All of those players ... are really really amazing !!! I love all of them, specially Vai, Eric Johnson and mr Timmons or even Guthrie, but I ll get a little bit out of the box here and say 7 names I m listening now a lot, this are names that changed a lot from one month to another but here are my 7 names !!! in no order
Tom Quayle - I cant really get enough from this man, his phrasing is so good. This is something like my "fusion" or "modern" influence.
Josh Smith - I discovered this guy like 3 or 4 months ago. Again, soooo amazing blues feel and phrasing. Of course this is my "old" or "classic" influence. I always get back to blues no matter what
Andy James - well, here is my "metal" influence. I really like his playing, cause a lot of metal guys are just technical and shred solos but I can feel Andy´s playing and I love that.
Andy Wood - amazing player !!! He s coming from mandolin and country stuff so his picking is really really clean and good. Love the fact that he s a rock guy and its much easier for me to understand his licks and phrasing, so, here it is my "country" influence.
Rick Graham - you cant get any better than Rick. Enough said. Touch, feel, harmony, technique, whole pack !!!!
Doug Rappoport - this is my true "rock star" ifluence !!! He got zakk wylde and eric johnson licks but in a way more modern aproach. Really inspiring player. Not a lot of bideos or stuff about him but anyway.
Jack Gardiner - the young man. His phrasing is so good, He s only 20 and man, what a cat !!! Rock style with fusion touch, so clean and dirty at the same time !!!! Good !!!
I can go on and on and on, Martin Miller, Alex Hutchings, Per Nilsson, Claudio Pietronik, George Marios ... etc etc etc .... this world is sooooo full of amazing players