Best musician in the world?


A question posed in another thread, in my view, although musicianship is hardly a sport to be measured as such, the most universally prodigious musician is probably Shawn Lane. He is definitely the world's most phenomenal/inimitable electric guitarist. And he is a world-class pianist and saxaphonist as well.
maxibob
It's interesting that almost all of the recommendations above are for pop artists, most of whom aren't talented enough to serve tea to the truly best musicians. Here's my list for what it's worth, by instrument, with living artists in CAPITALS and dead artists in small case. Violin: ITZHAK PERLMAN / Jascha Heifetz Cello: YO-YO MA / Pablo Casals Guitar (classical): CHRISTOPHER PARKENING / Andres Segovia Guitar (jazz): BILL FRISELL (altho' Jim Hall is a very close 2nd) / Django Reinhardt Piano (classical): NO NOMINATION / Artur Rubenstein Piano (jazz): MCCOY TYNER / Art Tatum Drums: MAX ROACH / Art Blakey Percussionist: TRILOK GURTU (Paulino DaCosta is a very close 2nd) / no nomination Jazz saxophone: SONNY ROLLINS / John Coltrane (Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young would be close 2nd's) Jazz trumpet: WYNTON MARSALIS / Louis Armstrong & Miles Davis (tie) Jazz Bass: CHARLIE HAYDEN / Charles Mingus. I'd really enjoy other people's choices in the categories I've outlined.
To your categories, the only amendment I would offer would be in the category of drumming, Tony Williams, recently deceased, is on a par with Coltrane, Heifetz and others. As a matter of fact, Jascha Heifetz' grandson, Danny, is a great drummer in his own right. I recommend to anyone interested, to listen to the guitarist I started this string off with, Shawn Lane. Many of the living guitarists mentioned in this list know of him, if not rever his playing. I actually spoke with Eric Johnson about Lane, and he willingly tabbed him as the greatest living electric guitarist. He went as far as to question whether or not Lane had sold his soul in the same fashion others had once claimed Paganini did. Holdsworth said no one on earth including himself could match the playing he had heard from Lane. I have tapes of him playing with Black Oak Arkansas at the age of 17 in 1978 that is so ridiculous as to be truly mind-boggling. He does a rendition of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D maj on an electric guitar that is as fast and precise- while still emotionally valid- as any work I have heard from Perlman or others. He was 17. His story is more fascinating than I could do justice to in such an (already-too-long)post.
Maxibob: No argument that Tony Williams was one of the great modern jazz drummers. Guitar and drums are maybe the two toughest categories in which to pick "the best". One could make choices based primarily on technical capability, but the emotional component, the ability to connect with the listener, is such a significant element.
might not be the best, but, medwyn goodall plays all the instruments on his alblums and records and mixes and puts it altogether in his studio in his house. I just recently found out about this guy. hell he's got about 26 cd's. i bought 4. and i'm having a hard time finding anymore in stock.have a listen. i think you'll enjoy.