TWO FOR TUESDAY

 

This week’s issue of Rolling Stone features two of the world’s greatest guitarists, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.  Their current tour came to Madison Square Garden last week.  It prompted me to revisit a recent ranking – the Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

One of the best things about a list of the greatest whatever is that it’s always subjective, and always spurs your own mental listing of those who’d make up your own opinionated ranking.  To a music fan, listings featuring top performers are sure to elicit passionate debate.  This particular ranking was no different as I argued loudly with myself over some of the great guitarists I could not believe were overlooked.

For example – how do you put together a list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists and omit Stanley Jordan.

Perhaps, it’s that by his own design, Jordan has chosen to not position himself into a particular musical styling.  When he first came on the scene in 1985, he was marketed as a jazz progressive.  His unique style of tapping – playing on the fret board as opposed to the traditional picking and strumming creates a sound that is distinctly his own.  His new arrangements to classic standards and rock songs are an eclectic mix of styles.

Here’s Stanley Jordan’s version of Stairway to Heaven…

  

How do you rank Kurt Cobain and Jack White in the top 20 (Buddy Guy for some reason is ranked at 30 – c’mon now, that’s just silly) and omit Mike Oldfield.

Oldfield is probably best known as the composer of Tubular Bells which was used as the theme song for The Exorcist.  He’s an exceptional guitarist and some of his most prolific recordings were done while he was firmly entrenched in the progressive rock genre.  His performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1981 is legendary – here is a clip featuring some of the most amazing noodling you’ll ever see or hear.  It’s a little long, if you want to jump ahead a little, Oldfield doesn’t start playing a guitar until about two minutes in.  I always thought the keyboardist looked a little like the kid that got picked on in junior high – but that’s beside the point.   

 

There are several great performances from both Stanly Jordan and Mike Oldfield available on You Tube.  Be sure to check out Jordan’s version of Over the Rainbow and Oldfield’s Ommadawn also performed live at Montreux in 81.