Great suggestions by Alex, the Kenny Burrell clips in his second to last post are all excellent and leave no doubt as to why he is considered one of the giants of jazz guitar. Hardly "traditional" Jazz guitar, but I loved his Ivan Joe Jones clips the first time around and even more this time. Excellent clip with a great feel and live that "Manteca" quote by Rusty Bryant with that amazing gritty tenor sound. I have to get that record.
Ghosthouse, glad you liked the Birelli Lagrene clips; lots more on YouTube. I don’t hear "sloppiness" in his playing. I don’t know if your comment is in reference to his more straight ahead playing (hollow body), his more Rock-oriented solid body playing, or both. I ask because he phrases differently in each style; appropriately so. In his playing on solid body I don’t hear anything that I would consider sloppiness (!). However, in his hollow body playing there is a quality that is perhaps what you refer to; although it is a musical choice in his phrasing style: In jazz phrasing (any instrument) there is a "technique" referred to as "ghosting" (😍) notes. This means that the note(s), within or at the end of the phrase, is implied and not actually sounded. If you look at transcriptions of solos you will see these notes in parentheses. Several times in his solos on hollow body he trails off dynamically at the end of phrases to the extent that you almost can’t hear the final notes. Perhaps that is what you refer to. As I have said previously, I commend your inquisitiveness and since you seem to be so open to suggestions I would, respectfully, suggest that you don’t let the analytical awareness get in the way of the emotional reaction. This relates to something that sometimes, and unfortunately, leads to silly arguments here: the idea that there has to be a devide between the analytical and the emotional (head/brain). Full emotional appreciation of any music does not have to mean absence of analysis; in fact, the two inform each other for a deeper appreciation of the music than is possible by staying in only one camp. Back to guitar and your question about Birelli’s hollow body tone:
There is no ONE "traditional jazz guitar tone". While it is true that compared to a tone that leans more to, or is fully in, the rock or pop camp there can be quite a bit of variety within the "traditional" approach to jazz guitar sound. You prefer a less "sleepy" tone with a little more bite and is why I thought you might like Birelli’s hollow body tone. Nothing wrong with preferring that kind of sound, but tone is the only thing that defines what "traditional" is; what and how the player plays it defines it much more. As I said before, and I hope you don’t mind my saying so (again), I predict that as you listen to more and more "traditional" Jazz the less incisive tone approach will be less of a deal breaker for you. Here is another little known living player who is a bit of a hero to many guitar players amd who plays with a brighter, less muted and more incisive tone:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLZClVvCqkpw3QeQGiBMnrpiP3tZpVENPQ&v=lMurkUZLHXY
