Best musician in the world?

Timwat, check out Birds of Fire or Inner Mounting Flame by the Mahavishnu orchestra. Some great music. Not necessarily rooted in the 1000 notes per second highly technical sound McGlaughlin's known for. Speedy, but some really moving and emotional passages. Bela Fleck has a great older solo album (you have to like that kind of jazz) call Songs from an Accoustic Planet which features many contemporary artists including Chick Corea among others. You can hear Wooten's influence on every Bela/Flecktones album. I prefer their newer albums - something about the melodies are more appealing. Wooten also has a solo album which I have not heard. I saw Fleck/Flecktones in concert and was amazed at Wooten's solo rendition of Amazing Grace on the bass. Goosebumps. If you like the old McGlaughlin sound, Larry Coryells is another great sounding guitarist. I saw him live in NYC at the Blue Note. It blew my mind. You're right about Dianna Krall. Outstanding voice. Every recording sounds like she's performing in your living room. There is a program on every Friday night called Sessions at 54th street (hosted by John Hiatt) where she played a 1 hour set - outstanding. My only gripe is that they make her out to be a sexy jazz diva and she has that weird looking squiggy eye expression. What I'd like to see is a collaberation, like a dueling piano type thing, with her and Harry Connick Jr.

Tom Waits!

John Mclaughlin,Dead Can Dance.

anne sophie mutter-she can make a classical listener out of anybody. definitely hendrix-

I would have to agree with all of those who mentioned Victor Wooten. Yes, your best chance to hear him is probably with Bela Fleck, but if you get an opportunity and you like his music you must hear his solo project live. I saw this act at a very small venue in Indpls, IN last Fall and was blown away. Not only is he amazing, but so are his brothers who acompany him ( His older brother taught him if that tells you anything). They are all very technical and such a tight act that the music just takes over and hours later leaves you wondering just what happened. The only other time I experienced that was at a Grateful Dead concert(no chemical aids, if you were wondering). I agree with all those who judge musicians by the way they make you feel. I have little to no musical ability, but I feel it deeply when it is conveyed with passion. By the way, if you are at this sight you are probably an audiophile, but don't think for a second that you can judge an artist's ability souly by listening to recorded music. If you want to know how good Victor is for instance, go see him live you won't be sorry.