It's true your preferences in music color your opinions.. I listen to just about everything but nigga rap which I don't knock but find intellectually boring.. if your looking for technical prowess I'd go with Al DiMeola... speed and effects wizards.. Satriani,Vai are tough... Hendrix when you really dig in wasnt that good if he'd lived I think he would have evolved into fusion/jazz hmm.. Hendix, Clarke, Chickorea together? wow! Here's a surprise for you.. Roy Clark! Most think of HeeHaw when the hear his name but Roy is an accomplished session player.. (so's Chet Atkins...) I met Roy thru a friend and was amazed at the depth and skill he showed! If you closed your eyes you'd swear it was Jimmy playing not Roy Clark! Another national treasure who's time is short is Johnny Winter listen to"It's my own fault" on the Progressive blues experiment album then realise he recorded it in 1965... 10 yrs ahead of his time!