Yes, he is one of the greatest Jazz musicians of the 20th century. Robert Johnson is one fo the greatest Blues musicians of the 1930's. Eric Clapton had just a few years ago and album devoted to the music of Robert Johnson.
I love both but I voted blues... I don't know, sometimes I feel more like listening to jazz and sometime blues. Blues is music of my soul.
There exists a pseudo-intellectual snobbery that expresses a preference for Jazz simply because many consider it more complex and challenging. However, there is great beauty in the simplicity of the blues, and in FACT that makes it more challenging; to come up with a dynamic, fresh approach. A lot of Jazz is, frankly, like listening to paint dry. It is a highly overrated music form. Done well, it probably has no equal for chilling out. If I've had a stressful day, I can unwind with some of my old jazz records. I use a lot of jazz progressions when I play blues, BUT a good blues solo can nail a jazz solo dead, just out of sheer mojo; it has a power and force that jazz doesn't. The blues it is.
