1) Mick Taylor (Stones). I just love everything he did on Sticky Fingers. Not only my favorite Stones album, but the solo in "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'" is one of my all time favorites. (Hats off to Ry Cooder for wicked slide on Sister Morphine as well).

2) Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. He has such a great, smooth blend of blues and jazz, with a little country seasoning no top (he also plays fiddle). I love his sense of humor as well. Check out his Pressure Cooker album.

I think far more folks would be able to tell you who Mick Taylor was than Joe Pass, Django and Albert & Freddie.

For lesser known I'll pick Danny White, Martin Barr and Reeves Gambrels(sp?). If this makes you go "Who?" then it'll be worth explaining.

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Marty listen here

Alex Lifeson - Awesome textures, leads, all of it, I just totally dig him.

quote:

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Originally posted by Direct Current:
A guy I'm real impressed with is Brent Mason, who I found on Alan Jackson's and Brooks and Dunn CD's....

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...and just about everyone else in Nashville. I had the opportunity to watch him work at a session in Nashville last year. He is really something.

-Roy Buchanan (deceased)

-Danny Gatton (deceased)

-Lenny Breau (deceased--Danny said he was the best!)

-Jim Weider www.jimweider.com Tele/slide master!

-Sonny Landreth -- very much alive slide king!!

-Eric Steckle 13 yrs old! www.ericsteckle.com

-Snooks Eaglin

-Tab Benoit

-Kenny Neal

-Walter Trout

-Lonnie Mack

-Monte Montgomery-- is that an Acoustic Guitar???????

-Jeff Beck (not unknown but mostly forgotten)

-Robin Trower (ditto)

-Pat Methney (ditto)

-Pat Martino (ditto-- hey I'm a Philly guy!)

I'm sure there are more but I've forgotten them!

BLM

quote:

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Originally posted by Direct Current:
A guy I'm real impressed with is Brent Mason, who I found on Alan Jackson's and Brooks and Dunn CD's. I had never heard of him until I started getting into country music. Another guy is Jan Ackerman, from Holland who years ago was with the group Focus. Their big hit was Hocus Focus or something like that. The song did not represent Jan's true talent. On other songs he was a real gem.
Dan

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Also Waddy Wachtel - used to back up Linda Ronstadt and plays in the X-pensive Winos last I heard. I don't think I've ever heard anyone blend in with the drums as well.

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Siegel:
Tho they are known as vocalists and songwriters, both Vince Gill and Brad Paisley got my attention for their guitar playing...

Mike

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1) ELLIOTT RANDALL. He was in the stage band in THE broadway show Jesus Christ Superstar in early 70's. He had an awesome (ahead of its time) blues rock band called "RANDALL'S ISLAND" in which he and other top notch NY Musicians smoked the competition of the era (songs such as Neon New York, Oil on the Water). Most of you probably don't realize it but you've heard him hundreds of times on FM radio. He rips the awesome, breathtaking solo on Steely Dan's "Reelin' in The Years!"

2) Bereli Lagrene. Someone discovered him playing in the streets and produced an album for him. My brother got me his CD for Christmas one year. Wow, awesome technique combined with passionate style.

3) Johnny Winter. In his heydey what an unparalleled blues man. Unfortunately poor health has taken a toll on his playing of late.

4) Jim Messina. When I was a kid I got the Loggins & Messina album with "Angry Eyes" on it. Played it over & over. The song "Golden Ribbons", written by Messina, showcases some of Jim's shimmering, soulful lead playing. Wow, what a tone, like a Nashville clean with never ending sustain. I don't know what ever happened to this guy or how Loggins could've gone on to become such a commercial success without him. That whole band was so good back in the days when musicians could really play challenging material together live.

5) Ritchie Blackmore. He's kind of grown on me over the years. I never thought much about him during Deep Purple's heydey, but now when I listen to "Highway Star" or "Lazy" I'm floored at his tastey licks.

6) Bill Connors. Was a member of Chick Corea's Return To Forever band for I think only one album...Hymn of The Seventh Galaxy. Wow! Raw, Crazy Fusion Man!

7) Jim Croce. Always noted for his songwriting, but I'd give up beer or women to be able to finger pick like him!

did a search....first time he has been mentioned on this web site, so he would definitely be considered underapreciated.

............................................

Another one hardly anyone ever mentions is Ralph Towner. He's in the class of Metheny, Coryell, McLaughlin, De lucia, Dimeola.

McLaughlin, De lucia, and Dimeola did a show that was recorded and released ..Friday Night in San Francisco. The thought of Towner joining those three is scary lol.

Anyhow, Towner is the best I've heard on a twelve string. I'd recomend his album Solstice.

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Siegel:
Tho they are known as vocalists and songwriters, both Vince Gill and Brad Paisley got my attention for their guitar playing...

Mike

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Hello,
The underappreciated electric guitarist who surprised me the most is:

"Mick Box" from the band Uriah Heep

I had never heard raves about this guy before.. but someone showed me him playing electric guitar on this guitar legends dvd. He absolutely blew me away.. the type of guitarist who would never run out of things to say on guitar.. if I could play electric guitar that good there would be a job waiting for me wherever I went in this world. I could articulate whatever I wanted to on guitar.. without someone slamming their axe in my hands.. saying you know someway to do it better just do it!

Like the guy who pointed out to me said if someone came to him could play like that.. they would be in the band no questions asked.

Granted Uriah Heeps music is okay but Mick Box is most definitely someone to check out...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001AP1B2/qid=1117397462/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-5810692-8591966?v=glance&s=dvd

This DVD features 12 very different guitarists, men who helped to shape the face of rock. Includes footage by Paul Kossof of Free, Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, Robin Trower, Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Rory Gallagher, John Etheridge of Soft Machine, Jan Ackermann of Focus, Vernon Reed, Steve Hackett, Steve Howe, Mick Box of Uriah Heep and Tommy Iommi of Black Sabbath.

Hello,
For Acoustic guitar playing Jim Croce and his back up player Maury Mulizen [sp?] show what a presentation can be on acoustic guitar. For further study I strongly recommend the dvd for pro video footage of what were two amazing greats on acoustic guitar:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000D0YT4/qid%3D1117 398926/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-5810692-8591966

Description
When Jim Croce died tragically in a plane crash on Sept. 20, 1973, he was just 30 years old and had recently been recognized as one of the most promising artists of his era. In a two-year span, he had eight Top 40 singles, two of which were #1 records and a #1 album. Despite being one of America’s most-loved artists, there has never been a video document of his career. Until now.

Hope this helps, S.L.

Richard Lloyd - The other main lead guitar player on Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend album (and the few that followed). He first made his name as the killer guitar foil to Tom Verlaine in Television, though.

Tom Verlaine - See above.

Curt Kirkwood - From the Meat Puppets. They had a hit in the early 90's called "Backwater", but he was around long before that.

Chester And Lester : Guitar monsters from 1978

And this is the end of the story ;-)

Not for Dolly Parton!

Dont believe it ! He! he!

Keep on ;-)

George Harrison. I always kinda blew George off because I'm such a McCartney fan and his actual "leads" were not very good. That is until I saw a Beatles tribute band a few years ago called 1964-The Tribute. These guys had it down to the lick. Watching "George" I realized it was George's playing that gave the Beatles the finishing touch that set them apart, and still sets them apart, from everyone else.

Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash. Probably the biggest influence on my playing. Not that I'm even in the same league.

Laurie Wisefield. Did a couple of Wishbone Ash albums (their best ones, IMO) and, from what I've read, is now a session guy.

Kerry Livgren and Rich Williams of Kansas. They complimented each other so well. Both play with a "feeling" that I don't hear very often.

Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings. Unless you're a prog fan, you may not have heard this guys's stuff. Kinda like Steve Howe, but more tasteful.

Michael Fath. Excellent neo-classical shreader.

Dan Huff and Brent Mason are just some of the great Nashville players. There are so many more.

Joanne

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• The Best is Yet to Be - Joanne Lurgio -singer/songwriter
  www.joannelurgio.com
  

The late great Don Rich, practically invented that telecaster guitar sound in country music. Buck Owens' right hand man. Together they started the Bakersfield movement of country music in the 60's.

Jody

Both are quite famous, well-known, and very well-respected.

Some songs are available to stream on his website.

http://www.kellyjoephelps.net/discography/tapredcane.htm

http://www.kellyjoephelps.net/discography/slingshot.htm

http://www.kellyjoephelps.net/discography/beggarsoil.htm

http://www.kellyjoephelps.net/discography/skylike.htm

http://www.kellyjoephelps.net/discography/shineeyed.htm

http://www.kellyjoephelps.net/discography/rollaway.htm

Great post. I am not a guitarist, so it's harder for me to distinguish really good from true genius and even harder to know if someone is original or simply evolved from someone elses work.

By the way, Clarence Gatemouth Brown entered his latest CD into the JPF Music Awards this year. It's very hard to categorize genre wise though as it's all over the place stylisticly.