Started with fusion, and got into trad. jazz.
Still love all of it.
Some of my favorites:
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Return to Forever
(STELLAR musicians in both groups)
Haven't really touched Weather Report, will one day.
Al Di Meola
Allan Holdsworth (breathtaking, hell all of these guys are!)
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Charlie Christian (GREAT jazz licks, underrated)
Pat Martino- Insane story, he was a famous jazz guitarist from his 20s and so on. Around 40 or 50 he had a brain aneurysm and forgot everything. He then RELEARNED everything again, and still makes albums and tours. He's insane, i'd even say hes better after his accident. Crazy thing though, he plays 13 gauge strings, in standard!!!
Pat Metheny
Billy Cobham
Dave Weckl
(both amazing drummers, Cobhams got a more funk-fusion sound and Weckl is got this nice World-Jazz-Fusion-Funk Hybrid thats great.)
John Scofield- another great fusiony guitarist.
I'm not a big fan of that new smooth-vocal jazz either, but Norman Brown is a guitarist who plays sort of the same stuff, just guitar with no vocals, really good chill back music.
Can't forget Wes Montgomery
Here's some youtube clips of some of these guys.
Mahavishnu Orchestra-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujcYw2QTPzM
Return to Forever-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQyNJn1HzvE (From their recent live reunion, GREAT show!, groove starting at 2:00 is killer!!!!)
Al Di Meola-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atz9vzTAUh0 Probably his most rocking song.
Allan Holdsworth-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJF5zB7YcXc His playing style is possibly the most unique i've ever heard
Miles Davis-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui8x9_WEl1g Favorite Track off of KOB
Pat Martino-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql_bHgaQQZEBilly Cobham-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1QENfrsPCc grooving song
Dave Weckl-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLMyYToYwuQ