1. Johnny Marr (guitar)
2. Peter Hook (bass)
3. Paul McCartney (bass)
4. Mike Garson (piano)
5. Prince (guitar)
6. Nick Cave (piano)
7. Roger McGuinn (guitar)
8. Keith Moon (drums)
9. Bob Dylan (acoustic guitar)
10.Stuart Adamson (guitar)

It's funny, but I just don't process music in such a way that I can often identify who's playing what on a record. Obviously for some people and instruments, it's easier than others - it's relatively straightforward to pick out the dummer in a band, for instance. But I couldn't tell you whether, say, John or George was playing a particular guitar part on a Beatles record (let's assume Macca's on the bass). And this is despite being musically trained myself...

I guess it's a little easier if you see live performances, but most of the time, I'm going on the audio only.

1. Jaki Liebezeit - drummer with Can
2. Charlie Watts - my favourite drummer, has the right feel
3. Ringo - some of best drum sounds I know are on certain Beatles' records
4. Johhny Marr
5. Nicky Hopkins - piano with Stones, esp. for 'Exile' and 'Let It Bleed'. Always adds something special
6. Phil Selway – Radiohead drummer, like his complex, interesting patterns
7. Keith Richards
8. McCartney - bass
9. Jonny Greenwood - guitar, Radiohead, distinctive style, as all best have
10. Elvin Jones – jazz drummer, picked for work with Coltrane

Good that you distinguish between those that affect you and those who you consider technically best, an important distinction I feel. I picked the ones who I notice, whose contribution I listen to and who add interest that makes me want to hear their best work again and again.

Nils Lofgren - Guitar
Richard Thompson - Guitar
Pete Thomas - Drums
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Dr.John - Keyboards
Dave Sanborn - Saxophone
Jaco Pastorius - Bass
Miles Davis - Trumpet
Sly and Robbie - Drum and Bass (Cannot be separated)
Toumani Diabate - Kora

As usual in no particular order.
1) Stanley Clarke - Bass.
2) Louis Armstrong - Trumpet.
3) Art Tatum - Piano.
4) Sabicas - Guitar.
5) John Bonham - Drums.
6) Artie Shaw - Clarinet.
7) Miles Davis - Trumpet.
8) Bert Jansch - Guitar.
9) Baaba Maal - Guitar & Percussion.
10) John Coltrane - Saxophone.

Also as usual this is subject to change depending on my mood.Feeling quite Jazzy today.

Ry Cooder - slide guitar
Louis Armstrong - trumpet
Thelonious Monk - piano
Alice Coltrane - harp/piano
Hubert Sumlin - guitar
Poison Ivy - guitar (probably themost under-rated guitarist)
Charlie Parker - saxophone
Scott LaFaro - bass
Billy Higgins - drums (if he's on an album, it's worth a listen)
Miles Davis - trumpet

(I could have picked ten guitarists, but that is probably more to do with my leanings than with the comparative emotional reach of the guitar)

I forgot about Ry. Maybe that's why lists change so much.

1. Ringo Starr. Obviously. Go and listen to "She Said, She Said" now. GO ON, DO AS I SAY, NOW!

2. Neil Young. The acoustic master. "Pardon My Heart", off Zuma.

3. Roy Bittan. On Bowie records, rather than Brooooce records. Try "Station to Station", off Station to Station.

4. Jaco Pastorius. Probably best to go with Joni's "Hejira", for an example, though "Birdland" off Heavy Weather is kind of special.

That's all I can give you now. It's just too important a thread to snatch at ideas right now.....

Keith Moon - Drums
Ringo Starr - Drums
Paul McCartney - Bass
John Entwhistle - Bass
Bruce Foxton - Bass
Steve Jones - Guitar
Mick Jones - Guitar
Brian James - Guitar
Mike Barson - Piano
Rick Wakeman - Keyboards

And looking very relaxed, Adolf Hitler on vibes

(To me, its not all about proficiency - it's about the noise that's made and the feeling it creates)

Can't decide between Aretha Franklin and Etta James for my toppermost female vocalist. Krystle Warren is pretty amazing, if a little strange to watch in action.
Marvin Gaye by a mile for top geezer singer. Smokey Robinson deserves an honourable mention.

Top rock drummer - Prairie Prince. Listen to him on those old Tubes albums. Phenomenal. John Bonham, of course. Tony Williams deserves a mention, as does Pierre Moerlen. I always liked Art Blakey too. Very distinctive. Chad Wackerman in Zappa's '80s bands.

Top guitarist - Hendrix of course, you foolish fools. A whole new way of playing, never mind a whole new sound while he was at it. Imagine what he'd be playing now, if only... Frank Zappa on a good night. Marc Ribot gets a nod for being the most interesting one currently around.

Bassist - Jaco Pastorius showed that a bass guitar wasn't just part of the jazz rhythm section. Hear him at his best on Joni Mitchell's "Hejira". John Entwhistle was shamefully overlooked in that recent BBC vote. He'd been showing what Lead Bass sounded like for many a year. Norman Watt-Roy of The Blockheads deserves a massive round of applause just for that bassline in "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick". Danny Thompson of course.

My top keyboardists are all jazzers, Joe Zawinul on synth. Always creating new sounds that didn't exist till he made them. Brad Mehldau and Horace Silver on piano, Jimmy Smith on Hammond with Stevie Winwood up there too.

Top trumpeter has to be Miles, no question.

Trombone - Fred Wesley, Gary Valente.

Saxophone - Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Eric Dolphy, Joe Harriot, That Ethiopian guy whose name I can't remember (or pronounce), Gilad Atzmon is one to watch.

Percussion specialists - Ruth Underwood in the '70s Zappa bands. Phenomenal technique and good to watch too.

on didgeredoo and wobble board

Mike Garson - piano
Bernard Purdie - drums
Charlie Haden - double bass
Ry Cooder - slide
Albert King - guitar
Hariprasd Chaurasia - flute
Ustad Alla Rakha Khan - tabla
Ravi Shankar - Sitar
Dave Arbus - violin
John Coltrane - sax

Joni Mitchell - acoustic guitar
Oscar Peterson - piano
Gary Burton - vibraphone
Jaco Pastorius - bass guitar
Richie Hayward - drums
Didier Malherbe - flute/saxophone
Ruth Underwood - marimba
Zakir Hussein - tabla
Andreas Vollenweider - harp
Mike Landau - electric guitar

I was looking at some clips of the Carole King / James Taylor show at the Troubadour. They got the Section together, Sklar still has the beard and chops intact.

Yes, my band makes a pretty heavenly sound. Your lot would be pretty far out too. I'm hearing Garson and 'Trane trading licks right now.

Peter Green ( Fleetwood Mac days)
John Martyn ( genius!! Never been matched for creativityn)
Graham Coxon
George Harrison

I have noticed that the following folks crop up a lot on music in my collection, and I do tend to admire the people who do a good job without you necessarily noticing them.

Mike Campbell
Benmont Tench
Greg Leisz
Jim Keltner
Nicky Hopkins

If I thought more about this I could probably give a list of ten; but it's these kind of people I like the most.

I used to have a downer on reverence of perceived virtuosity : I had enough of that when guys were trying to get me into Yes, but I have come round , so with the usual disclaimers here are a few.

Toumani Diabate - kora
Danny Thompson - bass
Keith Richard - guitar, until about 1975...
Miles Davis - trumpet
Earl Scruggs - banjo
Brian Eno - whatever it is that he does
Johnnie Johnson - piano (for all those Chuck Berry records)
James Booker - piano (for Junco Partner)
Charles Mingus - bass and bandleader
Simon Rattle - conductor

And loads of the previous suggestions : was nearly going to suggest Sly & Robbie as one item, and Neil Young on electric guitar, Keith Moon on drums...