Who's guitar career did the best in 2016?

[Clifford-D]

Lots of super famous guitarists out there, and even more not as famous guitarists.

Who's career did the best to push the artist higher and higher regardless of status, or genre. Who's the mofo?

 

[GAT]

Seems like John Mayer with the Dead had a big push this year. Doyle Bramhall II seemed to be much more in the public eye due to the new album.

 

[Clifford-D]

Seems like John Mayer with the Dead had a big push this year. Doyle Bramhall II seemed to be much more in the public eye due to the new album.

Albums do help.

 

[Dave2512]

As do famous girlfriends.

 

[EricPeterson]

Seems like John Mayer with the Dead had a big push this year.

This was my first thought, he expanded his vocabulary significantly, gained some serious accolades from other top players, in some respects quieted many naysayers, and I think has firmly established himself as a monster player, and sort of shed the teeny-bop thing that plagued him.

 

[ZosoRush]

Mateus Asato. Dude has exploded this year.

 

[EricPeterson]

I would add Laur Jometts (Little Joe) from Sturgill Simpson's band.

 

[marvin cobain]

at the end of 2015 Pasquale Grasso won (and deservedly so, being one of the most mindblowing jazz virtuosos I've ever seen on the guitar in any genre) the Wes Montgomery competition and I think he's now much more well known, so I guess he could be mentioned here

 

[fierce_carrot]

I would have to say Joe Bonamassa. Guys career is on fire right now.

 

[Bluesful]

Julian Lage and Mark Lettieri.

 

[theanthonyv]

Sadly, it's probably Prince. The right answer should be Bramhall though. Rich Man is a killer record. The Mayer-Dead thing is good music for the dentist office.

 

[Frank Prince]

Tay-tay?

 

[Clifford-D]

I say Julian Lage. His album Arclight has gotten lots of attention as well as his playing. Downbeat recognizes him in the company of Metheny, Scofield, and Frisell.

Plus he is this generation's shining bright jazz guitarist . Probably the same in the bluegrass and solo acoustic world. He also put out his excellent Julian Lage Live in LA.

It's been a hell of a year for him.

 

[slybird]

It was hard to not notice Parquet Courts, Pollard's ESP Ohio, and Bun E Carlos' Greetings for BunEzuala being played at my local bar this year.

 

[2HBStrat]

Don't forget about Jimmy Herring. While he may not be well known to the general public, his work with Widespread Panic has given them new life (remember they were going to stop touring) and sold out shows.....

 

[EricPeterson]

Don't forget about Jimmy Herring. While he may not be well known to the general public, his work with Widespread Panic has given them new life (remember they were going to stop touring) and sold out shows.....

That has been going on for over a decade, not really a 2016 thing.

 

[wilto]

Joe Bonamassa

 

[paranoid70]

Mikael Akerfelt in Opeth continues to make some interesting records with fantastic guitar playing.

 

[Arvidsson]

As do famous girlfriends.

Well Doyle`s always had them hah! think it has more to do with him being a bad MF`er than trying to get exposure.... 15 or so years between albums doesnt scream PR-master either. It`s all about the music! Pretty sure we`ll never see 6 pages worth of ad riddled e-mails with everything from t-shirts to toothpicks from DB.

 

[Misterbulbous]

I'd say Mark Lettieri. He's doing a lot of cool stuff on social media, his latest album is great, and he's doing a lot of touring.