Who?!

Today a friend asked me this:

For YOU,who are the greatest musicians ever,and why?

I was paralyzed

Now i ask you this!

Whomever I'm grooving to. Echo and the Bunnymen right now. Slim Harpo earlier.

I know it's not a real answer...

I can't answer this. There is no real answer. To go by "ever", I'd have to pull a classical musician: someone who really defined what music is today. This is where you pull the elites like bach and bethoven... but other than that: I don't know.

I'd have to say some classical musician from the 1700/1800's who really defined music as it is today. And don't say that classical has nothing to do with today's music. Just go listen to some of bach's chorales and tell me they don't sound like today's pop music.

I„Think soMe of the greatest musicians evar!! Where

#1 Frank zappa!!! Because of his outstanding musicianship,
Superb lyricism,Ultimate versatility,And harmonic sensibilty.

#2Buckethead!! .He wears a bucket
..on his head....nuff said...lol j/k in alll seriousness he is a gifted virtuoso,Who is extremely versatile to all genrrs,not a on e trick ponyy.

#3Chick corea! Epic rhythm timing,plus jamming with al di meola.and frank gambale,id say excellent taste too ^_^


thats all for now,b back Lr8 homedawgz,late.

\M/(*-+)
gs2112

@ just jeffNot in general.

For classical music I'd go: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Dvorak, Mahler, Chopin, Wagner, Rachmaninov Holst, Debussy, Korsakov, Stravinksy, Copland (although not his popular stuff imo)

Modern music: Led zeppelin, pink floyd, Trent Reznor, Telefon tel aviv Megadeth, Dream theater, Opeth, Tool, Joe Pass.

And I got this far without checking my music library... However I can't help thinking I should have put Paganini on classical given the range of neoclassical shredders that he's inspired.

It's far too hard to get the list down to a top 10 or less just be thankful I didn't write a mini essay on every musician mentioned XD

*paralyzed*

Yeah, if you're gonna ask me that question, I'm not gonna answer it with a narrow mind. I could easily say that someone like Clapton is by far the best musician of his time, but that would be cutting out quite a large section of time.

The reason why I'd go classical is because sitting down and listening to classical music changed the kind of musician I am. So that's why I'd say that. You have to remember today how much we have music at our disposal when all they had is what they made... and make music they did.

Thelonious Monk hands down! no contest.

As far as Guitar goes, I think Steve Vai is one of the best as well as Paul Gilbert. Hendrix wasn't the best at guitar like some say, but he was fun to watch live.

It would be impossible for me to say.

Tom Waits, Elliott Smith and Conor Oberst... in no particular order

I'm with Gshredder on number 1

1. FRANK ZAPPA. The mozart of the 20th century. The avantgarde genius. His music is unparalleled. He is just a musical genius.

2. BLACK SABBATH. They invented metal. Enough said, right.

3. TOM MORELLO. While some may see him as a guitarist wannabe DJ, I see him as an innovator of guitar. Most know him for being in RATM, but his solo act (The Nightwatchman) is great too.

Honourable Mentions include:

Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Richie Kotzen, and Deep Purple.

There are sooooo many others but at the moment I'll just put some from the rock genre. But out of all genres....well that would take some time.

oh and as for why not many musicians had such an in depth understanding of music and even fewer could express it in compositions like Monk. Everything about his playing was perfect for jazz. Timing, phrasing, lines. Hell for the 6th months Coltrane spent with monk, Coltrane was gettinh his mind blown on the regs. I repeat JOHN COLTRANE'S mind was being blown daily. He's as influential as Miles Davis but a much better musician.

John Cage JK although he does make ya think

What about Rebecca Black? she is pretty amazing, maybe even more so than monk.

Perhaps the answer lies in the question "Who has touched the most people on an emotional level with their writing/performance ?"

What is more than interesting than our actual thoughts on the "who" in question is the thought that there are musicians out there in the world that would likely be #1 for any one of us and we just haven't even heard their music yet!! :o)

To me, it has to be someone who can play a wide variety of genres very well. To be the best in any certain genre shows dedication and ability, but doesn't show the range that I feel is paramount to being the best musician ever. And that is fine. A guy like Lars Ulrich may be one of the best metal drummers ever and influenced MANY drummers out there (myself included), but I could neevr even mention him in the same breath as some like Matt Cameron, Phil Collins, or Buddy Rich.

So given that, who would it be? My initial thought would be someone like Zappa. He really could do so many genres and very well too.

One underrated performer (waiting for the laughter here) would be Kid Rock. The guy did rap initially, then rock, and then country and sold millions of records left and right. He clearly isn't one of the greatest of all-time by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't think he gets the credit he deserves either.

http://vevo.ly/jWqkWC

Every influential musician in one place.

btimm: For mastery of styles I'd suggest Prince. He had some experimental stuff with Miles Davis, but he can play a guitar very well, in a wide variety of styles, and plays a bunch of other instruments. He's also got a rhythmic sense that makes you move.

Robert Johnson.

Chic Corea

I usually think of guitarists in these kinda polls/posts but in this case if we're talking musicians I'm going with Chic. He's recorded maybe 100 albums as the leader of a band, started Return to Forever and Circle, and has been a sideman in countless projects. He's been nominated for 51 Grammy awards and has won 15. He's currently in Return to Forever 4, Chic Corea's Elektic Band and Chic Corea's Akoustic Band. He's 70 years old and still kicks a$$! He along with Miles Davis have pioneered Jazz Fusion.

I could go on and on!

Absolutely mac. I remember playing this song in my high school jazz band (or I should say butchering compared to these dudes). Pretty cool tune.

You first have to narrow down what greatness is.

Is it hust me or does frankgambale look like uncle fester
.just sayin.

I'm gonna go ahead and say all the founding fathers of Fusion:

Miles Davis
John McLaughlin
Jean Luc Ponty
Al Di Meola
Frank Zappa
Jerry Garcia
Herbie Hancock
Tony Williams
Allan Holdsworth
Stanley Clark
Jeff Beck
Emerson Lake and Palmer
Yes
Genesis
Chicago
Steely Dan

I know I missed a few artists and bands but these guys took music from other genres to creat a whole new genre as well as other sub-genres. They incorporate elements of Funk, R&B, Jazz, Rock, Classical, Latin, African, and Improv. Technically, you have to be proficient in each genre to pull of anything interesting or it just sounds like mud. There are complex non-standard time signatures and multiple rhytms going on all at once. It's not the kind of music you turn on and passivly listen to either. You have to actively listen to truely hear what's going on. I don't often find people that are not musicians that like this music!

This genre influenced Pop, Disco, Funk, Prog Rock, and metal among others. It's music for the musician. Jimi Hendrix was just getting ready to leave the rock scene and join Emerson Lake and Palmer just before he died. Eddie Van Halen, Ynvie Malmsteen were heavly influence by Allan Holdsworth.

For me personally as a fan of music and the guitar, as a kid I listened to metal, Rock, Soul, Funk, Punk, and I would always listen to the guitar parts. And then I heard Hendrix, then Mahavishnu Orchestra, and then Return to Forever and I thought wow! These guys are the best of the best! I have been a huge fan ever since.

Oh my god. Ew.

Are you serious mac?! That would have been epic +9999

i agree with jeff on the classical people

zappa all the way. dosnt he hold the record for most songs written?