Sonny Sharrock: Avant Guitar for All Ears

Guitarist Sonny Sharrock was one of the most forward-thinking guitarists coming out of the ’60s, and his music stayed on the cutting edge throughout his long career. His credits include Miles Davis’ Jack Johnson and Herbie Mann—next to whom he performed in Questlove’s 2021 documentary, Summer of Soul—and his tunes have been covered by Santana and the Messthetics. But it’s as a bandleader and collaborator where Sharrock cut his wildest recordings.

As groundbreaking as Sharrock’s music could be, his distorted tone and melodic tunes helped bring rock listeners into the jazz tent. Our callers let us know how much Sharrock meant to them and why he’s one of the “top guys of all time.”

Episode sponsored by Focusrite: focusrite.com

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Premier Guitar editors Jason Shadrick and Nick Millevoi are arguing over which 100 guitarists you should know. Together, they dig deep into each player’s catalog to uncover what makes them unique, influential, and important. Will Robert Quine make the list? Probably not. Trey Anastasio? Definitely. Listen each week as they break down iconic tracks, legendary tones, and even let the occasional guest air their grievances.

• No. of episodes: 55
• Latest episode: 2025-06-09
• Music Music Commentary Music History

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