Grant Green

Among the top jazz guitarists of all time, Grant Green's influence has been strongly felt in many genres, from hip-hop to Acid Jazz. His funky, natural, single-note runs and repetitive, double-stop blues stylings are instantly recognizable -- few other guitarists have claimed such a distinct sound. From his early days as a sideman with Lou Donaldson and Jack McDuff, Green always helped make even the corniest standards groove to his rhythmic playing, though he shone brightest when allowed to expand his improvisation in a live setting. From his Hard Bop of the early 1960s to his laid-back Funk of the '70s, Green's influence was so far-reaching that modern artists like A Tribe Called Quest have sampled his licks, helping to bring his soulful sounds to new audiences decades after their first appearance.