Yup.
Nope, sprezzatura is the word. Good Guitarists/Lutists play looser than "Rock" players, use a lot of expressive rubato. So do blues players.
I play a species of Renbournish extemporizations, usually in D. Sounds mighty "classical" to these very well-trained ears.
The blues, much more so:
Charlie Parker had 150% of the "chops" of "a true classical musician."
I've recorded hundreds of 'em/ Peter Green beats the holy fuck out of them.
He had true musical skill, unlike most rock guitar wankers.
Different horses for different courses, not every key will unlock that door.
Just sit on the tonic 'til you know where you are
I'm probably misunderstanding you.
I won't disagree as I was speaking in very general terms so don't be offended or think I'm dismissing the blues. I find it one of my favorite styles for guitar players and I usually prefer the blues based players over all others. There are exceptions but "feeling" is subjective, and I feel the blues. Therefore I love the style.
Classical IS schooled. Use your term, use another, I don't need to get into semantics. The majority of classical players go through some type of formal training. If you want to point out examples of self taught modern classical musicians, I'm interested and would love to know how they got interested in the classical style and how they learned it. I'd probably go buy their music as well if you link a good video track.
Usually for classical music, students go to a school and are taught proper technique, whatever that may be, and learn how to read music to play intricate pieces. Two of my cousins did it for piano. They played at Carnegie years back. One of my uncles was a professional sax player and was not a classical musician. The phrase "Classically trained" floats around quite a bit in the music world and usually the players that carry that label are well respected for their versatility.
This isn't the best example, but the movie CROSSROADS pits two blues players against each other. Everything goes down to the wire until the classically trained fella pulls out some magic from his "schooled" background. Steve Via and Ry Cooder were the actual players in that movie. The schooled musician won out that day. I know it is a movie but they tried to send a little message that a well schooled player can be very well rounded.
My earlier point was that I don't picture Muddy Watters, Buddy Guy, or John Lee Hooker opening up a music sheet and being able play Beethoven's 9th or anything similar to Malmsteen's neo-classical licks. I do picture a classical guitar player mimicking the blues however. Maybe without the same feel, but I don't see them hitting technical boundaries. I've seen Buddy Guy live several times and have always dug his vibe and feel but I never walked out thinking I witnessed the greatest guitar player ever.
Your Charlie Parker post was pure saxophone for 3 minutes 24 seconds. Did you wrongly assume I was generalizing about ALL blues players and all instruments? I failed to see the relevance of that in a guitar thread but maybe your point was missed.
If you can point out some players of that style (blues) that can easily crossover and play pure classical I'm all ears.
So again,
I would say the "best" guitar players if there is a such thing would be the players that can easily play ALL styles of music. From classical, to country picking, to blues, jazz and fusion and whatever else is out there. But mimicking styles is a lot different than coming up with your own music.
Earlier in the thread I cited the unknown studio musicians that show up in the credits of records we all love, or at least know that still remain a mystery, are some of the unsung heroes. If you can play it all without breaking a sweat you are probably pretty damn good. The studio musicians are the sleepers.
At the moment, I'm extremely into David Gilmore. He has something special in my opinion that goes beyond shredding. His solos are incredible and they compliment the music without saying "hey look at me", yet at the end of the solo, you are definitely looking at him.
There isn't a best IMO.
He doesn’t play much slide in this video, but what he does play, o'boy the precision, feeling and tone are superb. From the 4:50 mark onwards. His wife sings in the same video, by the way.
