Jazz/blues guitarist suggestions for SRV fan.

I wanna plug Benard Allison. Of course, Freddie King is the master of blues instrumentals. While he is not necessarily a jazz-influenced cat, his studio bands always seem to include musicians with jazz chops. Plus, a lot of the instrumentals feature non-traditional chord changes and forms.

Buddy Guy.

NPR had a review of the Delmark album "Hoodoo Man" (Junior Wells with Buddy Guy on guitar) that reminded me how much I love that album (I have it on vinyl somewhere). It's been reissued recently. These two also have a great "live at Montreux" album as well, one of my favorites, which I unfortunately only own on tape.

Anyway, with blues, it's worth going back in time a bit. Buddy Guy really is one of the great guitarists of all time (I saw him in small clubs a few times before his recent stardom, he is mind-blowingly in control of his instrument, not mention the crowd). His recent albums are good (certainly check them out), but I prefer some of the older stuff, though it's not as consistent.

SRV fan, ARC ANGELS.

I second the nomination by Pbb: Chris Duarte

First off, everyone that "sounds like SRV" to me personally sounds like a rip-off. Anyone who really loves SRV, and who was brought to the altar of the blues guitar by him (as I was in my early teen years) will have to realize that the master is gone and he will never be replaced.

Kenny Wayne Shepard is good, but he needs to grow up a bit and develop his own style.

Try the new Ronnie Earl- i feel like goin' on-- he's dealing with his manic depression, and this sounds better to me than his last 4 albums--

Glad to see a plug for "little" Charlie Baty of Little Charlie and the Nightcats-- Captured live has some amazing work on it. Highly, highly recommended- there's also a "deluxe Edition" best of Lil' Charlie out there that I never leave home without. Baty is, IMHO, in the top 5 living blues guitarists.

Overall I'm amazed how many of my own favorites were already plugged by you guys-- good suggestions all.

Tab Benoit is great, too- especially his recent album with Jimmy Thackery, and Benoit's last solo album Wetlands. If any of y'all find a copy of "strike a deep chord: Blues guitars for the homeless" BUY IT. Benoit does a smokin' version of "nice and warm" and it's followed by a great instrumental piece that was recorded in a big echo-y room with a killer tube guitar amp -- a real hoot on a system that stages. The whole (compilation) album is great-

My other recommendations that may not necessarily sound like SRV, but are great for blues fans in general that like him in my experience:

Kid Ramos, Son Seals, BB King (of course), Junior Watson, Kenny Burrel, Otis Rush

Keep the suggestions coming, guys