Chris Thile...and other instrumentalists without limits

Listening to Chris Thile's new bluegrass-rooted CD How to Grow a Woman from the Ground prompted me to think about musicians who seem to be able to play absolutely anything their imaginations can conjure...and who have extraordinary musical imaginations (the ability to play anything isn't worth much if you don't have anything to say). I'm not talking so much about the ability to play fast--lots of people can do that--but about musicians who have completely bridged the gap between brain and fingers.

Thile undoubtedly belongs on that list--he's one of the most explosive instrumentalists I've ever heard. Who else? Here's a small start.

Chris Thile
Pat Metheny
Kelly Joe Phelps
Zakir Hussain (tabla)
Jerry Douglas
Keith Jarrett