Steve Vai names 5 contemporary guitarists who are taking the instrument to the next level

Steve Vai
(Image credit: FilmMagic/FilmMagic for Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival))

Steve Vai's legacy as a guitar player is unbeatable: a virtuoso who not only backed rock royalty, but designed his own instrument, practically invented his own vocabulary, and changed the way we think about instrumental guitar music forever.

So when he lists five contemporary players to watch, we'd all do well to listen – as we did back when he named the 'best guitar player' of all time (if such a concept existed, of course).

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Robin Davey is is an English-born, LA-based musician, record producer, musical director and videographer. Robin formed UK blues rock band The Hoax, who were signed to East West records in the mid-90s. Other bands include The Davey Brothers, The Bastard Fairies, Well Hung Heart and blues rockers Beau Gris Gris & the Apocalypse, who also feature his partner Greta Valenti on vocals. The two run a video production house, Growvision, and produce our Pedalpocalypse series.