“No brand comes close to Suhr as far as quality. My guitar also has an actual Fender bridge, even if it’s challenging to keep in tune… I’ve been playing out of tune live for years anyway!” Fusion master Scott Henderson on why he’s not a jazz guitarist

Scott Henderson.

In its 1991 readers’ poll, Guitar World hung the title of ‘No. 1 Jazz Guitarist’ on the then 37-year-old Scott Henderson. It wasn’t shocking considering his jazz-fusion exploits with the band Tribal Tech. And if we fast-forward to his latest solo work, Karnevel! – which arrives on February 2 – the title clearly remains one he earned.

Henderson gets it, even if he refuses to own the label. “I don't know… as one goes through many years of playing, influences and experimenting with gear, maybe you just hit on something that’s you – that defines who you are. But am I a jazz guitarist? No, not really.”