we have a winner - actually, like buses, two came along at once!!
in my opinion, the most perfect solo ever.
short, succinct, technically superb, tasteful.
there may be more emotionally charged stuff out there (anything paul kossoff played for instance)but this is 22 seconds of sheer perfection.
listen here: www.mcollinge.co.uk/theperfectsolo.mp3
so far............
its not alan holdsworth, steve lukather, steve morse, john mclaughlin,
or anyone that has played with steely dan.
nor is it a "progressive modern jazz rock band"
and he's definitely a northerner!
some clues.....
it comes from a 31 year old album from an artist who'd had chart success with his previous band but embraced the new wave philosophy for his new project.
its Bill Nelson.
from the Red Noise album "Sound On Sound"
song called "The Atom Age"
he's still active, download a free 2008 release here:
http://www.billnelson.com/html/salon/single08.php