Which of the following pairs of musicians is most closely associated with blues music?

Martha Argerich is a renowned classical pianist, and Richard Strauss was a prominent composer known for his operas and orchestral works. Neither are associated with blues music; their contributions are firmly rooted in classical music, making this choice irrelevant to the question.

Jaco Pastorius is famous for his work in jazz and as an electric bass innovator, while Scott Joplin is known for his ragtime compositions. Although both are influential musicians, their styles do not align with the blues genre, thus disqualifying this pair from consideration in the context of blues music.

Mick Jagger is primarily recognized as the lead singer of The Rolling Stones, a rock band, and Madonna is a pop music icon. While they have both incorporated various musical influences into their work, they are not primarily associated with blues music, making this option inaccurate for the question's focus.

Woody Guthrie is known for his folk music contributions, and Joni Mitchell is celebrated for her folk and rock music. Although they have touched upon themes related to blues, their primary genres are folk and rock rather than blues, which means they do not fit the criteria of the question.