Who's your favorite "blues" guitar player? (dead or alive)

[crawlinkingsnake]

Of course there's been only one Muddy Waters. But as far as living Tab Benoit is about as good as it gets.

 

[Turnip]

Rory Gallagher

 

[Edward]

I had the tremendous privilege to see BB King live four or five times. Incredible performer, and one of the last who really lived it: he was born on a cotton plantation.

 

[crawlinkingsnake]

I had the tremendous privilege to see BB King live four or five times. Incredible performer, and one of the last who really lived it: he was born on a cotton plantation.

Agreed, BB was special. I saw him 3 times and last time was the best. Indianola, MS in little club he owned. Club Ebony, he and his full band played til 3:00am in 2011. Incredible show.

 

[TMP]

I had the tremendous privilege to see BB King live four or five times. Incredible performer, and one of the last who really lived it: he was born on a cotton plantation.

Good choice. I saw BB King at the Club Casino in Hampton Beach, NH and he signed my Live at the Regal album. In fact he went from one side of the stage to the other after the show and signed anything people put in front of him...and my friend and I had a chat with him in his limo afterwards. Obviously as he got older he slowed down a bit and I heard some of his later shows were patchy.

It's a tough question though. Of the guys I saw, I might go with John Lee Hooker. I saw him at the Channel Club in Boston with Roomful of Blues and also Buddy Guy. Man, what a show. My friend and I we right at the front of the stage, and I don't think we moved for 3 hours. At one point he said something to the effect of "I'm the one that wrote the boogie. It wasn't any of those other *%$*£((£ers," and they he launched in to Boogie Chillen. Who were we to argue? Low key runner up, Gatemouth Brown - check him out if you haven't already. Very versatile - he played guitar, fiddle, piano, drums, etc. See if this doesn't put a smile on your face.

 

[Harp]

BB. The Mudcat. And the Allmans. Long time since I've been to Kingston Mines here in Chi-town.

 

[Frunobulax]

I once went to a blues show at the Euclid Tavern in Cleveland. About 5-6 acts throughout the night, but an acquaintance kept raving about some guy named Glenn Schwartz. After enjoying some of the other acts, the Glenn Schwartz Trio hits the stage and this guy absolutely tears it up. One of the most amazing guys I have ever seen - and he treated that guitar like it insulted his mama.

Turns out this guy was with the James Gang before Joe Walsh. But he got God and decided his mission was otherwise. I encourage you to look him up, he was a weird dude. But man could he play.

I tell this story because, as we all know, it's difficult to say who is the "best" at a craft like guitar (or violin, or keyboards). I have had the pleasure to see many of the greats, but would have a hard time telling you who I thought was the best. Johnny Winter was always amazing. Clapton is, well, Clapton. When I saw Muddy, he did more singing than playing. It was only a few years ago I finally saw BB, and he was not what he was.

Mr. Benoit is a great musician, though, and I would buy a ticket to see him again any time.

 

[jonesy86]

I caught BB King play with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee at Yale in 1970. Gotta love those old masters. BB was on fire.

 

[crawlinkingsnake]

Good choice. I saw BB King at the Club Casino in Hampton Beach, NH and he signed my Live at the Regal album. In fact he went from one side of the stage to the other after the show and signed anything people put in front of him...and my friend and I had a chat with him in his limo afterwards. Obviously as he got older he slowed down a bit and I heard some of his later shows were patchy.

It's a tough question though. Of the guys I saw, I might go with John Lee Hooker. I saw him at the Channel Club in Boston with Roomful of Blues and also Buddy Guy. Man, what a show. My friend and I we right at the front of the stage, and I don't think we moved for 3 hours. At one point he said something to the effect of "I'm the one that wrote the boogie. It wasn't any of those other *%$*£((£ers," and they he launched in to Boogie Chillen. Who were we to argue? Low key runner up, Gatemouth Brown - check him out if you haven't already. Very versatile - he played guitar, fiddle, piano, drums, etc. See if this doesn't put a smile on your face.

Loved John Lee Hooker but never got to see him live. Amazes me sometimes when I hear someone say they didn't really care for him. huh???

 

[HoosierDaddy]

 

[steve u]

Lowell George

 

[crawlinkingsnake]

I once went to a blues show at the Euclid Tavern in Cleveland. About 5-6 acts throughout the night, but an acquaintance kept raving about some guy named Glenn Schwartz. After enjoying some of the other acts, the Glenn Schwartz Trio hits the stage and this guy absolutely tears it up. One of the most amazing guys I have ever seen - and he treated that guitar like it insulted his mama.

Turns out this guy was with the James Gang before Joe Walsh. But he got God and decided his mission was otherwise. I encourage you to look him up, he was a weird dude. But man could he play.

I tell this story because, as we all know, it's difficult to say who is the "best" at a craft like guitar (or violin, or keyboards). I have had the pleasure to see many of the greats, but would have a hard time telling you who I thought was the best. Johnny Winter was always amazing. Clapton is, well, Clapton. When I saw Muddy, he did more singing than playing. It was only a few years ago I finally saw BB, and he was not what he was.

Mr. Benoit is a great musician, though, and I would buy a ticket to see him again any time.

For su

For sure "best" is a tough call and "favorite" can vary all over the scale. But makes for great conversation. If and when you get a chance check out Texas bluesman Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets. First time I saw them the late great, legally blind, Sam Myers was still singing and blowing blues harp with them. Another great show!

 

[steve u]

Saw Anson at poor david's pub in Dallas many times..
Talked Paul Barrere out front on a break at PDB . He was with the Bluesbusters at the time(early 80's).

 

[Frunobulax]

For su

For sure "best" is a tough call and "favorite" can vary all over the scale. But makes for great conversation. If and when you get a chance check out Texas bluesman Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets. First time I saw them the late great, legally blind, Sam Myers was still singing and blowing blues harp with them. Another great show!

Listened to,.but never saw Funderberg. Wish I could have seen Albert King.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Albert King, & Joe Bonamassa.
In the female catagory it's Beth Hart.

 

[Cheech]

Amongst the pre-War musicians, Charley Patton is my favorite. I've always loved John Lee Hooker and Albert King, too. For me, though, Jimi was the pinnacle. Purists would disagree, but none of the earliest blues musicians made a living playing strictly blues.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=704767793810014

 

[HoosierDaddy]

^^^^^^
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[Brandrea33]

Buddy Guy is right up there in my book.

I’ll also throw in a wild card ... Billy Gibbons. Perhaps not known as a blues guitarist, the man knows how to play the blues and their music is heavily influenced.

 

[Edward]

A local boy for me. Saw him support BB King in 2006, if memory serves. I thought Moore was much better live than on record.

Buddy Guy is right up there in my book.

I’ll also throw in a wild card ... Billy Gibbons. Perhaps not known as a blues guitarist, the man knows how to play the blues and their music is heavily influenced.

I've never much cared for ZZ Top, but Billy Gibbons as a musician is an incredible talent. What I really like about him is how encouraging he is towards other musicians, not seeing them as competition to be put down the way some do.

 

[MichaelRhB]

Peter Green.