list live in my formative learning years ('70's - '80's). I would go so far as to watch their hands from the front row with binoculars. After seeing all those legendary musicians, to this day, so many things, apart from soloing, but my chord voicings to choice of equipment is flavored by Holdsworth.
One thing that is great about this list is the diversity, especially when so many greats don’t make your ten. Players like Scott Henderson (one of my favourites) kind of represents that bluesy/rock-jazz element that someone else like Robben Ford (another favourite) has. Schofield and Metheny (I’ve seen Metheny live more than any other guitarist) cover different elements of post-bebop playing that is also the territory of Mike Stern (though all 3 are very different). There are too many greats in all these fields, so you’ve done well to stick to your ten.
They were pretty much the same 10 I'd choose , but I'd have gone with John over Allan at 1 and 2 though. The sheer breatdth and diversity of his out-put, and all at an incredible level puts him at 1 for me. And he's still burning at age 80 !
In the last few weeks I’ve seen Pat Metheny, Jeff Beck, (couldn’t get to John McLaughlin as I was at the Marillion weekend but saw him at the Barbican in 2019 and it was amazing). What a time to be alive.
So, you start out of the gate with two of my favorite albums (Billy and Stanley) - so...yeah...I was all in from the start. Then you went straight to Scott Henderson. And then...and then. I was trying hard to disagree with your picks - but couldn't. Thanks.
Interesting list. I might quibble with some of the things you said during the Jeff Beck explanation though he deserves his place imho. Holdsworth is someone I've come to appreciate after the event, Coryell was my favourite in the 70's. Like others I'd give Jan Akkerman a mention if not a place on the list. There are probably more top quality guitarists at this moment than there has ever been, from Julian Lage to Guthrie Trapp taking in Matteus Assato and too many others to mention but they all pwe something to those on the list.
under rated guys.terje rypdal,david gilmore not the floyd guy,ray russel,gary boyle.a in depth appraisal of terje rypdal would be cool,doesnt get hardly enough kudos
Once again, our ears and historical perspectives are SO similar (perhaps drummers in these genres have similar sensibilities) - : 1. Alan Holdsworth 2. John Mclaughlin 3. John Scofield 4. Jeff Beck 5. Pat Metheny (took me a while to appreciate) 6. Scott Henderson 7. Bill Connors 8. Steve Morse (perhaps a stretch to call Dregs Jazz Fusion) 9. Al Dimeola 10. Frank Gambale 11. Bireli Lagrene 12. Hiram Bullock 13. Greg Howe 14. Shawn Lane 15. John Abercrombie 16. Jan Akkerman
When you mentioned Scott Henderson at #7, I thought it has to be a mistake but looking at the other players and the influence they had, I can see why. Holdsworth is pure genius. On another level musically
Pat Metheny and John McLaughlin are my favourite jazz fusion guitarists. I love the albums in which they switch up to the acoustic guitar. Right now, don't know why, I feel like I'm not in the mood for electric guitar... But when I go back to it, I'll probably watch this video again to get some recommendations. Thank you very much for the video. :-)
I think I can play something from most guitarists but Allan is just from another world. I have no problem with him at nr. 1 but I would pick McLaughlin. I like the music from Pat Metheny the most. I think he is the modern day Mozart and greatest composer in jazz last 40 years. All 3 are so good guitar players that it would just be a matter of taste. Larry Carlton guitar solos on Kid Charlemagne. Untouchable!
Your list also has a 1-2 for Yorkshire: McLaughlin, Doncaster; Holdsworth, Bradford. Something in the water or is it because it is, according to Yorkshire tykes, ‘God’s Own Country’?
Great list, Andy. I have no problem with anyone in your ranking, nor with the positions in which you placed them. I would like to add six more greats as honorable mentions whom I would love to squeeze into the top 10, if it were possible to squeeze sixteen guitarists into a list of ten. It's just way too difficult to cut a "best fusion guitarists" list down to a "Top 10", so these are worthy of an honorable mention: Mike Stern Lee Ritenour Larry Carlton Guthrie Govan Lionel Loueke Greg Howe
@@GCKelloch he has been around a long time, playing with Scofield, Stern, Zorn, and the quartet Bass Desires the early stuff on ECM. I would say that is all fusion.
@@GCKelloch I don't think that should stop someone playing fusion at all. But to get into the top ten fusion players I think there are a ton of criteria to take into account and jazz chops is one.
Kudos for the Tommy Bolin. Mention his name, and you'll get, "..the guy from Deep Purple?" He was a Harry Nilsson - complex, and willing to express 100% of himself in his music. You're right - he was improving exponentially right to the end.
Great list and I agree with 80% of em! I'd have had John Scofield and John Abercrombie in there personally but hard to fit em in! Also I love Philip Catherine but hard to fit him in... :D
Certainly a solid list partial to John McLaughlin “grew” up from the early 70’s to now / liked Sco and Coryell & DiMeola in top 5 - Jeff Beck was a keen add and one I may have had in top ten would have been John Abercrombie - technically competent and a good composer - your list your show - get it!
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Ehm...Philip Catherine between prog & fusion... Maybe for a short period when he replaced Jan Akkerman in Focus but he´s a well respected jazz guitar player for decades. So his music is more in the vein of Toots' music. He´s Belgian jazz royalty.
Nice one....can't argue with your choices although it would make a great discussion down the pub.... Glad you mentioned Scott with Zawinul as that is still my favourite SH!! Agree about Larry's phrasing...I love his playing on the Sevile concert with Stanley....and his version of Impressions shows his unique phrasing.... I will save my comments about Allan for the pub!!!
Anyone that puts Allan Holdsworth at number one on a jazz fusion guitarist ranking is an incredible emotional and intellectual listener. This list is spot on!
I can't argue with Andy's top 10,but I would give a honourable mention to Frank Gambale.
Gambale or Scott Henderson?
+1
In 1975, at the ripe old age of 20, I listened to Becks blow by blow for the first time in a store through electrostatic headphones. I was absolutely knocked out by his original inventive style that spans a wide range of dynamics from delicate to thunder! 47 years later, it remains one of my all-time favorite albums. And I believe it’s no coincidence that Jeff Beck was highly influenced by Tommy Bolin’s style, especially from Billy Cobham‘s album, Spectrum.
That album actually changed my life! I had gotten into jazz when I was about 17 years old, having been mostly listening to and playing rock prior to that. I'm a guitar player and I began to feel like I was playing the wrong instrument. Horn players can scream and honk on their axes and make one note last for a minute, while my big hollow-body jazz box wouldn't last more than 3 seconds before a note dies out. Then I listened to Beck's version of "Because We've Ended as Lovers" and was reminded how expressive a guitar could be with some distortion and light gauge strings. I still play with a hollow-body and heavy gauge strings on straight ahead jazz gigs, but for everything else (including wedding and corporate party gigs where you play pop/rock and my own original material fusion band that played in clubs for 15 years), I use solid-bodies with light strings. I still love sax and trumpet players, but I'm glad I stuck with guitar! Thanks, Jeff Beck!
Great list, maybe in a Top 50, you can include John Abercrombie, Larry Carlton, Mike Stern, Pat Martino, Jukka Tolonen, Volker Kriegel, Wayne Krantz, Frank Gambale, Shawn Lane, Greg Howe, Hiram Bullock. Gary Boyle, John Etheridge, Brett Garsed, Corrado Rustici, Steve Morse, Terje Rypdal, Robben Ford, Steve Khan, Ollie Halsall, John Goodsall, John Tropea, Ray Gomez, Georg Wadenius, Philip Catherine, Jan Akkerman, and Max Sunyrer.
Steve Khan, Hiram Bullock , Larry Carlton, Frank Gambale are favorites but I would also add David Sancious and Roland Bautista...if you know, you know.
Allan Holdsworth is Bradford's greatest musical export, and Bradford is UK City of Culture 2025. Had Allan been alive he should have got top billing, but I'll settle for the Post Office issuing a set of stamps in his honour. Holdsworth is a true original, how many other guitarists (or musicians for that matter) developed their own highly unique and beautiful harmonic language, spawning so many imitators? I stumbled upon the Bill Bruford album "Feels Good To Me" when I was 16, completely transformed my musical outlook (double bonus of AH and Dave Stewart).
He should have a statue up in Bradford...but our culture does not value true originality...
Bradford …city of culture 2025…loool. Culture disappeared from Bradford decades ago.
Joe Satriani said in an interview: When 16 I thought I just needed some time and diligence to do what Holdsworth did. Now I'm 60 and I have no idea how he is doing this.
I love Alan Holdsworth too. The first time I ever heard him was on the UK song-"In The Dead Of Night"-the solo is quite short but the way it builds and builds just blows me away. Also love his contribution to the first two Bruford Albums.
The greatest musician of the last 50 years...period.
That was the first time I heard him too, and I just love the sound of his guitar 👍👊
You picked my #1
Thanks Andy, a great video, Larry Coryell is my favourite with Tommy Bolin and Jeff Beck tied in 2nd place, As you know, there are many other great but lesser known jazz-rock guitarists from the 70's such as John Etheridge, Ray Gomez, Eef Albers. Ollie Halsall, Janne Schaffer, Jukka Tolonen, and Volker Kriegel, etc. My favourite post-70's jazz-rock guitarist is Scott Henderson. I love this subject and could go on for hours. Your work is highly appreciated.
Great to see 2 fellow Yorkshireman come first and second on your list.
I know...the Universe is a strange isn't it?
John Tropea, Ray Gomez, Max Sunyer, Pat Martino, Jukka Tolonen, Volker Kriegel, Wayne Krantz, Gary Boyle, Bill Connors, Brett Garsed, Ollie Halsall, Terje Rypdal, John Goodsall, George Wadenius, Claus Bohling, and some others should be included in a Top 50. Great list Andy.
Thank you for saying AH is the best, on all levels. You are spot on.
Ray Gomez, on Narada's Garden of Love light. I'd never heard a guitar growl, before.
John Goodsall ( Brand X) is a fine fusion guitarist 🎸
John’s recent concert in Dublin absolutely floored me. It’s astounding that he can still tear it up - at eighty-years-old! Great list, Andy. Cheers.
I mentioned that tour in this video I think...incredible what you can do when you tell your hands they are beautiful every day! JM is a force of nature...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer saw him at barbican few months back,took a mate,who had never seen him,he loved it.ive seen him a few times,i allways enjoy seeing john.these days though,he does hold back a bit,and gives his band loads of room,everyone gets a lengthy solo,but a husband drum solo,then a barot drum solo,then a husband/barot together drum solo,was a bit much for a guitarist like me,it was all very tight,slick,complex fusion,and mclaughlin was playing very much as a band member,rather than leading upfront.still cool,but i wanted to hear him let rip a bit more,like he did on the usa tour with jimmy herring,where on birds of fire he opens fire on a prs double neck guitar,and shoots sapphire bullets of love at the audience,and reminded me why many think hes no1,lift you out of youre seat stuff,he also sounded like he was playing through a amp at those mahavishnu revisited gigs,rather than going through some usb thing he uses now
I’ve been watching TH-cam vids of his concerts for this year. He is still an amazing force. 80 years old….Dang!
@@elbib2446 Great comment!
Philip Catherine is also worth checking out.
Excellent ranking video of some of the greatest guitarists to have walked the earth! Yes indeed - Larry Coryell, Tommy Bolin, Bill Connors, Jeff Beck, Al Di Meola, and John MacLaughlin are all waaaaaaaaay up there on my list. The others you mentioned are also part of my record collection - very fine guitarists from whom I derive great enjoyment and inspiration as well. A couple more I would add are Shawn Lane and Terje Rypdal.
So glad to see Larry Coryell on your list👍🏼
Thank you so much Andy. I’m on a train for a eight hour trip to northern Sweden…a bit bored. I always turn to TH-cam when I’m on these long trips. At age 69 I’ve been a rock/jazz fusion fan for more than 50 years and it was a true pleasure to watch your list. To me it doesn’t matter if one of your featured guitarists is ranked no 1 or no 10. They have all contributed to my musical experience and all of them have given me true and amazing musical experiences. Great video, thanks again!
Thanks for approaching these lists with the right attitude...they are entertainment! What I want is for half the list to be something the viewer can agree, and half where they don't, and then have a good chat about each artist.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Thanks for your reply. If I was to make the list, Bill Connors would be way up! Return to Forever with him on guitar was even better than the Al Dimeola version. He was unique. AD was/is sometimes predictable. Thanks again
I couldn't agree more with your number 1 pick and what you said about him.
Great list, I'm glad Bill Connors is in it, but it's so difficult to choose only ten, because there are so many greats, known or unknown. Personnally I would have added John Abercrombie or maybe Ralph Towner, but again your list is perfectly fine.
I'm waiting for your video on jazz fusion drummers now..
My fusion drummers video covers 25 and is 90mins long and pretty exhaustive. It took ages to put together though...
Yes, Towner and Abercrombie. Maybe too young to be as impactful but...Ben Monder, talk about open minded!
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer90min ? Awesome, it's gonna be great..
@@kcydm9725 If it does well I will do more epic videos
Sonny Sharrock's Ask the Ages is my favorite jazz fusion guitar album.
Love his music and that album
I was a percussion major in the State's in the 80's. Every student I hung with had First Circle- what a great record. Bruford's solo albums introduced me to Holdsworth. One of a Kind is a top 5 fusion album for me.
Such a great choice... Tommy Bolin. So underestimated, even forgotten, today.
You're so right.
What great picks. Really hard to argue any of them being on your top 10.
My top 10 greatest fusion guitarists would be:
1. Larry Carlton
2. Scott Henderson (Tribal Tech)
3. Ted Hall (The Fents)
4. Tommy Bolin (By far Bolin's best work was on Alphonse Mouzon - Nitroglycerin 1975.)
5. Pat Metheny Group
6. Renaud Louis-Servais Group
7. Al Di Meola
8. Gary Boyle (Isotope)
9. Mike Stern
10. Allan Holdsworth
In terms of note choice and capacity to bring JOY to the listener ( which is extremely difficult) I would include players like Larry Carlton , Carlos Santana, George Benson (who is also a pure jazz virtuoso).
Love Scott Henderson’s playing. That HBC album with Jeff Berlin & Dennis Chambers is an all time favourite.
Me too
Phenomenal List and Ranked very well!
Great list. Thank you.
It’s always nice to have your own thoughts confirmed by someone who is a professional in the field, this was a very entertaining and informative list for me. Personally my life was changed when I heard the musician who is your choice for the number one spot, and my thought has similarly been ever since, we‘re dealing here not with the greatest guitarist but the greatest contemporary musician of any instrument. He‘s the one that opened the cosmic doors, the harmonic seals, reharmonising jazz and in so doing showed us the harmonic language in, in my opinion, a form true to the language of the universe.
A brilliant and well thought out analysis and thoroughly righteous ranking. I’m a huge fan of John McLaughlin but I wholeheartedly agree with ranking “Allan Holdsworth” at the tip-top. I’ve seen both Holdsworth and McLaughlin live starting in the 1970s but your analysis is spot-on. Bravo!
Love your posts. I was curious on your thoughts on Bill Frisell. Many years ago Guitar Player had an issue on the 25 guitarists who shook the world and Bill made the list. I'd never heard of him at that time. I took a chance and purchased Where in The World. Cool stuff. He's such an interesting player.
"Fusac", LOL. I had not heard that term before. Perfect name for the Kenny G set. Bill Bruford called it "hot tub jazz".
Great list. Also love the Harry Secombe album on the shelf - nice touch.
You will spot Ken Dodd on a future video if you keep watching.
This video is largely correct. Thank you for posting.
You're welcome
Love the list. Like the channel (this is only the second of your videos I've watched). Your choices are well-argued and impassioned. I'll put it out there, though, that you're guilty of a minor omission around the 5:30 mark when you say that the fusion guitarists "were ahead of what the rock guitarists were doing, they were ahead of what the prog guitarists were doing"; okay, no argument. However, you failed to say what people hesitate to say--that is, that they were also ahead of what the straight jazz guitarists were doing.
Well said...The history of jazz guitar in three names...Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, John McLaughlin...
I appreciate that you put John Scofield so high on the list at #4. I love his work with Medeski Martin & Wood.
I'm a big Sco fan...greatest fusion guitarist of the last forty years
I love every one of these guitarist Im happy you gave credit to Larry Coryell he kind of gets lost in the shuffle, was a personal friend. John Scolfield never grabbed me for some reason
although I'm fully aware of his contribution , Im also glad you put Scott Henderson in there he's my go to guy i'd like to see live now that Mr Holdsworth is gone. great stuff, My uncle Joaquin Lievano is pears with these guys you can hear him on Jean luc Ponty records cosmic messenger through civilized evil and his solo stuff ,has a cool project named Fwap with Andy West (Dixie dregs) .Yeah Tommy Bolin ! he did do great fusion stuff from the rock perspective ! others might like Steve Morse listed not a personal favorite, I did like John Goodsall of brand X
other honorable mentions are Larry Carlton , Eric Johnson Robben ford. But great list can't really argue with it. oh yeah Lee Ritnour is not to shabby .
GREAT list, I absolutely share your assessment. What about a top 20 list with Ray Gomez, David Sancious (on guitar), Corrado Rustici, Philip Catherine, Jan Akkerman, Terje Rypdal, Ray Russel, Frank Gambale, Shawn Lane, Steve Topping, Alan Murphy... ?
I have done a 25 best fusion drummers video for that reason.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I see, there' always one more to add. 🙏Maybe next time you'll create a "greatest fusion violinist" list. Then it becomes a bit more manageable...😂
This is the first comment I've seen mention Shawn Lane. I'd think he deserves to be on the list. Maybe because he died young he doesn't have the body of work others do, but man could he play.
@@gregjustlovesyoutubeguidelines I am working on a mega video that looks at the 50 greatest jazz fusion guitarists and he is on that. I'm a big Shawn Lane fan but I have my reservations
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I'm not big into fusion so I'll certainly take your word for it. Just out of curiosity because you won't get an argument from me, what are your reservations based on? Technically ability? Composition? His short snausage fingers? I appreciate your response.
What a fun and delicious list!!!!
But no one gives John Abercrombie the love
Thank You so much for your vídeos.
My pleasure!
Is this YOUR list? Lol! And yes, Holdsworth! I've been listening to Holdsworth for over 4 decades and his playing continues to stimulate and expand me. Forget the technical ability, Holdsworth was communicating things through his guitar that Carl Jung could probably help explain. On the technical side, Holdsworth would fluently and with perfect economy and framing of expression...play multiple melodies in a split second, each perfectly phrased and placed within the context of the passing chords and then repeat several variations of the same melodies with different voicings and note choices and emotional effect within the next second of passing chords and nothing was superfluous. If you don't stop the world to hear it, you'll miss it. This is why I understand you about Holdsworth. It's beyond guitar with him. McLaughlin, DiMeola, Scofield all approach it in different ways but, they stay in the guitar ballpark. They still speak through the voices of their guitars and use the accepted language of the industry. Holdsworth makes the guitar speak HIS voice, the voice in his heart/head that never quite reached his mouth! And he just happens to have incredible things to say.
Tangent: all the fuss we make about instruments, technical ability, style and so on when we know it's the human being who makes the music, not the instrument. We say "Yeah, we know." But, no...most don't know it half as deeply as they need to know it and because, IMO, commercialism and the industry, discourages people from exploring and respecting the side of the human experience that produces artists like Holdsworth... you get an industry and consumers who facilitate the conditions that result in someone like Holdsworth dying broke. I'm done. Thanks for the platform. 🙂
If it werent for Eduardo, most Americans would have never heard of Allan. RIP to both. I had a rare chance to see Allan at the Iron Horse in Northamton, MA ---he signed one of my hybrids I had pieced together. Next time I had looked him up he was gone.
Yes Sir the list is right on I would say !!!! Thank You
Great video. So many fantastic guitarists not mentioned ..... Terje Rypdal, Mike Stern, Wayne Krantz, John Abercrombie to name but a few. When is your 'Harry Secombe - an appreciation' video coming out?
Great list Andy! Some of my favourite Guitarists/Muso’s of all time. Would love to see a show on Bill Frisell, John Abercrombie, Terje Rypdal etc.You know, those sorts of players. I think it’s up your street.👍🙋♂️
Check out my up and coming 50 jazz fusion guitarists video
Great list. As influential guitarists I’d definitely have to put Coryell in the top five however as he was the first…
Insightful and passionate.
Well done sir.
Thank you kindly!
This is going to be interesting!😊🎸🤘🏻
Great list I would have swapped Beck for Mike Stern but the rest was spot on. 👍
Beck has sold 5 million albums and Wired and Blow by Blow is better than any Mike Stern Album...his playing on We Want Miles is legendary though
@@GCKelloch Beck does not write. But he did make some of the greatest fusion albums of the seventies. Stern was great with Miles and released some good albums in the eighties but I would not rank him as high as Beck
@@GCKelloch He composed 'Beck's Bolero' supposedly but I don't think he really did. No he does not write on his albums
In NOV 2007 I was @The Jazz Cafe all day to see Allan Holdsworth's first return show in London,(He told me in 10 years),for quite a long time. I was there all day,at Soundcheck,and then the Show.
Allan asked me what else I was doing that week. And I told him that I was there to see him ,and Jeff Beck 'sresidency the following day @Ronnie Scott's. So I did hear Allan say how highly he thought of Jeff Beck,and he wished he could see him,but had other commitments that week. I went to all 6 shows of Jeff Beck,and was put in the front row by Jeff's management because some deranged person kept playing 'Air Guitar',and ruining the video footage.So,history has it I witnessed Guitar History as Jeff Beck's Video was made,and I spent a day seeing Allan. I think for influence
Jeff Beck's fusion is right at the top. But John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth were both so much ahead and pioneers as well,Love them all forever! This is a great Video,but should be longer just like your Drummer Top 25, please add: Mike Stern,Lee Ritenour,Larry Carlton,Ray Gomez,John Abercrombie,Frank Gambale,Steve Morse,Jimmy Herring,John Goodsall,Jan Akkerman,Corrado Rustici,Dean Brown,Jef Lee Johnson,also Carlos Santana's Fusion period is note worthy. And here is a name that many people never heard of: Chris Siebold of:(Kick The Cat)... Great video Andy!
90 comments, mainly telling me the guitarists I missed! I am currently compiling a '50 Greatest Jazz Fusion Guitarists' list which will become an epic video and hopefully not miss anyone out!
I hope John Goodsall from Brand X will be one of them..
Not to question your choices here, buy I would love to have your take on Bill Frisell sometime. I believe he fits into the jazz fusion genre, especially his ECM records and his Lyle Mays collaborations. Great job Andy.
Shot out to Al....incredible musitian and player, always loved him, and got to him a little late, my first album was no elegant gypsy or Land of the Midnight sun, it was Kiss my Axe... forever hooked to his music. I would have thrown in there Robben Ford, man, very underated, and Larry Carlton too, but then it would've been a top 13 or so, hehe. Cheers
Can't wait...the tease of There And Back....AAAAAGGGHH! Beck finest troika (Blow, Wired, T&B). He never topped it like that. Eager to hear your words. Cheers Andy!
Could you not put Jeff on this list??? I have disturbed sleep worrying who I have missed off these lists...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Agreed, then. Let's put Bill Connors on, and swap 'em out. : )
@@billypaice8956 Or Tommy Bolin....
I know who your number one is already.....!!!
I LOVE Jeff Beck....and There & Back especially.....hopefully Bill Connors will on your list!! How could he not be????
Great thoughts 👌🏻
I would likely have included Zappa, and possibly even Hendrix (and I would “of course” put McLaughlin at No:1) 🤩😂
Yes...is Zappa a fusion guitarist though? I really did consider him...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Yeah, “fusion” is of course a tricky label. But if defined as the meeting of jazz & rock then I find it hard not to include Zappa. Or how should one view “Hot Rats” & “The Grand Wazoo”?
However. I kind of regard Hendrix as an early pioneer of fusion, then Zappa made it more complex Fusion - and then the rest of history followed 😂
@@GCKelloch But he wrote fusion tunes...a lot... open the Real Book and some are in there. He is not fusion but he made fusion, like Miles...
To me this is total fusion ✌🏻🤩
th-cam.com/video/FXolg6ywzPY/w-d-xo.html
Hendrix? Did he play any jazz at all?
Listen to Upside Downside. Listen to Time In Place.
Ugh!!, You stuck an ice pick into my heart with the number 1 and 2 choices, lol. But these are yours…and so be it. You are redeemed though with your inclusion of Larry Coryell. The architect? Yes…spot on! Great video but I’ll get over it! 😁
My list was almost identical with one major exception. I love Allan Holdsworth but John McLaughlin to me is way ahead in the grand scheme of things. Allan goes into some amazing esoteric places but I think the breadth and versatility of McLaughlin's playing cannot be surpassed by any other guitarist. Fusion, Jazz, Rock, and Indian music. He has done it all and with this spine tingling inspirational quality that is truly transcendental. Henderson is maybe the most exciting player alive today. I would have added Steve Morse. Nice to see Bill Connors here but I've also been perplexed with his similarity to Holdsworth. Maybe they both had similar influences and came to the same conclusions at the same time. Jeff Beck just gets better with age and that is unique. Metheny has the most beautiful phrasing of anybody for me and I appreciate that he resisted the direction that most of the other fusion players were going.
I know what you mean about JM...but AH is pretty versatile too...Krokus, Level 42 and John Stevens is pretty versatile too...
A very good comment!! Kudos to you.
Bill Connors in his Return to Forever and Stanley Clarke days sounded nothing like Holdsworth. He was more on the Mahavishnu side and sounded raw as hell; I loved that sound and preferred it over Al DiMeola. But later he started to sound a bit too much like Holdsworth. Not sure why he jumped on that Holdsworth bandwagon like so many other young guitarists back then because he sounded great before that.
Even JM said he had no idea what Allan was doing and how he achieved his sound. Cannot get a better endorsement than that.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer just listen to Espresso II by Gong. His virtuosity is integrated with someone else’s vision but is still immaculate. JM is unbelievable, but in his own terms. AH was a musician’s musician.
I love all those albums. Having bought Extrapolation in 1971 during my first year at uni, when my tastes expanded beyond rock and prog, and Spectrum when it was first released, those early pioneers made a huge impression on me. The only guitarist from those early years that I might have included might be John Etheridge. However, I would not have dropped any of yours out so maybe that's my top eleven. I would probably have put John McLaughlin at no. 1 but that's just me. 🙂
Richard
Glad Holdsworth is number one here!
John Goodsall is great, for jazz-ROCK fusion, he should have been on this list.
Excelente
Great list. How about a list of top ten Rock drummers. And top ten Reggae groups
excellent list. I am not surprised that the great Gary Moore was nowhere in sight. His work with Colosseum II was absolutely masterful. I'm a drummer and any guitarist that I turned on to Gary never failed to be blown away. And not only was Gary masterful at fusion, he was masterful in hard rock and masterful in the blues! Gary was no one trick pony. Guitar players in the know rave about Gary. I don't think he got the recognition he deserved. And it's a damn shame that some people only know him as a blues player. Gary was so much more.
check out my favourite guitar solos video
I agree with everything you said about Allan 110%. But....around 1980 (when I'd been playing guitar for about 5 years) I picked up an old record by James Taylor - a very very good folk guitarist. Halfway through the LP and there is an innocuous sounding romantic tune called 'Someone' and in the middle of that song I hear an acoustic guitar solo at blistering pace yet with beautiful melodies and sensitivity to the core of the song and my jaw hit the floor. Immediately I grabbed the album cover thinking ' who the hell is that' only to find it is John McLaughlin - what is he doing on this James Taylor record? It is still I believe the best acoustic guitar solo on record.
Dude, got it right abut the top two.. For the longest time, John and Allan were my daddies on guitar. Last year I checked out a RTF album with Connors, and realized that DiMeola sounded like him (having been a DiMeola fan for many years).. Of all the Yardbirds guitarists, Jeff Beck was the one that grew the most on guitar. Clapton focused on being a songwriter, and Page was Page.. All awesome accomplishments, but Beck took the guitar playing further. Of all the albums that helped me transition from rock to fusion, there was Blow by Blow, Inside Story, and believe it or not, Mother Focus. Jeff, Robben and Jan were telling stories..
Beautiful list, and yeah, tough choice for 1 & 2…
Thanks!
Nice list! I would put Steve Morse on here instead of Bill Conners. Morse is a victim of being too versatile.
Yes he's been playing rock gigs, but Morse and the Dregs where peak 2nd generation fusion with a unique dose of Americana.
I remember seeing Soft Machine with Alan Holdsworth at Birmingham University in the 70’s. During the first number he looked uncomfortable. He walked off stage mid-song then walked back on with his coat on and continued playing, it was a duffle coat. I agree Alan should be number one.
Great list Andy. Thank you for your efforts. Love guitar, love fusion, love this vid.
I'm glad that I clicked on this link. I usually avoid 'greatest' videos, but this was well thought out. I was at the edge of my chair waiting for whether McLaughlin or Holdsworth was going to land at #1. So apparently I took this seriously. :-) I read some comments from McLaughlin praising Holdsworth, so I don't think he'd mind the rating. John also told me that he really liked Jeff Beck (that was after both bands toured together).
I missed Bill Connors in Return To Forever though. I never got nearly as interested in DiMeola except for his technique. Bill had such great focus, imagination and tone. DiMeola was a shredder. All IMO, of course. You're also right that there are two missing Holdsworth albums that have Bill Connors' name on them. An achievement in itself, but...weird. He didn't seem to think that he was channeling Holdsworth either.
I've seen 7 of the 10 guitarists on this list live in my formative learning years ('70's - '80's). I would go so far as to watch their hands from the front row with binoculars. After seeing all those legendary musicians, to this day, so many things, apart from soloing, but my chord voicings to choice of equipment is flavored by Holdsworth.
Did you see Bolin????
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I didn't see Bolin, Conners or Metheny live, but all the rest...musical transcendence!
Loved your choices! Maybe Allan Holdsworth usually gets overlooked because he is so far beyond most of us.
One thing that is great about this list is the diversity, especially when so many greats don’t make your ten. Players like Scott Henderson (one of my favourites) kind of represents that bluesy/rock-jazz element that someone else like Robben Ford (another favourite) has. Schofield and Metheny (I’ve seen Metheny live more than any other guitarist) cover different elements of post-bebop playing that is also the territory of Mike Stern (though all 3 are very different). There are too many greats in all these fields, so you’ve done well to stick to your ten.
Thanks Paul...I have also filmed a mammoth top 50 fusion guitarists video that is coming out soon which sort of explored what you have commented on...
They were pretty much the same 10 I'd choose , but I'd have gone with John over Allan at 1 and 2 though. The sheer breatdth and diversity of his out-put, and all at an incredible level puts him at 1 for me. And he's still burning at age 80 !
It's comparing two genius guitarists. But what Allan does is astonishing...even to John...
In the last few weeks I’ve seen Pat Metheny, Jeff Beck, (couldn’t get to John McLaughlin as I was at the Marillion weekend but saw him at the Barbican in 2019 and it was amazing). What a time to be alive.
So, you start out of the gate with two of my favorite albums (Billy and Stanley) - so...yeah...I was all in from the start. Then you went straight to Scott Henderson. And then...and then. I was trying hard to disagree with your picks - but couldn't. Thanks.
Interesting list. I might quibble with some of the things you said during the Jeff Beck explanation though he deserves his place imho. Holdsworth is someone I've come to appreciate after the event, Coryell was my favourite in the 70's. Like others I'd give Jan Akkerman a mention if not a place on the list. There are probably more top quality guitarists at this moment than there has ever been, from Julian Lage to Guthrie Trapp taking in Matteus Assato and too many others to mention but they all pwe something to those on the list.
Excellent list!!
under rated guys.terje rypdal,david gilmore not the floyd guy,ray russel,gary boyle.a in depth appraisal of terje rypdal would be cool,doesnt get hardly enough kudos
Thank you so much for Tommy Bolin. He deserves so much in this style.
Chuck Loeb, Lee Ritenour, Steve Lukather, Mike Goodrick, Paul Jackson Jr.
Pete Cosey, James Blood Ulmer, Bern Nix, Charles Ellerbee, Mike Stern, John Abercrombie, Sonny Sharrock, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny
Once again, our ears and historical perspectives are SO similar (perhaps drummers in these genres have similar sensibilities) - :
1. Alan Holdsworth
2. John Mclaughlin
3. John Scofield
4. Jeff Beck
5. Pat Metheny (took me a while to appreciate)
6. Scott Henderson
7. Bill Connors
8. Steve Morse (perhaps a stretch to call Dregs Jazz Fusion)
9. Al Dimeola
10. Frank Gambale
11. Bireli Lagrene
12. Hiram Bullock
13. Greg Howe
14. Shawn Lane
15. John Abercrombie
16. Jan Akkerman
All favourites of mine.
When you mentioned Scott Henderson at #7, I thought it has to be a mistake but looking at the other players and the influence they had, I can see why.
Holdsworth is pure genius. On another level musically
Pat Metheny and John McLaughlin are my favourite jazz fusion guitarists. I love the albums in which they switch up to the acoustic guitar. Right now, don't know why, I feel like I'm not in the mood for electric guitar... But when I go back to it, I'll probably watch this video again to get some recommendations.
Thank you very much for the video. :-)
Great video! John is number 1 because of Shakti. That sepetates him from the rest.
Jeff Beck said that he was unhappy with the overall sound /production on There and Back stating that is sounded too pristine and polished.
Wow Larry Coryell!!!! Youre Special!!
I think I can play something from most guitarists but Allan is just from another world. I have no problem with him at nr. 1 but I would pick McLaughlin. I like the music from Pat Metheny the most. I think he is the modern day Mozart and greatest composer in jazz last 40 years. All 3 are so good guitar players that it would just be a matter of taste. Larry Carlton guitar solos on Kid Charlemagne. Untouchable!
Your list also has a 1-2 for Yorkshire: McLaughlin, Doncaster; Holdsworth, Bradford. Something in the water or is it because it is, according to Yorkshire tykes, ‘God’s Own Country’?
Great list, Andy. I have no problem with anyone in your ranking, nor with the positions in which you placed them. I would like to add six more greats as honorable mentions whom I would love to squeeze into the top 10, if it were possible to squeeze sixteen guitarists into a list of ten. It's just way too difficult to cut a "best fusion guitarists" list down to a "Top 10", so these are worthy of an honorable mention:
Mike Stern
Lee Ritenour
Larry Carlton
Guthrie Govan
Lionel Loueke
Greg Howe
Yep...Bill Frissell. Frank Gambale...there are many contenders
Amen on Bill Frisell
@@GCKelloch he has been around a long time, playing with Scofield, Stern, Zorn, and the quartet Bass Desires the early stuff on ECM. I would say that is all fusion.
@@GCKelloch I don't think that should stop someone playing fusion at all. But to get into the top ten fusion players I think there are a ton of criteria to take into account and jazz chops is one.
Kudos for the Tommy Bolin. Mention his name, and you'll get, "..the guy from Deep Purple?"
He was a Harry Nilsson - complex, and willing to express 100% of himself in his music. You're right - he was improving exponentially right to the end.
I agree with your #1. Surprised you picked him.
Great list and I agree with 80% of em! I'd have had John Scofield and John Abercrombie in there personally but hard to fit em in! Also I love Philip Catherine but hard to fit him in... :D
Abercrombie is an important guitarist but I never have really liked his playing.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Timeless is a good one, The title track from "Characters" is also awesome... so hypnotic...
A contemporary of Larry Coryell was Wayne Johnson.....worth a listen.
Certainly a solid list partial to John McLaughlin “grew” up from the early 70’s to now / liked Sco and Coryell & DiMeola in top 5 - Jeff Beck was a keen add and one I may have had in top ten would have been John Abercrombie - technically competent and a good composer - your list your show - get it!
After having Metheny and Scofield, I'd have put Abercrombie and Frisell. Easily knock off some of those other cats.
What about Joe Beck? He played with Joe Farrell on spme early CTI albums. Superb.
Great list! I wonder if the wonderful Jan Akkerman, ex-Focus, would fall in this category?
He sits just nicely between fusion and prog, as does Phillip Catherine...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Ehm...Philip Catherine between prog & fusion...
Maybe for a short period when he replaced Jan Akkerman in Focus but he´s a well respected jazz guitar player for decades.
So his music is more in the vein of Toots' music.
He´s Belgian jazz royalty.
Andy, why do you have Scott Henderson at no. 8 and no. 7, Pat Metheny and John Scofield sharing no. 4, and John McLaughlin misspelled as "McGuffin"?
I think Carlos Santana (in the 1970s - early 1980s) should be on the list, at least in top 5.
I decided Carlos was in a class of his own and deserves his own video: th-cam.com/video/TeLIQuZk6rM/w-d-xo.html
Agree totally, Santana was easily one the best fusion players ever!
Another winner list ... in my own preferences I also enjoy Mike Stern and not just for participating at the Miles Davis band ...
Nice one....can't argue with your choices although it would make a great discussion down the pub....
Glad you mentioned Scott with Zawinul as that is still my favourite SH!!
Agree about Larry's phrasing...I love his playing on the Sevile concert with Stanley....and his version of Impressions shows his unique phrasing....
I will save my comments about Allan for the pub!!!
Larry is fantastic, I prefer him to McLaughlin on Spaces....
Great list of well-respected guitarists. Mine would have John McLaughlin at #1 and Ray Gomez at #5.