Navigator:

Looking at your original posting, I realize that I haven't really responded to it. Others on here haven't, either. You asked who was the greatest guitar "virtuoso." I'd probably have to revise my list dramatically to try to answer that question. I can see why some people would consider Django Reinhart as number 1, and Charlie Christian probably wouldn't even make the top ten. Generally speaking, virtuosity is not the determining factor in whether I enjoy listening to any kind of music. I'm not into the notes per second mode. The fact that something is difficult to do doesn't mean that I get anything out of listening to it.

This thread is like all the other "Best" or "Top Ten" threads. They have very little to do with "Best." It's really what do you as an individual LIKE best. I can recognize that someone is a brilliant musician and not like their music. Django is a good example, and generally speaking, a rapid fire run of notes, no matter how hard it is to do, or how much musicianship is in it loses me. But even then, there are exceptions. My favorite jazz guitarist is Tal Farlow, but sometimes my eyes glaze over if he goes into a long, extended series of runs. Is he the "Best" jazz virtuoso? Maybe. He was voted the "best" jazz guitarist for several years in the 50's, before he took a long sabatical on recording.

No one has mentioned Sal Salvadore, and rightfully so. Sal was with Stan Kenton's band and released a wonderful Stan Kenton Presents Sal Salvadore album which has finally been re-issued on CD. Sal is not a virtuoso, but he can put a lot of feeling into simple, lyrical single not lines. Several years ago, I discovered that Sal was living in the same town I was. As a matter of fact, he loved to come to the Museum where I worked, and only lived a few blocks away from me. I wrote him a letter, and ended up going over to visit a few times. He is a modest man, living in a small wood-frame house in a modest neighborhood. Sal's best friend was Tal Farlow and when I mentioned to Sal that some of Tal's improvisations still sound the same as they did 20 years ago. Sal's response to that was a very memorable statement: "A musician's style is the summation of their limitations."

So, if I listed the guitarists (virtuosos and otherwise) who I listen to and enjoy the most, Tal Farlow would be on their, and also "lesser" guitarists like Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall, Ron Eschete, George Van Epps and Charlie Christian. I probably listen to Kenny Burrell the most, even though I don't think that he's nearly as "good" as Tal Farlow. After all, music isn't technique or virtuosity. It is two people connecting through melodies and words.
Your connections are different than mine, as they should be.

Jerry