Alex,
maybe, but I can’t really comment on this, since ”ever“ is not over yet. If you’re in the mood for really mean things I suggest visiting your dominatrix instead.
Werner.
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There's never, ever going to be anyone better than Hendrix. I think it is safe to say that. None of his peers even came close, no-one in the 40 years since has come close and as for contemporary musicians....forget it. They're not even as good as Clapton.
Eddie Kramer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Kramer was the main engineer for Hendrix,
and also collaborated with The Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
Many AOS members would know "Whole Lotta love" from Led Zeppelin 2 .. also Eddie Kramer.
Some footage of him is seen as I recall in the Woodstock movie, as he was also engineer there.
Basically Eddie Kramer was a great choice for Hendrix, as he had the patience for things like 50 takes
on Gypsy eyes from Electric Ladyland, and knew his stuff when recording.
And a quote from Wikipedia ( same link above ) about Hendrix in the recording studio
"Kramer recalls Hendrix as extremely disciplined in the studio, with his objectives thoroughly pre-planned. To some extent this was a result of working with results-oriented manager and early producer Chas Chandler, who brought Hendrix to England in September 1966, where he established his fame before returning to the United States. Hendrix envisioned the tonal spectrum as a palette of colors, often instructing Kramer with color-based commands. "Make it sound green," for example, was satisfied by adding reverb.[8]
"Jimi utilized the studio as a rehearsal space", thank God he did." Kramer described Hendrix as "very sharp, very focused, very funny, very shy, totally dedicated to his music and his art. He was such a complete human being with such far-reaching intellect."[5] Kramer places Hendrix among Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Louis Armstrong. "He really is in that league, because his individuality was so strong and his message was so strong and his mastery of his instrument was so complete. He was a maverick. He broke a lot of barriers, musically and in every way."[9] "Tastes and sounds may change", echoes Chris Talbott of Associated Press, "but Hendrix always remains close at hand".
He was a great all round musician; that's what he excelled at. could do everything well, and some of it the best, but because he could do it all among the very best he was the top man. His lead guitar work was maybe his weakest point actually (imo). Writer, arranger, producer, probably hard to better him to this day. Surprisingly his rhythm guitar was maybe what he was best at when he wanted to do it.
Still, although not so far up my list as he once was I still class him a musical God.personally I prefer Beck and as a lead he is imo the top man.(although he doe have off days)
No flinging bricks please;)
I've never thought any of the original Hendrix LPs were that well recorded. Of those I prefer 'Axis ... ' over the others, but my favourite (on CD) is 'Blue'. And for live recordings, by far my favourite is a recording made of his appearance at the London Royal Albert Hall and released as a "freebie" by the Sunday Times. The atmosphere and sheer virtuosity of his guitar playing is amazing - I wish I had been there!
As to who is the best guitarist ever? Well that's as pointless and unanswerable a question as asking who is the greatest drummer, bassist, pianist, violinist, cellist, saxophonist, trumpet player, ...... .
Hendrix wasn't a guitar player. He was the guitar. And the guitar was him.
A few players have got close to his fluency, I don't think anyone has equalled him. Not just for the skill of the playing but for his innovation. All the greats could innovate.
Grant a lump of concrete coming your way (no bricks to hand) :)
At first I didn't realize the truth of Jimi's greatness. I used to think that Jimi is yet another member of the large pantheon of guitar gods.
But then one day I was listening to Steve Ray Vaughan doing a Hendrix cover, and I was amazed at Stevie's prowess and musicianship. Then, immediately after that, I put Jimi on, and my god, he made Stevie Ray Vaughan sound like a midget. SRV all of a sudden turned into this square, pedestrian guitar player wannabe. Sound unbelievable to even say that, but such is the magical power of Jimi Hendrix's playing!