People often ask me at my gigs to name my favorite players. I don't think my answers are consistant, as my list of favorites is continuously evolving. Here's my list as of today. It is not a list of who I think are the best players, it is a list of the musicians whom I enjoy most.
Alto Sax - Paul Desmond, Sonny Stitt, Phil Woods
Tenor Sax - John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Kirk Whalum
Trumpet - Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Arturo Sandoval
Trombone - Bill Watrous, Carl Fontana, Frank Rosolino
Guitar - George Benson, Jim Hall, Jonny Lang
Piano - Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans
Organ - Joey DeFrancesco, Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff
Male Vocalist - Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Bill Champlin
Female Vocalist - Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Bonnie Raitt
Flute - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Lew Tabackin, Jean-Pierre Rampal
Clarinet - Paquito D'Rivera, Ken Peplowski, Buddy DeFranco
Big Band - Woody Herman, Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson
R&B/Soul Band - Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, Average White Band
Rock Group - The Beatles, Steely Dan, Chicago