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Best Sounding Musicians

I'd like to compile my list of best sounding musicians under any circuimstances regardless of recording quality and regardless of instrument played or style -- will list. Many of us know that ability of musician to get best sound of instrument is also boutique ability and definitely part of musicians talent. For that ability I nominate following:

1. Jascha Heifetz -- violin
2. Bill Frisell -- electric guitar
3. Stan Getz -- tenor sax
4. Pat Metheny -- various guitars
5. Adrean Belew -- electric guitar
6. Wolfgang Hafner -- drums
7. Nils Peter Molvaer -- trumpet
8. Julie London -- voice
9. Richard Bona -- electric bass
10. Charlie Haden -- string bass
11. Joey DeFrancesco -- B3
12. Eric Clapton -- electric guitar
13. SRV -- electric guitar
14. Van Cliburn -- piano
16. David Gilmour -- electric guitar
17. Carla Bley -- piano
18. Jason Veaux -- acoustic guitar
czarivey
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
I would most certainly agree with David Gilmour on guitar, his tone is impeccable. And for someone with chops to die for, I'd add Danny Gatton on guitar - maybe the best guitarist ever...

-RW-
effischer
560 posts
 
Yes to Belew, Metheny, Getz and Gilmour. Missing Frank Zappa, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford, Carl Palmer, Stanley Clarke, Tony Levin, John McLaughlin, Chick Corea and Tony Banks, among others.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,210 posts
 
Jascha Heifetz -- violin
Charlie Haden -- string bass

I'll definitely agree with these two.

The others are all good picks but more debatable for me.

I'd toss Andrew Latimer in as an alternative to David Gilmour.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,210 posts
 
I am no expert, but Heifetz alone is beyond reproach from where I am sitting.
frogman
7,442 posts
 
Not quite sure what you mean by "boutique sound"; and, "best", as always, will be argued to be subjective. Having said that, I think that what you may be saying is that there are musicians whose musical "stuff" is so strong that the message always transcends and rises above poor recording quality. One can't polish a (musical) turd with boutique (?) sound enhancement; but, likewise, it's almost impossible to destroy the music in truly great playing with bad recording quality or playback.

As far as impeccable tone goes I agree with some of your choices, especially Heifetz and Clapton; and Getz, Frisell and Metheny for especially unique tones. Not so much with Haden or DeFrancesco. Haden was an amazing musician and one of my very favorite bass players, but I always found his "tone" somewhat diffuse and indistinct compared to other favorite bass players; no arguing with the music though. DeFrancesco makes me nervous with an over abundance of exuberance in his playing which, for me, detracts from his impressive tone.

Some musicians that, for me, define(d) the pinnacle of tone and are also musical masters:

Heifetz (violin)
Julius Baker (flute)
Robert Marcellus (clarinet)
Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone)
Horowitz/Bill Evans (piano)
George Mraz (acoustic bass)
Charlie Mariano (alto saxophone)
Jack DeJohnette (drums)
Manuel Barrueco (Classical guitar)
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