I first got hooked watching Don Kirschner's "Rock Concert" on Saturday nights as a pre-teen. Most, if not all of the groups were guitar oriented. The funk episode, on the PBS program, "Rock School", with Larry Graham's guitarist Tony Franklin is an early source of inspiration and hearing Jimi Hendrix' "Axis, Bold as Love" album. I was playing piano in church, by then, and was playing and listening to both musics. I became enamored with Allan Holdsworth's " Metal Fatigue" album. It's fusion. For guitar players it can be tough to listen to. Endless, beautiful lines, slurred, and swept! Amazing chord changes. Potentially discouraging. Then I found the album that changed my life as a player. "Still Warm" by John Scofield. Sco, he's a bad cat. He truly understands the sophistication of R&B, and delivers it through the hands of a jazz master. He Omar Hakim on drums, Daryl Jones on bass, and for all you keyboard players looking for those sugar voicings and speaking solos, the late great Don Grolnick. I LIE TO YOU NOT!!!!!!!!!
Please yall, check this album out. He made 2 other amazing albums "Blue Matter" produced by Hiram Bullock(a bad guitarist in his own right), and "Loud Jazz" with the incredible Gorge Duke. George Benson,Spanky, from Mighty Clouds of Joy(whom I had the pleasure of taking a 2hr lesson with!) Russel Malone, Jeff Beck,Pat Metheny,Mike Stern, Tony Macalpine, I could go on... By the way, though they are a bit expensive, it is worth checking out "good" guitars. Even beginners. For advanced players, there IS a point where the instrument can hinder what you are trying to convey. For beginners, no matter what you get, take it to a shop and get it set up! It will improve the intonation and the overall playability of the guitar. For the advanced guys, I like the Benedetto Benny (THE solidbody Jazz/R&B guitar), Moll, Buscarino and Comins archtops. THEY ARE EXPENSIVE, but worth it. It feels good to save up for and finally own an artist grade instrument. Sterinbergers and Kleins are also cool. American STD Strats, and Les Pauls are cool too, but you've gotta search through a bunch of 'em to get that 'one'. God Bless, and just keep playing. You're already better today than you were yesterday!