Best blues guitarist, Clapton or Green

Crega, SRV blows Eric away as a blues guitarist. I know personally, I have been playing for 30 years. Go rent the Austin DVD of SRV and then tell me what you think. Stevie Ray was responsible for bring blues back to the forefront of music single handedly. Everyone admitts that, and Dick Betts and the Brothers owe their revival to him (per Dicky).

Stevie mastered the traditional blues licks and played with more emotion than most players ever hope to.

Rent the DVD.

If I (Or better yet, Ken Burns) were to educate someone on the important contributions to blues guitar playing I believe Eric Clapton would be considered more of an evanglist, than the genuine article. Yes he's skilled and well versed, but when I see the likes of Buddy Guy on stage, I know I'm seeing the real deal. No offense to Clapton fans.

You know I'm always astonished and even a little angered when talk of "best" blues guitarist begins with some British knock off. Now I know that I'm selling Clapton a little short, but he himself will be the first to acknowldge that he is more of a student of the music as opposed to an inovator of it. Also, what is a blues guitarist? Are we succombing to coporate lables? Wes Montgomery played plenty of blues--12 bar and otherwise. I think that idea of the "best" guitarist is pointless. Sorry if I offend, but music, IMHO, transcends any simple ranking such as this. Okay. I've ranted long enough. I'll shut up now.

There never really is a best of anything, but if forced to choice I'd say Albert King is the master.

I have scene and heard most of the greats mentioned here .... and they all have their individual strengths. hendrix for the looseness of his interpretation, clapton for his technical, finely polished genre-bending skills and buddy guy for the sheer dedication and soulfullness in regards to the blues. However, the most engaging electric blues that I have ever experienced took place at a Johnny Winter show in Toronto about twelve years ago. It was held outside at a partially covered venue. Mid-way through the show a violent thunderstorm from Lake Ontario (30 yards away) suddenly bore down on us. We all rushed toward the stage for cover. Instantly, there was an incredible energy in the air. Johnny kicked things into very high gear and drove home the some rockin' blues which had to be experienced to be believed. That evening still echoes in my mind as one of the greatest unexpected music experiences that I have had the pleasure to been part of.