Sport Fusion Guitarists - Progressive Rock Music Forum

verslibre wrote:

Allan's approach was anything but conventional. Go to 2:55 for the goods (or just watch the whole clip).

Right , his sound was instantly recognizable

Voted McLaughlin. Saw him several times live--(including with DiMeola in the Trio format). He just makes everything look so easy and so joyful--no matter if it's electric, 12-string, acoustic steel- or nylon-string, or even his customized scoop-fretted Indian thing. Creative, lightning fast, melodic, can strum in rhythm support better (more creatively) than anyone I've ever encountered, and seems to express himself exactly as he wishes to (never a disappointment to himself) which not many guitarists can admit to.

At the same time, this was no easy choice: all of the others deserve BIG respect!

Yes, Holdsworth was otherworldly/inhuman, but it was alien, not as spiritual.

Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/

Steve Morse

^I was going to say the same. Metheny does not venture quite so far into the sport fusion territory quite as often. This fact made it easier for me to not vote for him, despite how much I love his playing.

THAT BEING SAID.

While I think Holdsworth and Gambale both play much faster waaaaay more often, and they can come off more as "show offs," it is different than the McLaughlin/Di Meola/Goodsall brand (and Morse I guess, but I'd need to investigate him more). Metheny's sound has much more in common with the former two. Some of that I will attribute to the fact that they use similar gear/sound fonts. And that makes sense since, even though they were all playing in the 70s, their heyday was really the mid-80s (well Metheny probably earlier, but he was an earlier proponent of this smoother, soaring sound based on my listening,) going into the 90s. The sport fusion of the 70s (going into the early 80s) features way more picking. The gliding, alien sound of Metheny, Holdsworth and co. is a legato style. One could still consider it "sport" but... I don't know. It hits different. Having synth guitars also adds a different dimension; those didn't exist when, say, Mahavishnu was founded. Govan really is a master of doing it all, and is one of the greatest living guitarists, but when he slips into the legato style, that's when my ears perk up.

Anyway, all this to say: voted for Holdsworth (Govan and Gambale close behind).

Edited by Awesoreno - May 19 2023 at 00:44

Al di Meola. 30 years ago I started the attempt to play Mediterranean Sundance...and I'm still unsuccessfully trying.

I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution

Frank Gambale simply one of the best there is today, PERIOD.

I voted for my late friend, Goodsall! Dig this bunch of burning strings at 4:41!!

Edited by cstack3 - May 19 2023 at 17:25

I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!!

1. John McLaughlin
2. Allan Holdsworth
3. Al Di Meola

Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake."

Music Is Live

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.

Keep Calm And Listen To The Music…
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McLaughlin is truly one of the masters, I like to offer this as proof!

I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!!

Poll Question: Which is your favorite?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
John McLaughlin	11	[31.43%]
Steve Morse	2	[5.71%]
John Goodsall	2	[5.71%]
Allan Holdsworth	10	[28.57%]
Pat Metheny	1	[2.86%]
Al Di Meola	6	[17.14%]
Frank Gambale	1	[2.86%]
Guthrie Govan	2	[5.71%]
You can not vote in this poll