Best Blues Guitarist

SteveR_100Milers

We haven't a Best Of.... thread for a while, so here we go.

Inspired by watching John Lee playing with various famous blues musicians, and then switching to Jools Holland into the Arctic Monkeys brought into stark contrast the reasons why we like or dislike music (for the record I neither like nor dislike the monkeys, i cant imagine being moved to do anything by their music).

Back to the OP...
Given that the blues should only contain 5 notes being based upon the pentatonic scale, the beauty of bending brings the whole guitar thing to a higher plane. Its singing with your fingers.

Some obvious greats were missing tonight, and the new wave of blues was represented by Robert Cray, who had he lived would have been usurped surely by Stevie Ray Vaughan assuming he would even agree to have played.
Also considered Buddy Guy who get my vote over SRV for his sheer feel and monster tone and a half bends, and has more feel if not the same technical ability. Loads of others to consider: Collins, King, T Bone, Robert Johnson, heck even Clapton if you really must.

Of all the regular pickers though it HAS to be be BB. Makes the hair stand up on your neck every time you har him, and lets face it he blows The Edge off the stage in Rattle and Hum..

However, for me slide guitar does something akin to a fit girly in high heels, so Ry Cooder gets my vote. he's done everything from classic blues to some avant garde (and frankly uninteresting) stuff, but no-one can play like he does, and when he does its sublime.

Take your pick...

System_1

I've not really heard enough stuff from those you've mentioned (except maybe Stevie Ray Vaughan), to pass judgement. I do like Kelly Joe Phelps though. Not too keen on his newer stuff which is less bluesy, but the earlier albums are good, in particular Shine Eyed Mister Zen. Just one man with a brilliant voice and some awesome slide guitar. Great stuff.

If you're a fan of slide you should check out some of bluesdoc's stuff on youtube. His Stevie Ray Vaughn improv is damn fine too. A very talented guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr4FvoBFgBo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1vA9FY6xMs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_oEhQSRJKg

cchapman

I think I have to go with the original poster, (assuming BB means BB King), and then Ry Cooder for overall musicianship.

The question is, why is it so? How come a man with totally different life experiences, or so we would think, can communicate to all these white middle class dreamers and everybody in between?

Two wheels Good.

Gavin Gilbert

Hound Dog Taylor.

But then I like my Blues so raw it's bleeding

bagpusscp

In no particular order ,each have their own style,Each should be heard.
BB king,
Gary Moore,
Roy Buchanan,
Lonnie Mack,,
Hound Dog Taylor,
Professor Longhair,
Charlie Musselwhite,
Big Bill Broonny,
Steve Ray V,
John Lee Hooker,
Lightnin Hopkins.
T Bone Walker,
Memphis Slim
C Santana,
J Hendrix,
Johnny Copeland
Lonnie Brooks,
Robbie Robertson,

If you are new to Blues, check out Alligator Records .It does not come any better! :idea:

Well its a start. 8)

weyayeman

John Whitehill voted best european blues guitarist twice.Played with Paul Lamb and the kingsnakes,and still playing in North east.

TheBoyBilly

Why is it Clapton always leaves me cold? Even at his very best I feel there is just something missing. Okay when he was with Cream but solo? No thanks.

yogi

Check out the Black Keys. I agree on with TheBoyBilly on the Eric Clapton point, Hendrix is in another class.

SteveR_100Milers

cchapman wrote:

I think I have to go with the original poster, (assuming BB means BB King), and then Ry Cooder for overall musicianship.

The question is, why is it so? How come a man with totally different life experiences, or so we would think, can communicate to all these white middle class dreamers and everybody in between?

Two wheels Good.

Because simply he is good?

And yes sorry BB=BB King. BB has madersome pretty dodgy albums musically, some of them a bit tat, whereas Ry Cooder doesnt do tat, just someone elses bag big time.

Boomers Story..its a classic, along with BB's Don't Look Down album.

richardast

Not the best guitarist, but the best all-round bluesman - Howlin' Wolf.

cycologist

Aah yes. The Wolf Man. As you say, not he best guitarist perhaps but then for me it is not about technical ability but about the total sound thatyou here .This is an emotional thing and is why the technically very good Mr Clapton doesn't cut it in the same way as BB KIng or Muddy Waters or Robert Johnson or lots of other blues greats.

cchapman

Are there two Professor Longhairs? (ie one piano and one guitar?)

cycologist

Personally , I only know of the New Orleans pianist Professor Lomghair, but someone may come along in a moment and tell me I'm wrong.

davidmiller

I like Joh mayer's latest album "continuum". Great gitarist.

David

proto

I think it was BB King that said "the only white guitarist that makes my spine tingle - Peter Green"

stevejmo7

Tony TS McPhee (Groundhogs)

TheBoyBilly

I saw the Groundhogs many, many years ago. Brilliant stuff. Tony is still going strong too I hear.

Soreknees

Anybody ever listen to Joe Bonamassa?

4kicks

Blind Willie Johnson, if for no other reason than "Dark was the Night" was the only blues song ever sent into Space, on the Voyager module?
Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin and Beck quote him as influences...

Or did you mean still alive?

synchronicity

My friend Ivan Ruiz of Meridian Zero introduced me to Thomas Blug's music...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4A5GdBTj7I

Incredible :idea:

meagain

Difficult one this! John Lee Hooker, I THINK if had to choose. Leadbelly in a rough and ready way? Mayall pretty good. Peter Green. Whoever it was with Ten Years After - name escapes me! Both the dudes in Canned Heat. Lots really.

But not, NOT, Clapton. OK with Cream live as best I remember them, but otherwise, no heart, no soul. No $"&*in BLUES, man.

Pongo

I'm with meagain, I'd rather watch tis lot ....http://youtube.com/watch?v=QtkGME7zPP8 than Clapton.
Do any of the old fellas from the Midlands remember the Trevor Burton Band from the 80's when Stu Ford played guitar? Great, competitive, jaw dropping guitar work. 8)

cee

Gavin Gilbert wrote:

But then I like my Blues so raw it's bleeding

me too.... big bill broonzy and charlie patton.

luvin hendrix touted as a blues guitarist (completely true obviously) rather than the rock influence he is thought of as today.

also, BB King in his Live at the Regal set.....awesome