Who is your favorite instrumentalist or instrumental group?


I enjoy a good instrumental track. One of my earliest favorites that I recall was back in '75 "Journey of the Sorcerer" by Eagles.  Since then I've discovered:

Bella Fleck-group

The Vestbo Trio

Ray Montford-guitar

Fausto Mesolella-guitar

Charly Antolini- drums

Antonio Forcione-guitar

Alexander Motovilov- solo piano

Who are your favorite instrumentalists ?

foamcutter

Thomas Georgi - viola d’amore. He is the master of baroque gestures.

I named a snail species for him: Anatoma georgii.

Wow -- this question is certainly open-ended! I could be typing a long time. I’ll just go with Jazz... this is not a comprehensive list.

Groups:

The Miles Davis Quintet, with H. Hancock, W. Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams

Oregon’s original line-up.

Chick Corea’s original Latin-flavored Return to Forever, with S. Clarke, Flora Purim, Airto and Joe Farrell

Keith Jarrett’s "European Quartet" with Jan Garbarek, Jon Christensen, Palle Danielsson. 

Original Mahavishnu Orchestra and the original Shakti line-up

Chick Corea trio with Roy Haynes and Miroslav Vitous on "Now He Sings, Now He Sobs" 

Original Dave Holland Quintet with Billy Kilson on drums. 

Art Blakey Sextet with Shorter, Hubbard, Curtis Fuller, Reggie Workman, Cedar Walton 

Chick Corea Gary Burton duo

Individuals: 

Pat Martino, John Scofield, Larry Coryell, Grant Green, John Mclaughlin, Ralph Towner 

Bobby Hutcherson, Gary Burton

Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Jackie McLean, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Kenny Garrett, Joe Lovano, Booker Ervin, Billy Harper

Miroslav Vitous, Dave Holland, Buster Williams, NHOP, Charlie Haden, 

Jack deJohnette, Elvin Jones, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, Tony Williams, Philly Joe Jones, Victor Lewis, 

Michel Petrucciani, McCoy Tyner, Stanley Cowell, H. Hancock (acoustic), Chick Corea (acoustic and Rhodes), George Cables, Bill Evans

Charles Tolliver, Woody Shaw, Miles, Tom Harrell, F. Hubbard, Booker Little, Kenny Dorham

Jean Luc Ponty, Zbigniew Seifert 

Vocalists: 

Jackie Ryan, Betty Carter, S. Vaughan, Anita O’ Day, Tina May, Sheila Jordan.

 

 

Good nominee @slaw. As you know, another is Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives. Coincidentally their latest album Space Junk contains all instrumental material. My first favorite band was The Ventures; Los Straitjackets has been following in their footstep for the past three decades.

 

Thanks to all who responded, those are some great suggestions. I forgot to mention it in the title but I'm also interested in your favorite instrumental songs.  Here are a couple of mine. Thanks.

" Share my Sky " by Ray Montford

"Mudslide" by Vestbo Trio

"Duwadjuwandadu" by Charly Antolini