As a young drummer in the 70’s, I came to know Allan through “Believe It”. I was a Mahavishnu devotee but was blown away by Allan’s “fluid” sound and still have the chills whenever I hear any of his brilliant solos.
It hurts me - hurts me - when people don't recognise how beautiful Allans playing was. So lyrical, so emotional, so deep and so profound. I'm glad you mentioned this. All his technique would mean NOTHING without his depth and vision of what music can be, and how music can be expressed on the most amazing instrument ever created
I commend you for hitting the nail on the head! Every analysis of Holdsworth I've heard, and I've heard a lot over many decades, misses the most important aspect of Allan's playing. Holdsworth even drew attention to it often when interviewed when asked basically how is it that he sounds the way he did. People tend to focus on the obvious technical aspects: legato technique, scales, chordal development, speed, fluidity, vibrato., etc. but they all tend to miss the most important and powerful things that contributed to his music making, which leads me to wonder whether many of his "so called" fans really even "heard" him at all. That is... his emotion, his heart, the concepts behind his narrative melodicism... the heart of the little boy who grew up in Yorkshire, his relationship with his father, his outlook on life, humanity and the future. All of these things must go heavily into why and how he played the kind of music he played (it obviously had a focused direction), why he composed the kind of songs he composed and why he expressed himself the way he did within them. These things are the motor (motivation) behind the technical, as it seems obvious to me. The technical is always only a tool to facilitate the expression of the human soul. It is that expression which dictates the development of the particular technique. Otherwise it just seems like we get a multitude of clones who focus on only the aspects of his playing that don't facilitate their own vulnerability. That''s what you hear in Holdworth's playing. A sense of expressive adventure which explored his vulnerabilities and was rewarded by the opening of new expressive doors. He said something to this effect... it being the expressive idea first which leads to the technique to communicate it. It has to come from a place of genuine, vulnerable and spontaneous honesty. This is why he couldn't play the same note for note solos "night after night" (pun intended). Oh, how you didn't mention...by name...Bruford's "One of a Kind", is beyond me. Allan's sound on that album hasn't been repeated, even by him. All of Allan's solo releases are pivotal and contain the sublime, for me. Thanks for a great video.
@@earache8326 I don't disagree with you, in general. However, the alcohol "lowering inhibitions" thing is real, and these people are obviously musically frigid... Also, some non-professional zone rangers might be even more "overwhelmed" (poor things) with Allan under the spliffage. Cheers 🍻 (couldn't resist)
I saw an old interview (all interviews are old, huh) from the seventies that asked Zappa "Who's your favorite guitarist?" "Well," he answered, "there's this new guy... Allan Holdsworth." Respect.
I’m a huge fan. Enigmatic Oceans was my gateway drug. I saw him in 83 in Chicago and at a bunch of NAMM shows. I was supposed to interview him for an issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine and he didn’t show up. That’s the day he died. It was crushing.
How could you get past the 4.15 bradford executive? An outstanding piece with a solo full of poetic beauty... possibly my favourite AH solo of all time
Oh, the end of this video. I came for the Holdsworth, but ended up hearing Andy’s words that resonated so deeply with me, and were exactly what I needed to hear. I’m 52, I have a small home studio, I’m not on a label, I have skills, inspiration, and drive. It’s OK that virtually no one out there knows who the hell I am as a musician. However, I can consider myself successful in that I can create what I want, when I want, how I want it and it’s all mine. Thank you Andy. I needed to hear that.
Wardenclyffe Tower might not be his most talked-about album, but there is such great stuff on there. Apart from the track you mentioned, I would like to name „5 to 10“, „Sphere of Innocence“ and the re-recording of „Tokyo Dream“ as recommendations. And Allan lays down a particularly badass solo on the perhaps lesser known track „Questions“, which many people maybe don‘t have on their radar. One of my favorite solos of his. Overall, great and rewarding album, especially on repeated listenings.
Hear hear. I liked the fact that it’s a long video about Mr Holdsworth. There are genres and then Zappa and Holdsworth in their own right. I prefer AH solo albums but his contribution with Bruford and Ponty is just superb. My heart grew on prog and metal however this quality of fusion cannot go unnoticed. ‘Secrets’ (my favourite) completely destroyed my senses for the first few times I heard it and then I understood it without words, it’s staggering the amount of perfection and performance throughout the album by all musicians. Music is the best
Great video. One unique thing about Holdsworth that rarely gets mentioned is that his albums never have any fillers on them. Each tune/composition is there for a purpose. Sure sometimes the albums are short (timewise) compared to what we may expect from a CD but that's because the statement has been made - and no need to bump it out with substandard fillers. My favourite album of his has to be 16 Men of Tain - an absolute masterpiece of technical and emotional playing imho.
A labor of love, good work. I also find Holdsworth to be the greatest musician of my lifetime. It literally took me a couple years of listening to finally recognize something I could grasp. Once I got a hold of whatever I had I couldn’t let go. At first I was mesmerized by the otherworldly musicianship but once the harmonic language was revealed I was emotionally captivated in ways no other musician has been able to touch. My primary taste in music is Iron Maiden and some extremely proficient death metal bands, Allan’s music pierced through the intensity of all that to reach me. Oddly, of all the extreme music I listen to Allan is the most extreme of all…
Holdsworth to me brings other musicians around him to new levels. Jeff Berlin's bass solo on Water on The Brain is my current favorite of all time. Chad Wackerman's drumming on the 415 Bradford Executive is my favorite drum track, cymbal work on that song just gets me. Gordon Beck's piano playing on the album None Too Soon really grabs me. Walt Fowler's trumpet playing on 0274 is great, he doesn't shred, but his playing fits the song so fucking well that I can't imagine any other note being played. Gary Husband on Letters of Marque. I could go on and on, I mean really every song of his includes musicians that are on their A game. Those are the songs that just hit me the most.
I agree...more recently I have been listening to the many accompanying keyboard solos on his albums. They are all quite incredible. On any other albums they would shine out but they have to try and compete with Allan's solos. But so many of them are jaw dropping when listed to in isolation.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer playing on stage with Allan is really a no win situation because I'll take a solo first and maybe it is good, but then Allan solos and just obliterates you or the other scenario, he takes the solo first and then I've gotta follow that - Steve Hunt interview with Rick B
The final chords sequence of Material real is one the most fascinating and beautiful piece of music I ever heard The Adagio second movement of Bartok piano concerto n°2 is very Holdsworthian
I thank you I thank you for GETTING that AH is utterly unique -- THE master of the guitar. His influence is growing everywhere and almost all of the brilliant young guitarists coming out now (excluding blues guitarists) are either learning Holdsworth or learning folks who learned Holdsworth. Matteo Mancuso is also a unique guitarist, but he's got a million miles to go in creating original music. Holdsworth is the Everest of guitar AND composition.
The first solo record is the greatest because it landed from outer space. The impact on my crew was earth shattering..including the rhythm interplay ..I had never heard anybody play against each other like Gary and Allan….incredible impact on everyone
Well done Andy you presented this with a great passion, Allan was just a sublime guitarist. I often equate him with John Coltrane, both used complex scales and pushed the boundaries of music and their instruments. I can’t fault your choices. We all have our favourite Holdsworth track, mine is one called Endomorph (from Secrets) in which he pours so much emotion. Just to say that Enigmatic Ocean is a superb album, even the weaker numbers like Mirage and Nostalgic Lady are just pure class. The album is worth buying for the incredible playing of Ralphe Armstrong on base alone.
i agree with you about the Husband-Holdsworth connection. Gary Husband always struck me as the most connected to Holdsworth. Of course we all know he had some of the greatest drummers/musicians ever, but Husband still "fits" the music better than anyone else to my ear. I.O.U. - Hard Hat Area are equally amazing and show how much the two of them evolved.
Saw him with UK which was fantastic, but years later saw him at Ronnie Scotts in Birmingham when he (and his band) were beyond belief.There were plenty of open mouthed people in a packed room.Last time I saw him was in front of a very talkative crowd in Bilston.He deserved a better and bigger audience, and it seemed as if he would rather be anywhere else. Best bit of the night was when he asked me and my brother where the ticket office was.Bizzare. A desperately underrated musician.
Back 20 years ago, when they broke into my apartment and took 100 CDs I decided not to buy the Eagles Hotel California for a third time. So I got the Pinguin Guide to Jazz (UK) and bought all the titles that had 5 stars. That was my introduction to jazz. I'm going to be in NYC in March and on Sunday night, I will be at the Village Vanguard for the 10 pm show. Bill Evans Waltz for Debt and Live at the Village Vanguard impressed me that much. But there is something about jazz that demands 'knowing music' that Rock 'n' Roll dropped by the wayside. Everyone can listen to a rock record. You don't need a trained ear. As a visual artist my brain in wired to the eyes. I love listening to music. But I often wonder how much I can hear. Don't ask me to hum a tune. The scales are just not there. So, while I appreciate jazz, we have to keep in mind a big chunk of the audience that is only along for the ride when we dig deep into musicality. I think that's why The Beatles in Liverpool were told to 'Mach Show'. So many of us need some visual distraction, the story telling of the lyrics, to capture our attention. Yeah... I took guitar lessons, what a disaster. Played bagpipes in the high school band-that instrument is classed as a weapon of war in the British Army manuals. Love the channel. The architect/designer in me can't wait til you get your records into a proper rack!
Thank you Andy. Concerning your very profound closing statement, I was reminded of this quote: “A real artist may create his picture in a lonely desert. He does not worry about who will look at his picture or whether anybody at all will look at it, for he creates within a divine-spiritual community. Gods look over his shoulder; he creates in their company. What does he care whether or not anybody admires his picture?” - Rudolf Steiner
I met Allan once at The Living Room in Providence Rhode Island before his concert performance. His band was on tour supporting his Sand album. I was 17 at the time and I was heavily into IOU, Metal Fatigue and Atavachron. I was in awe of him and I was shocked to find him to be shy and humble. He was very uncomfortable with me treating him like a rock star.
Another spot-on broadcast Andy. As an uber-fan I've got almost everything he ever appeared on, including some real stinkers (Rege Burrell and Esther Philips spring immediately to mind). And I am a self taught guitarist with Allan being a huge influence, particularly on colourful chordal vocabulary, but not conciously trying to emulate him. I cried big-time when he died (there, I've said it!). Fortunately I got to see him many times. Keep up the great work. All the best!
Allan jammed on a level few could even understand. I saw him several times. Believe It was huge for me as a kid. Tony and Allan just on fire. It is up there with Inner Mounting Flame.
Great tribute to Allan’s artistry. I’m surprised though not find ‘One of a kind’ on the list. Such a fantastic album on which Allan really shines and for me his very best.
I have seen Allan three times. Last time with Dave Carpenter and Gary Novak. They started the set with _5 to 10_ and at the end I was tempted to shout in: What you guys playin’… I hate jazz. But I didn’t. So it’s intermission time, Dave and Gary are going backstage. Allan goes to the bar, orders a beer and he sits down there and starts drinking his beer. What?? So I went to him and started talking. The usual stuff, how much I admire him and like his music. After 5-7 minutes 10 more people arrived and he had to divide his attention between all of us. But I’ve had my 5 minutes with the man! His death came as a shock to me - and in some way not. There are some videos on YT where he is talking about the Kiesel guitar. Somehow, he doesn’t sound like his old self… About one year after his death I went to work one morning and I was the first to arrive. So I was still listening to music in my phone as I was unlocking and turning on the lights because I was alone in the building. Phone played a Holdsworth song [I don’t remember which] and I noticed that I had some tears in my eyes. Not a flood, but wet… During the years I have mourned all “my” musicians who passed away but that was mostly in my mind and my soul. Never tears…
It‘s very rare I listen to someone talk for 40 minutes - not that it‘s important to always agree - and find myself agreeing with every single thing said. During lockdown 2020 I had the most satisfying musical experience I have ever had and I know it‘s changed me: I heard Allan Holdsworth for the first time. I had never gotten into jazz or prog before; I only heard the prog band U.K. you mentioned for the first time literally last night. I liked it a lot. So you’ve reached someone really new to AH with this video and I want to say thanks because it‘s going to be such a useful guide for me going forward with Allan‘s discography. You made some points that are too rarely said, such as how much feeling he really does show in all of his playing, and ones that are never said, like about the importance of going your own way and how different players create different worlds. I‘d like to add a thought that I never hear being said either, after straight away jumping to listen to Bill Connors Assembler after you pointed it out. AH‘s harmonies always strike me as spiritual in nature; in my own head I call it ˋgravity jazz‘, because his melodies remind me of orbiting celestial rocks with their trajectories. If different artists create different worlds, and AH copiers only skim the surface but their scales and chords lack the realistic ˋmusical physics‘ of AH‘s playing, is it possible AH‘s harmonies have such a profound effect because his musical physics most closely resemble the real physics of the world? That‘s how it sounds to my ears. If that sounds weird or just huge fanboy, it‘s worth considering that if you can build a world with music then you can build one that corresponds with the real world and cosmos, hence the spirituality connection to Holdsworthian harmony.
Thanks for your comments. Harmony of course is physics and western harmony is rooted in Pythagoras and his Music of the Spheres. This was an explanation of the structure of the universe. There are also parallels with Gurdjieff's law of the octave.
SO wondeful to hear you just come right out about Allan in a way that REALLY makes people think again concerning his work. Allans technique and solos are like nothing else...but his chord harmony is for the ages. His work in this regard places directly among BACH, CHOPIN, and any one else we can think of as his compositions are pored over for the movement and depth of his voicings...I eagerly await the time when Orchestras get a grip on "SAND", "HOME", "FUNNELS"...
That's the one thing I was waiting for in Allan's career, for him to get his guitar and sound in front of an orchestra and his compositions to be played with a symphony or orchestra. It would have been the greatest thing ever. Zawinul did it with the Stories of the Danube, Mclaughlin did it with the Mediterranean concerto, and Chick Corea did it with the: Corea Concerto
Hi Andy, your 'philosophical rant' at the end is something I'll be returning to again and again. You've put into words my own feelings on artistic success. It's a simple idea but it can easily get lost or forgotten. Thank you! Cheers, Ian
You're like the Al Holdsworth of progressive music YT. You are an excellent addition everywhere I've seen you, but I think your solo channel is underappreciated.
Love this piece of let Alan shine , love the rest of mentioned gitarists , love "Frost" for it's maximal very smart Sym/rock , apart from their not so good latest , do miss one person/band ..............Guthrie Govan , his/their playing is for sure on a outer world playing ..... May Alan give lots of wakeup calls , for every gitarist , ............ Thankx anyway Andy
I know this comment is 3 years late but I recently purchased the vinyl box set of Alan's solo work including a live album. I had the Tony Williams and John Luc and UK albums but never heard anything of his solo work. Thanks for adding context to my purchase and your unique description of his talent. Greg
I saw Allan at the Jazz Cafe in the late 90's, met him after the gig and he signed a couple of CDs I had with me, one being Road Games. He told me, to my surprise that even he didn't have a copy of the vinyl as it was so rare. He never got the full exposure he so richly deserved. Genius. It was a mental gig.
Allan is definitely top tier. I am more of an opinion like you were saying about trumpeters. I can't say "greatest" at guitar, like there's a real monolith there. Wes, Django, Jimi, Beck, McLaughlin, Breau, Greene, Gatton, Frisell.... a dozen more I'm sure.... I couldn't choose a ranking. Different things going on. But I totally get why Holdsworth could be anyone's favorite. Thought on Velvet Darkness -- Allan is amazing, he was disappointed that there weren't enough rehearsals, the rest of the band didn't know the tunes well enough. HE is astounding. I'm not sure if he hated his own playing on that one, but I believe his main problem was with the other guys not really having time. Of course he's famous for denigrating his own playing, even while leaving audiences slack-jawed.
Great video...I 1000% agree with you. As someone who workedc30 years in a related creative field, those philosophical questions need to be asked and resolved, otherwise you will chase the proverbial carrot for your entire career. Great job, Andy...btw I love your work on Frost and IQ.
Allan Holdsworth was an amazing musician. I have many of his albums and have watched a lot of TH-cam vids of him, amazing. Just his work with Soft Machine alone is incredible. Zappa's favorite guitarist too. As for trumpeters go, don't forget Lee Morgan!
Great speaking! Commercial success is not Artistic success, I love artists that think differently… Allan Holdsworth was one of the most important! Thanks for your kind words on him
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Tried without success to let my daughter listen to some music instead of the commercial one … really difficult to separate the concept of followers and quality … they have different meanings
Thanks Andy for this presentation as well The Gong and The Gong with Allan Holdsworth trilogy episodes. By the end of this episode I feel as if I've done a pilgrimage.
I am surprised that you didn't put Bundles in your top ten. Hazard Profile pt 1 and the whole suite on side two where Holdsworth not only plays brilliant but the framework of Bundles (the piece) and Land of the bag snake where he plays his solos on are among the best things I ever heard in jazzrock.
Thanks for this video ,discovered that "New Tony Williams Album" and some great early Holdsworth playing so that album pops into my 1970 albums at No. 17
Andy, the Bill Connors record where he turned into a Holdsworth clone were in the 1980's not the 90's as you state here. The first was "Step It'" in 1985 with Weckl on drums and Steve Khan producing. Those three records, Step It, Double Up, and Assembler were released in 1985, 86, and 87 respectively.
I love the Bundles, Bruford, and UK stuff. The only Holdsworth solo album I really love is Secrets, BUT have you all heard his 1969 'Igginbottom album? I love his guitar playing here but HIS VOICE! Man! The dude had an absolutely gorgeous voice!
At work one day in '81 I heard we were going to be builing guitars for him..but Id never heard him (I thought at the time) at lunch we went to grovers apt and he put on FRED from Believe It...I and I just fell sideways off of my f#$%ng seat! Also Tony does the most stunning polyrhythmic turnaround on that tune..!
When Allan left us, I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach. His music was that important to me. He set the bar so high yet was almost skint when he died. The world is also that much poorer too.
Another great video. Yeah, he was just unbelievable. I'm a huge fan and the more I listen to what he played the more amazed I am. There is a section on an album by K2 (K squared) called Infinite Voyage where he has a long stretch and there is not much going on harmonically. He plays outside (a little) and inside creating tension and release...it is really interesting and just shows his amazing melodic sense. My favourite album of his, oddly enough, is probably Atavachron. But that's because I got over the Synthaxe thing and listened to the music. IOU was a shock when I first heard it after hearing the Gong, Bruford and Ponty stuff and I did not like it at first. Now, it is probably battling for first place. A bit "gnarly", as he would say, but phenomenal and SO different harmonically. Lastly, Gazeuse! My favourite of his guests appearances. Pierre Moerlon is really firing on all cylinders too. Great stuff thank you Andy!
Thanks Stephen. Of his solo albums Atavachron and Sand are the ones I'm least familiar with. When they came I didn't buy them because of the album artwork. To this day I can remember holding them in my hands and wondering whether to buy them. Even Tony Williams didn't lure me in!
I agree with you about Allan being the greatest guitarist 😊. Your thoughts at the end of the video made me think about my own guitar playing. Trying to be unique is probably the hardest to achieve musically. I just play for my own well being. The guitar I enjoy playing the most is my classical guitar. I just take it out of the case and play. No amps to deal with, cords, pedals etc. And I can take it anywhere 😊
Most older people enjoy Sixteen Men of Tain the most. I feel Allan was the greatest electric guitar player ever and the greatest improvisor on electric guitar. The Guitarist of the Decade 1980's. The only knock I would mention is that since he was the best and had his own sound and style, I don't think the vocalist, Paul Williams was necessary on his earlier albums. I just wanted to hear Allan's voice not anybody else. That leads to the live album "Then" one of my favorite live albums at one of his favorite places. Some of the tunes that used to have vocals aren't there which is good like "White Line". Still love those albums, but my favorites are Atavachron and Wardenclyffe Tower with the keyboardist (Hunt or Pasqua). I think Jimmy Johnson was just the perfect bassist for Allan.
Thx for your passionate stream on Allan. I'm not a musician but have always sought out things that are unique sound worlds from monk, ligeti, David torn to Mr holdsworth. I find it incomprehensible that some say he is not an emotive player. Totally agree that he will be studied and listened to centuries ahead.
Really enjoyed hearing the last bits in this video and you are so right. Take the inspiration from those you admire and make your own way. Absolutely love the Gong record Allan is on. Have a few of his solo albums and they are great too.
Speechless about the quality of this video. Whenever I talk about Holdsworth, I always feel like I am not discussing him properly, but I guess music is everything outside of words. You sir, have done a tremendous service and especially at the end of the video about carving your own path. That is my takeaway from Holdsworth as well, he said these 4 words to someone when asked about achieving his sound "Go Your Own Way". When he said that after having his music burnt into my skull, it was easy for me to decide to go down this path. Again this is easily the best Holdsworth tribute video as well as musical education video I have seen.
I always liked Floppy Hat from Velvet Darkness. One of the few times I can remember him on acoustic, I'm sure people that are more familiar with everything he recorded may cite other instances.
I enjoyed hearing your perspective! There isn't much air traffic at the altitude where Allan flew. I will aspire to bring my unique offerings to the level of intensity which Allan reached. He didn't expect others to play like him, but rather to play like how the music moves us. There's a great video where guitarist Jamie Glasier has that conversation with Allan.
To me it was always John. He was the greatest. Then along came Allan and half the time he’s playing lines you would be more likely to here coming from a clarinet. Two true giants.
First time I heard Allan Holdsworth I had no idea who it was. It was Soft Machine Bundles. As soon as I heard it, I thought - that's what I want to hear more of...
Hazard Profile Part One, Bundles, Land Of The Bag Snake, Fred, Proto-Cosmos, Mr. Spock, Letsby, Gattox, Expresso, Enigmatic Ocean, Pt. 3, In The Dead Of Night, Where is One, Road Games, Metal Fatigue, Devil Take The Hindmost, Hard Hat Area, The Sixteen Men Of Tain, Day Of The Dead and Let's Throw Shrimp. 🎸 (songs)
Have you thought of doing a list for Gary Husband? It kills me that he has played with top shelf musicians as a drummer and a pianist! I caught him here in the states with Mclaughlin's 4th Dimension.
I have never been able to get into AH's solo albums but his playing with the likes of UK, Gong, Soft Machine and JL Ponty is sublime. One of my favourite solos on any instrument is Allan's baritone guitar solo on Andrea Marcelli's Moon.
hard hat area is my all time favourite. I was an emerging guitarplayer at that time. I hade just heard his rendition of "michelle" on Mike Manieris guitar beatles tribute and i was puzzled and wanted to hear more. theres som tunes there that just knocked me off my feet.
Your videos are Ever engaging, inspirational, and so relevant and necessary to give a vision and take on the fabulous wealth of music over the last 60 years !! Very enjoyable !!
I got into Allen around 1981 and bought up everything I could find. I listened and enjoyed but never tried to play any of his music. Way too advanced for me. That was 40+ years ago and I'm much more advanced now. For the past month or two I've been listening to him constantly to the point of having a constant Allen ear-worm. He's always playing in my mind. I can stumble over some Allen sounds from my fingers but it's really pointless to think about playing like him.
Hi Andy. I'm a huge fan of your channel as it is very thought-provoking and discuss concepts/albums/players that are so essential to the enjoyment that I find in life. Holdsworth is definitely one of the greatest geniuses of any century, in my humble opinion. Thank you for turning me onto that Gong album! What a hidden gem that totally slipped under my radar!
there was a time Dennis chambers and John I forgot Last name. The guitarist. Went to see Allan holdworth. And couldn't believe how Good he was. John went down To the bar. Having a beer. Now John don't. Drink at all. That's How new and original Allan HOLDWORTH guitarist he was Like supernatural. In his playing. A true genius in his own right.
Crank the bass eq on your amp. Pay attention in the beginning to sus 4 and minor 11 chords and modal scales. Practice forever. Alan Holdsworth wide intervals Chords and notes. Crank the bass eq on your amp
My intro to Holdsworth was "Sand" after I saw an ad for it in "Guitar World" magazine with a quote from Eddie Van Halen, "Holdsworth is the BEST in my book." It's my favorite solo work of his next to "The Wardenclyffe Tower." For band projects, my favorites are the Tony Williams Lifetime records, "Bundles" and "One Of A Kind." Holdsworth was REALLY self-destructive about his work though. He described his old records as sounding "so primitive, like a caveman or a baby." On WHAT planet do cavemen and babies play THAT well?
As a young drummer in the 70’s, I came to know Allan through “Believe It”. I was a Mahavishnu devotee but was blown away by Allan’s “fluid” sound and still have the chills whenever I hear any of his brilliant solos.
It hurts me - hurts me - when people don't recognise how beautiful Allans playing was. So lyrical, so emotional, so deep and so profound. I'm glad you mentioned this. All his technique would mean NOTHING without his depth and vision of what music can be, and how music can be expressed on the most amazing instrument ever created
I commend you for hitting the nail on the head! Every analysis of Holdsworth I've heard, and I've heard a lot over many decades, misses the most important aspect of Allan's playing. Holdsworth even drew attention to it often when interviewed when asked basically how is it that he sounds the way he did. People tend to focus on the obvious technical aspects: legato technique, scales, chordal development, speed, fluidity, vibrato., etc. but they all tend to miss the most important and powerful things that contributed to his music making, which leads me to wonder whether many of his "so called" fans really even "heard" him at all. That is... his emotion, his heart, the concepts behind his narrative melodicism... the heart of the little boy who grew up in Yorkshire, his relationship with his father, his outlook on life, humanity and the future. All of these things must go heavily into why and how he played the kind of music he played (it obviously had a focused direction), why he composed the kind of songs he composed and why he expressed himself the way he did within them. These things are the motor (motivation) behind the technical, as it seems obvious to me. The technical is always only a tool to facilitate the expression of the human soul. It is that expression which dictates the development of the particular technique. Otherwise it just seems like we get a multitude of clones who focus on only the aspects of his playing that don't facilitate their own vulnerability. That''s what you hear in Holdworth's playing. A sense of expressive adventure which explored his vulnerabilities and was rewarded by the opening of new expressive doors. He said something to this effect... it being the expressive idea first which leads to the technique to communicate it. It has to come from a place of genuine, vulnerable and spontaneous honesty. This is why he couldn't play the same note for note solos "night after night" (pun intended). Oh, how you didn't mention...by name...Bruford's "One of a Kind", is beyond me. Allan's sound on that album hasn't been repeated, even by him. All of Allan's solo releases are pivotal and contain the sublime, for me. Thanks for a great video.
Great comment...I can't add much more
When i hear fools say Allan was an emotionless shredder, I think "drink a few strong drinks and listen again". So much emotion in each note.
Absolutely!!!
@@ElrondHubbard_1make that a spliff.
@@earache8326 I don't disagree with you, in general. However, the alcohol "lowering inhibitions" thing is real, and these people are obviously musically frigid...
Also, some non-professional zone rangers might be even more "overwhelmed" (poor things) with Allan under the spliffage.
Cheers 🍻 (couldn't resist)
I saw an old interview
(all interviews are old, huh)
from the seventies
that asked Zappa
"Who's your favorite guitarist?"
"Well," he answered, "there's this new guy...
Allan Holdsworth."
Respect.
I’m a huge fan. Enigmatic Oceans was my gateway drug. I saw him in 83 in Chicago and at a bunch of NAMM shows. I was supposed to interview him for an issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine and he didn’t show up. That’s the day he died. It was crushing.
How could you get past the 4.15 bradford executive? An outstanding piece with a solo full of poetic beauty... possibly my favourite AH solo of all time
Oh, the end of this video.
I came for the Holdsworth, but ended up hearing Andy’s words that resonated so deeply with me, and were exactly what I needed to hear. I’m 52, I have a small home studio, I’m not on a label, I have skills, inspiration, and drive. It’s OK that virtually no one out there knows who the hell I am as a musician. However, I can consider myself successful in that I can create what I want, when I want, how I want it and it’s all mine. Thank you Andy. I needed to hear that.
They come here for the top tens but there is usually an ulterior motive behind my videos.....
You said it. I got the same thing but you worded it better than I did. Andy is great teacher!
Sand contains 'The 4.15 Bradford Executive,' one of his finest guitar compositions.
Definitely!
Wardenclyffe Tower might not be his most talked-about album, but there is such great stuff on there.
Apart from the track you mentioned, I would like to name „5 to 10“, „Sphere of Innocence“ and the re-recording
of „Tokyo Dream“ as recommendations. And Allan lays down a particularly badass solo on the perhaps lesser
known track „Questions“, which many people maybe don‘t have on their radar. One of my favorite solos of his.
Overall, great and rewarding album, especially on repeated listenings.
Lucky enough to see him twice in a very small venue..... absolutely mesmerizing, the level of fluidity was staggering.
I saw him 7 times 🤪
Hear hear. I liked the fact that it’s a long video about Mr Holdsworth. There are genres and then Zappa and Holdsworth in their own right. I prefer AH solo albums but his contribution with Bruford and Ponty is just superb. My heart grew on prog and metal however this quality of fusion cannot go unnoticed. ‘Secrets’ (my favourite) completely destroyed my senses for the first few times I heard it and then I understood it without words, it’s staggering the amount of perfection and performance throughout the album by all musicians. Music is the best
Great video. One unique thing about Holdsworth that rarely gets mentioned is that his albums never have any fillers on them. Each tune/composition is there for a purpose. Sure sometimes the albums are short (timewise) compared to what we may expect from a CD but that's because the statement has been made - and no need to bump it out with substandard fillers. My favourite album of his has to be 16 Men of Tain - an absolute masterpiece of technical and emotional playing imho.
Excellent overview of Allan and his music!
Thanks Joshua
A labor of love, good work. I also find Holdsworth to be the greatest musician of my lifetime. It literally took me a couple years of listening to finally recognize something I could grasp. Once I got a hold of whatever I had I couldn’t let go. At first I was mesmerized by the otherworldly musicianship but once the harmonic language was revealed I was emotionally captivated in ways no other musician has been able to touch. My primary taste in music is Iron Maiden and some extremely proficient death metal bands, Allan’s music pierced through the intensity of all that to reach me. Oddly, of all the extreme music I listen to Allan is the most extreme of all…
There is that journey from metal to Allan...then perhaps onto Keith Jarrett or Pat Metheny perhaps...
Holdsworth to me brings other musicians around him to new levels. Jeff Berlin's bass solo on Water on The Brain is my current favorite of all time. Chad Wackerman's drumming on the 415 Bradford Executive is my favorite drum track, cymbal work on that song just gets me. Gordon Beck's piano playing on the album None Too Soon really grabs me. Walt Fowler's trumpet playing on 0274 is great, he doesn't shred, but his playing fits the song so fucking well that I can't imagine any other note being played. Gary Husband on Letters of Marque.
I could go on and on, I mean really every song of his includes musicians that are on their A game. Those are the songs that just hit me the most.
I agree...more recently I have been listening to the many accompanying keyboard solos on his albums. They are all quite incredible. On any other albums they would shine out but they have to try and compete with Allan's solos. But so many of them are jaw dropping when listed to in isolation.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer playing on stage with Allan is really a no win situation because I'll take a solo first and maybe it is good, but then Allan solos and just obliterates you or the other scenario, he takes the solo first and then I've gotta follow that - Steve Hunt interview with Rick B
Yes, i often wonder how people like Chad Wackerman are able to cope without being able to play with the absolute master any more.
The first time I heard Allan Holdsworth was on the track Beezlebub on The Bruford album Feels Good To Me back in 1982 - it literally melted my brain!
The final chords sequence of Material real is one the most fascinating and beautiful piece of music I ever heard
The Adagio second movement of Bartok piano concerto n°2 is very Holdsworthian
I saw Allan Holdsworth in concert about 4 times. I was astonished each time.
My favourite guitarist of all time!
I thank you I thank you for GETTING that AH is utterly unique -- THE master of the guitar. His influence is growing everywhere and almost all of the brilliant young guitarists coming out now (excluding blues guitarists) are either learning Holdsworth or learning folks who learned Holdsworth. Matteo Mancuso is also a unique guitarist, but he's got a million miles to go in creating original music. Holdsworth is the Everest of guitar AND composition.
Iou is great.its Down to earth..
..and Sand is a trip into another world
Thank you so much for this great contribution ! We guitarists will miss Alan Holdsworth for as long as we live. 😐
Nice job, Andy! I enjoyed it. Hopefully you liked the one we did on Sea of Tranquility as well. The more coverage of this man, the better.
Yes I saw it...enjoyed it very much. I agree, I hope I did him justice
The first solo record is the greatest because it landed from outer space. The impact on my crew was earth shattering..including the rhythm interplay ..I had never heard anybody play against each other like Gary and Allan….incredible impact on everyone
Well done Andy you presented this with a great passion, Allan was just a sublime
guitarist. I often equate him with John Coltrane, both used complex scales and pushed
the boundaries of music and their instruments. I can’t fault your choices. We all have
our favourite Holdsworth track, mine is one called Endomorph (from Secrets) in which
he pours so much emotion. Just to say that Enigmatic Ocean is a superb album, even the
weaker numbers like Mirage and Nostalgic Lady are just pure class. The album is worth
buying for the incredible playing of Ralphe Armstrong on base alone.
is it rude to say that allan was way past coltrane? i mean...
@@NeilRaouf Not sure what you mean, both were absolute gaints, we should be grateful that both of them provided music of the highest quality.
after the 45min it is a honour to subscripe. Thank You Very Much
Thanks scoop...I hope there is a lot more content to come to your liking :)
i agree with you about the Husband-Holdsworth connection. Gary Husband always struck me as the most connected to Holdsworth.
Of course we all know he had some of the greatest drummers/musicians ever, but Husband still "fits" the music better than anyone else to my ear.
I.O.U. - Hard Hat Area are equally amazing and show how much the two of them evolved.
Saw him with UK which was fantastic, but years later saw him at Ronnie Scotts in Birmingham when he (and his band) were beyond belief.There were plenty of open mouthed people in a packed room.Last time I saw him was in front of a very talkative crowd in Bilston.He deserved a better and bigger audience, and it seemed as if he would rather be anywhere else. Best bit of the night was when he asked me and my brother where the ticket office was.Bizzare. A desperately underrated musician.
Back 20 years ago, when they broke into my apartment and took 100 CDs I decided not to buy the Eagles Hotel California for a third time. So I got the Pinguin Guide to Jazz (UK) and bought all the titles that had 5 stars. That was my introduction to jazz. I'm going to be in NYC in March and on Sunday night, I will be at the Village Vanguard for the 10 pm show. Bill Evans Waltz for Debt and Live at the Village Vanguard impressed me that much. But there is something about jazz that demands 'knowing music' that Rock 'n' Roll dropped by the wayside. Everyone can listen to a rock record. You don't need a trained ear. As a visual artist my brain in wired to the eyes. I love listening to music. But I often wonder how much I can hear. Don't ask me to hum a tune. The scales are just not there. So, while I appreciate jazz, we have to keep in mind a big chunk of the audience that is only along for the ride when we dig deep into musicality. I think that's why The Beatles in Liverpool were told to 'Mach Show'. So many of us need some visual distraction, the story telling of the lyrics, to capture our attention. Yeah... I took guitar lessons, what a disaster. Played bagpipes in the high school band-that instrument is classed as a weapon of war in the British Army manuals. Love the channel. The architect/designer in me can't wait til you get your records into a proper rack!
Thank you Andy.
Concerning your very profound closing statement, I was reminded of this quote:
“A real artist may create his picture in a lonely desert. He does not worry about who will look at his picture or whether anybody at all will look at it, for he creates within a divine-spiritual community. Gods look over his shoulder; he creates in their company. What does he care whether or not anybody admires his picture?” - Rudolf Steiner
I met Allan once at The Living Room in Providence Rhode Island before his concert performance. His band was on tour supporting his Sand album. I was 17 at the time and I was heavily into IOU, Metal Fatigue and Atavachron. I was in awe of him and I was shocked to find him to be shy and humble. He was very uncomfortable with me treating him like a rock star.
Another spot-on broadcast Andy. As an uber-fan I've got almost everything he ever appeared on, including some real stinkers (Rege Burrell and Esther Philips spring immediately to mind). And I am a self taught guitarist with Allan being a huge influence, particularly on colourful chordal vocabulary, but not conciously trying to emulate him. I cried big-time when he died (there, I've said it!). Fortunately I got to see him many times. Keep up the great work. All the best!
Allan jammed on a level few could even understand. I saw him several times. Believe It was huge for me as a kid. Tony and Allan just on fire. It is up there with Inner Mounting Flame.
Great tribute to Allan’s artistry. I’m surprised though not find ‘One of a kind’ on the list. Such a fantastic album on which Allan really shines and for me his very best.
And yes.. Enigmatic Ocean... Masterpiece!!!!
I have seen Allan three times. Last time with Dave Carpenter and Gary Novak. They started the set with _5 to 10_ and at the end I was tempted to shout in: What you guys playin’… I hate jazz. But I didn’t. So it’s intermission time, Dave and Gary are going backstage. Allan goes to the bar, orders a beer and he sits down there and starts drinking his beer. What?? So I went to him and started talking. The usual stuff, how much I admire him and like his music. After 5-7 minutes 10 more people arrived and he had to divide his attention between all of us. But I’ve had my 5 minutes with the man!
His death came as a shock to me - and in some way not. There are some videos on YT where he is talking about the Kiesel guitar. Somehow, he doesn’t sound like his old self…
About one year after his death I went to work one morning and I was the first to arrive. So I was still listening to music in my phone as I was unlocking and turning on the lights because I was alone in the building. Phone played a Holdsworth song [I don’t remember which] and I noticed that I had some tears in my eyes. Not a flood, but wet…
During the years I have mourned all “my” musicians who passed away but that was mostly in my mind and my soul. Never tears…
It‘s very rare I listen to someone talk for 40 minutes - not that it‘s important to always agree - and find myself agreeing with every single thing said.
During lockdown 2020 I had the most satisfying musical experience I have ever had and I know it‘s changed me: I heard Allan Holdsworth for the first time. I had never gotten into jazz or prog before; I only heard the prog band U.K. you mentioned for the first time literally last night. I liked it a lot.
So you’ve reached someone really new to AH with this video and I want to say thanks because it‘s going to be such a useful guide for me going forward with Allan‘s discography.
You made some points that are too rarely said, such as how much feeling he really does show in all of his playing, and ones that are never said, like about the importance of going your own way and how different players create different worlds.
I‘d like to add a thought that I never hear being said either, after straight away jumping to listen to Bill Connors Assembler after you pointed it out.
AH‘s harmonies always strike me as spiritual in nature; in my own head I call it ˋgravity jazz‘, because his melodies remind me of orbiting celestial rocks with their trajectories. If different artists create different worlds, and AH copiers only skim the surface but their scales and chords lack the realistic ˋmusical physics‘ of AH‘s playing, is it possible AH‘s harmonies have such a profound effect because his musical physics most closely resemble the real physics of the world? That‘s how it sounds to my ears.
If that sounds weird or just huge fanboy, it‘s worth considering that if you can build a world with music then you can build one that corresponds with the real world and cosmos, hence the spirituality connection to Holdsworthian harmony.
Thanks for your comments. Harmony of course is physics and western harmony is rooted in Pythagoras and his Music of the Spheres. This was an explanation of the structure of the universe. There are also parallels with Gurdjieff's law of the octave.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer wow that‘s just really helpful
SO wondeful to hear you just come right out about Allan in a way that REALLY makes people think again concerning his work. Allans technique and solos are like nothing else...but his chord harmony is for the ages. His work in this regard places directly among BACH, CHOPIN, and any one else we can think of as his compositions are pored over for the movement and depth of his voicings...I eagerly await the time when Orchestras get a grip on "SAND", "HOME", "FUNNELS"...
That's the one thing I was waiting for in Allan's career, for him to get his guitar and sound in front of an orchestra and his compositions to be played with a symphony or orchestra. It would have been the greatest thing ever. Zawinul did it with the Stories of the Danube, Mclaughlin did it with the Mediterranean concerto, and Chick Corea did it with the: Corea Concerto
A buddy of mine got his copy of "Velvet Darkness" signed. The autograph: "I hate this. -Allan Holdsworth"
Hi Andy, your 'philosophical rant' at the end is something I'll be returning to again and again. You've put into words my own feelings on artistic success. It's a simple idea but it can easily get lost or forgotten. Thank you! Cheers, Ian
You're like the Al Holdsworth of progressive music YT. You are an excellent addition everywhere I've seen you, but I think your solo channel is underappreciated.
Ha ha...thanks....
Love this piece of let Alan shine , love the rest of mentioned gitarists , love "Frost" for it's maximal very smart Sym/rock , apart from their not so good latest , do miss one person/band ..............Guthrie Govan , his/their playing is for sure on a outer world playing ..... May Alan give lots of wakeup calls , for every gitarist , ............ Thankx anyway Andy
I know this comment is 3 years late but I recently purchased the vinyl box set of Alan's solo work including a live album. I had the Tony Williams and John Luc and UK albums but never heard anything of his solo work.
Thanks for adding context to my purchase and your unique description of his talent. Greg
I saw Allan at the Jazz Cafe in the late 90's, met him after the gig and he signed a couple of CDs I had with me, one being Road Games. He told me, to my surprise that even he didn't have a copy of the vinyl as it was so rare. He never got the full exposure he so richly deserved. Genius. It was a mental gig.
I have it on vinyl too...
Just check the solo in Endomorph from Secrets. This to me shows the emotion in his playing, far more thsn any blues solos.
Yup. Nice and underrated solo. Or equivalently the „prelude“ on hard hat area …
Enigmatic Ocean by Jean Luc Ponty was the album where I discovered Holdsworth. Great album along with U.K.s first.
Allan is definitely top tier. I am more of an opinion like you were saying about trumpeters. I can't say "greatest" at guitar, like there's a real monolith there. Wes, Django, Jimi, Beck, McLaughlin, Breau, Greene, Gatton, Frisell.... a dozen more I'm sure.... I couldn't choose a ranking. Different things going on. But I totally get why Holdsworth could be anyone's favorite.
Thought on Velvet Darkness -- Allan is amazing, he was disappointed that there weren't enough rehearsals, the rest of the band didn't know the tunes well enough. HE is astounding. I'm not sure if he hated his own playing on that one, but I believe his main problem was with the other guys not really having time. Of course he's famous for denigrating his own playing, even while leaving audiences slack-jawed.
Great video...I 1000% agree with you. As someone who workedc30 years in a related creative field, those philosophical questions need to be asked and resolved, otherwise you will chase the proverbial carrot for your entire career. Great job, Andy...btw I love your work on Frost and IQ.
Thanks for that
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer thank you for making great videos...keep it up
Allan Holdsworth was an amazing musician. I have many of his albums and have watched a lot of TH-cam vids of him, amazing. Just his work with Soft Machine alone is incredible. Zappa's favorite guitarist too. As for trumpeters go, don't forget Lee Morgan!
Great speaking! Commercial success is not Artistic success, I love artists that think differently… Allan Holdsworth was one of the most important! Thanks for your kind words on him
I agree and try and get across to my students. Many artists get these two concepts confused possibly
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Tried without success to let my daughter listen to some music instead of the commercial one … really difficult to separate the concept of followers and quality … they have different meanings
Thanks Andy for this presentation as well The Gong and The Gong with Allan Holdsworth trilogy episodes. By the end of this episode I feel as if I've done a pilgrimage.
Glad you enjoyed it
Indeed he' was the greatest guitarist ever walked this planet !
Great message. I share your sentiments.
I am surprised that you didn't put Bundles in your top ten. Hazard Profile pt 1 and the whole suite on side two where Holdsworth not only plays brilliant but the framework of Bundles (the piece) and Land of the bag snake where he plays his solos on are among the best things I ever heard in jazzrock.
Thanks for this video ,discovered that "New Tony Williams Album" and some great early Holdsworth playing so that album pops into my 1970 albums at No. 17
Andy, the Bill Connors record where he turned into a Holdsworth clone were in the 1980's not the 90's as you state here. The first was "Step It'" in 1985 with Weckl on drums and Steve Khan producing. Those three records, Step It, Double Up, and Assembler were released in 1985, 86, and 87 respectively.
Sorry about that, it was a slip of the tongue
A Pedal 🎶
Thank you Mate, I am a Holdsworth Fan too. When i heard him the first Time, it blew me away! I am a Guitar and Bass Player.
Haha look at Bill in the background checking you out on Holdsworth. Thanks for showing Allan the love He so richly deserves.
( BELIEVE IT ) !!*****!! TOTAL MASTERPIECE! Along With... Pat Martino (Joyus Lake ) From The 70's ALLAN IS THE TOP OF ALL MOUNTIANS
I love the Bundles, Bruford, and UK stuff. The only Holdsworth solo album I really love is Secrets, BUT have you all heard his 1969 'Igginbottom album? I love his guitar playing here but HIS VOICE! Man! The dude had an absolutely gorgeous voice!
At work one day in '81 I heard we were going to be builing guitars for him..but Id never heard him (I thought at the time) at lunch we went to grovers apt and he put on FRED from Believe It...I and I just fell sideways off of my f#$%ng seat! Also Tony does the most stunning polyrhythmic turnaround on that tune..!
When Allan left us, I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach. His music was that important to me. He set the bar so high yet was almost skint when he died. The world is also that much poorer too.
Another great video.
Yeah, he was just unbelievable. I'm a huge fan and the more I listen to what he played the more amazed I am.
There is a section on an album by K2 (K squared) called Infinite Voyage where he has a long stretch and there is not much going on harmonically. He plays outside (a little) and inside creating tension and release...it is really interesting and just shows his amazing melodic sense.
My favourite album of his, oddly enough, is probably Atavachron. But that's because I got over the Synthaxe thing and listened to the music. IOU was a shock when I first heard it after hearing the Gong, Bruford and Ponty stuff and I did not like it at first. Now, it is probably battling for first place. A bit "gnarly", as he would say, but phenomenal and SO different harmonically.
Lastly, Gazeuse! My favourite of his guests appearances. Pierre Moerlon is really firing on all cylinders too.
Great stuff thank you Andy!
Thanks Stephen. Of his solo albums Atavachron and Sand are the ones I'm least familiar with. When they came I didn't buy them because of the album artwork. To this day I can remember holding them in my hands and wondering whether to buy them. Even Tony Williams didn't lure me in!
there's Alan, and then there's all the other guitarists.
great video, thanks!
Another excellent conversation
Thanks Andy , love Allan , esp metal fatigue and the U.K album.
Great video!
I agree with you about Allan being the greatest guitarist 😊. Your thoughts at the end of the video made me think about my own guitar playing. Trying to be unique is probably the hardest to achieve musically. I just play for my own well being. The guitar I enjoy playing the most is my classical guitar. I just take it out of the case and play. No amps to deal with, cords, pedals etc. And I can take it anywhere 😊
I got into Allan via Nucleus...great to see them mentioned! Love your depth of knowledge
Most older people enjoy Sixteen Men of Tain the most. I feel Allan was the greatest electric guitar player ever and the greatest improvisor on electric guitar. The Guitarist of the Decade 1980's. The only knock I would mention is that since he was the best and had his own sound and style, I don't think the vocalist, Paul Williams was necessary on his earlier albums. I just wanted to hear Allan's voice not anybody else. That leads to the live album "Then" one of my favorite live albums at one of his favorite places. Some of the tunes that used to have vocals aren't there which is good like "White Line". Still love those albums, but my favorites are Atavachron and Wardenclyffe Tower with the keyboardist (Hunt or Pasqua). I think Jimmy Johnson was just the perfect bassist for Allan.
Andy love to hear what you got to say sm so with you every single word!
Great inspiring talk at the end about reframing success and making the music YOU want to hear! :-)
This is some real inspiring stuff you’ve said towards the end of this video. And a great honor to Holdsworth as well.
A great example of a musician creating their own world is Steve Tibbetts. No one makes music like him. I can't even describe it; I just love it.
Great end message, and lots of good stuff for people starting to listen closely to Holdsworth. Thank you
Thx for your passionate stream on Allan. I'm not a musician but have always sought out things that are unique sound worlds from monk, ligeti, David torn to Mr holdsworth. I find it incomprehensible that some say he is not an emotive player. Totally agree that he will be studied and listened to centuries ahead.
Husband is an amazing player, too.
Really enjoyed hearing the last bits in this video and you are so right. Take the inspiration from those you admire and make your own way. Absolutely love the Gong record Allan is on. Have a few of his solo albums and they are great too.
I have 3 , ...Zappa , Django , and Allan !
Speechless about the quality of this video. Whenever I talk about Holdsworth, I always feel like I am not discussing him properly, but I guess music is everything outside of words. You sir, have done a tremendous service and especially at the end of the video about carving your own path. That is my takeaway from Holdsworth as well, he said these 4 words to someone when asked about achieving his sound "Go Your Own Way". When he said that after having his music burnt into my skull, it was easy for me to decide to go down this path. Again this is easily the best Holdsworth tribute video as well as musical education video I have seen.
Thanks for your kind comments. They are really appreciated
I always liked Floppy Hat from Velvet Darkness. One of the few times I can remember him on acoustic, I'm sure people that are more familiar with everything he recorded may cite other instances.
Great video and a very helpful into to a genius player
Dont comply,
Don't compromise 🎉
I enjoyed hearing your perspective! There isn't much air traffic at the altitude where Allan flew. I will aspire to bring my unique offerings to the level of intensity which Allan reached. He didn't expect others to play like him, but rather to play like how the music moves us. There's a great video where guitarist Jamie Glasier has that conversation with Allan.
To me it was always John. He was the greatest. Then along came Allan and half the time he’s playing lines you would be more likely to here coming from a clarinet. Two true giants.
First time I heard Allan Holdsworth I had no idea who it was. It was Soft Machine Bundles. As soon as I heard it, I thought - that's what I want to hear more of...
Hazard Profile Part One, Bundles, Land Of The Bag Snake, Fred, Proto-Cosmos, Mr. Spock, Letsby, Gattox, Expresso, Enigmatic Ocean, Pt. 3, In The Dead Of Night, Where is One, Road Games, Metal Fatigue, Devil Take The Hindmost, Hard Hat Area, The Sixteen Men Of Tain, Day Of The Dead and Let's Throw Shrimp. 🎸 (songs)
Loving the Jean Luc Ponty album, thanks for the heads up Andy. Getting to really like Holdsworth, it starts to make sense if you give it a fair go.
My 26 favorite Jim Laventhal albums include: On the Roadie Again and Jump on This.
Great tribute!!
Have you thought of doing a list for Gary Husband? It kills me that he has played with top shelf musicians as a drummer and a pianist! I caught him here in the states with Mclaughlin's 4th Dimension.
Thanks for this inspired commentary and recommendations !
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have never been able to get into AH's solo albums but his playing with the likes of UK, Gong, Soft Machine and JL Ponty is sublime. One of my favourite solos on any instrument is Allan's baritone guitar solo on Andrea Marcelli's Moon.
hard hat area is my all time favourite. I was an emerging guitarplayer at that time. I hade just heard his rendition of "michelle" on Mike Manieris guitar beatles tribute and i was puzzled and wanted to hear more. theres som tunes there that just knocked me off my feet.
Your videos are Ever engaging, inspirational, and so relevant and necessary to give a vision and take on the fabulous wealth of music over the last 60 years !! Very enjoyable !!
I got into Allen around 1981 and bought up everything I could find. I listened and enjoyed but never tried to play any of his music. Way too advanced for me. That was 40+ years ago and I'm much more advanced now. For the past month or two I've been listening to him constantly to the point of having a constant Allen ear-worm. He's always playing in my mind. I can stumble over some Allen sounds from my fingers but it's really pointless to think about playing like him.
Hi Andy. I'm a huge fan of your channel as it is very thought-provoking and discuss concepts/albums/players that are so essential to the enjoyment that I find in life. Holdsworth is definitely one of the greatest geniuses of any century, in my humble opinion. Thank you for turning me onto that Gong album! What a hidden gem that totally slipped under my radar!
Love it!
there was a time Dennis chambers and John I forgot
Last name. The guitarist.
Went to see Allan holdworth.
And couldn't believe how
Good he was. John went down
To the bar. Having a beer. Now
John don't. Drink at all. That's
How new and original Allan
HOLDWORTH guitarist he was
Like supernatural. In his playing.
A true genius in his own right.
Crank the bass eq on your amp.
Pay attention in the beginning
to sus 4 and minor 11 chords and modal scales.
Practice forever.
Alan Holdsworth wide intervals
Chords and notes.
Crank the bass eq on your amp
Great videos mate , thanks to you I had my cassette tape of Freedom by Santana on today . Good lp
Cheers Mike
My intro to Holdsworth was "Sand" after I saw an ad for it in "Guitar World" magazine with a quote from Eddie Van Halen, "Holdsworth is the BEST in my book." It's my favorite solo work of his next to "The Wardenclyffe Tower." For band projects, my favorites are the Tony Williams Lifetime records, "Bundles" and "One Of A Kind." Holdsworth was REALLY self-destructive about his work though. He described his old records as sounding "so primitive, like a caveman or a baby." On WHAT planet do cavemen and babies play THAT well?