Allan Holdsworth
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66650
Printed Date: December 02 2024 at 10:36
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Allan Holdsworth
Posted By: Negoba
Subject: Allan Holdsworth
Date Posted: April 16 2010 at 09:20
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So as a guitar freak, this may sound wierd, but I haven't really heard as much Holdworth as I think I should. And nothing has ever really grabbed me. What albums to people suggest that I listen to so I can really hear him at his best and say "Well I've heard him and it is or isn't for me."
I have Soft Machine's Bundles, on which he's good but still doesn't truly grab me. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Replies:
Posted By: tamijo
Date Posted: April 16 2010 at 12:08
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I would dig into his work with Bruford on "One of a Kind" ------------- Prog is whatevey you want it to be. So dont diss other peoples prog, and they wont diss yours |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: April 16 2010 at 12:12
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Jean-Luc Ponty's masterful Enigmatic Ocean is a great place to check out his work ! ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: himtroy
Date Posted: April 16 2010 at 17:32
| The album Bruford-Feels Good to Me is some great Holdsworth work. The Gong album Gazeuse is Alan Holdsworth absolutely destroying. |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: April 16 2010 at 17:35
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Metal Fatigue by Holdsworth himself
Gazeuse! by Gong has some incredible guitar playing by Allan
Enigmatic Ocean by Jean-Luc Ponty has my favorites "duels" between guitar, violin and synth
I would say that Holdsworth's playing on Bundles is his least spectacular, the sound of his guitar on that album compared to the ones I mentioned are notably different.
The "famous" Prog supergroup, U.K., has Allan Holdsworth playing in their debut. If you want to check how Allan would sound in a Prog band, this is the perfect place.
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Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: April 16 2010 at 18:20
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tamijo wrote:Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: April 16 2010 at 19:06
Bundles is a great live album but he hadn't fully developed his style yet.. if you'd prefer something a bit more guitar-oriented and accessible I'd say Secrets or Road Games.. if you like very complex and personal maybe something like Hard Hat Area or Wardenclyffe Tower, he's also a magnificent guest on k2's Book of the Dead and the Johansson Bros' Heavy Machinery |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: April 16 2010 at 20:29
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No one's mentioned i.o.u. yet. I got to see him on that tour. He played at a really crappy punk club 688 in Atlanta. I got to meet the band and Allan after the concert. So maybe I'm a little prejudiced, but it's a good H album. I also like the Velvet Darkness album. Holdsworth didn't want the music released because it wasn't really finalized and I think I remember hearing he got screwed over on the whole deal. Also possibly of interest to some, Gary Husband, who's worked with Allan as a drummer did a piano record of reconstructed covers of Holdsworth pieces. The Things You See. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: April 16 2010 at 20:30
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yes yes, i.o.u. is awesome, pretty difficult music to star with though but it is a great one, maybe my favorite |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: April 17 2010 at 07:28
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As others have mentioned: UK - UK
Bruford - Feels Good To Me
Bruford - One Of A Kind
Allan Holdsworth - Secrets
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Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: April 17 2010 at 07:44
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Thanks, folks, I have some great ideas. I'll see if I can sample a few first and then buy a couple. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: halabalushindigus
Date Posted: April 17 2010 at 13:41
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hears some licks by Allan, something in the range of a 25 note rapid-fire arrpegio which absolutley astounded me. Wow, is this guy real good or what? ------------- assume the power 1586/14.3 |
Posted By: XunknownX
Date Posted: April 17 2010 at 19:23
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I.O.U. |
Posted By: Bitterblogger
Date Posted: April 19 2010 at 17:18
| Check him out with Tony Williams Lifetime, especially the cut "Fred" on "Believe It". |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: April 22 2010 at 09:20
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I got Gazeuse and One of a Kind.
Gazeuse seems great so far. Very good fusion, lots of emotion. Holdsworth actually has a little fire.
One of a Kind is ok and Dave Stewart is pretty disappointing, and I love the guy. Very dated sound. Holdsworth is also starting to mellow out. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: April 22 2010 at 09:29
Those two are great albums for me. Got to see Bruford live on the One Of A Kind tour at the Atlanta Agora. I was too young to be there as it was an alcohol serving club. Might be why it doesn't sound dated to me. Stewart on Khan on the other hand...  ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: April 22 2010 at 10:01
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I love Stewart on Khan. Same thing, that period was before my time so the key sounds are more classic than cheesy. By 1979, I remember hearing those key sounds everywhere. I'm sure seeing that live would have been mindblowing. All four musicians are masters, maybe my expectations were a little too high. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: April 22 2010 at 10:13
Unfortunately, Allan wasn't in the band anymore at that point. The "Unknown" John Clarke had replaced him. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: April 22 2010 at 10:17
| Metal fatigue - 1985 from his solo stuff , and on One of a kind from Bill Bruford solo |
Posted By: esky
Date Posted: April 22 2010 at 14:36
| The Bruford albums he's on and Enigmatic Ocean. Sorry to say I still haven't seen him live but he'll play a once-in-a-blue-moon gig at a place called the Baked Potato in Hollywood every so often if you can make it out this way. |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: April 22 2010 at 16:08
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Isn't Chris Poland there all the time? To be certain, Chris' style leans heavily on Holdsworth, but I think the student has stepped beyond the master on this one, as it should be.
I can appreciate that absolutely no one did anything like the kind of playing Holdworth did before he did. But lots of guitarists have taken his techniques and moved forward. I'm warming to the Bruford album after a couple listens. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: April 22 2010 at 16:11
I never recommended One of a Kind to you for a reason.
 You should have got Enigmatic Ocean.
  Seriously, glad you liked Gazeuse so far, it's indeed a fantastic fusion album.
Oh and btw, I do understand why you bought One of a Kind; Dave Stewart, Bruford and Holdsworth does seem like a killer outfit, unfortunately for me it never lived up my expectations.
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Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: April 22 2010 at 16:16
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Should have trusted you. Enigmatic Ocean is in my future. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: April 22 2010 at 16:22
Let's hope my recommendation doesn't end up in the trash bin.
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Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: April 23 2010 at 11:02
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Holdsworth, Husband and Johnson have a residency at London's famed Ronnie Scott's Club in the near future.
http://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/performances/view/262-allan-holdsworth - http://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/performances/view/262-allan-holdsworth
Gary Husband is at last in demand, plays keys for John McLaughlin and drums for Holdsworth - what next, sax for Pat Metheny?
BTW Wayne Krantz Group at Ronnies 3/4th May ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: April 23 2010 at 11:50
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Make sure you check out his solo stuff as well, I.O.U and Metal Fatigue in particular. ------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Posted By: mckramin
Date Posted: April 28 2010 at 15:26
| I think the best Holdsworth stuff is with PM's Gong, Bruford, and Tony William's Lifetime. I have a lot of his solo albums, but found that the guitar playing was great, but the overall music compositions weren't anything special. |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: April 28 2010 at 15:30
I'm getting into him more on multiple listens. His playing on Gazeuse reminds me alot of Steve Vai in places. (Of course any causation would go the other direction). One of a Kind is pretty much 3 star material for me. It's good but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone early in their jazz-fusion phase. Luckily I'm long past that so it's still a good addition for me. 
Gazeuse is quite a find for me. It's probably up in my top 10 fusion albums, at least right now. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: avalanchemaster
Date Posted: April 28 2010 at 22:07
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I started with Road Games ep, and it is still probably my favorite.
A great collection is "Against The Clock" which is a double disc... one is all synth-axe material and one is all guitar stuff. It has a great array of material....
http://www.amazon.com/Against-Clock-Best-Allan-Holdsworth/dp/B0007S680Q/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1272510033&sr=8-12 - http://www.amazon.com/Against-Clock-Best-Allan-Holdsworth/dp/B0007S680Q/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1272510033&sr=8-12
also, his live albums are great! "Then!" and "All Night Wrong" (Live in Japan--- the title beig a play on japanese mispronunciation of the word "long" LOL- or at least that is how I interpret the double entendre)... are both great. I almost prefer them. Usually the individual instruments really sound clear and distinct.
I have pretty much all of the solo stuff... some Gong, and then some Tony Williams.... I prefer his solo stuff...
try to find some dvds or videos or even vids on youtube, he is amazing to watch perform. He mostly plays those crazy fast legato runs with his eyes closed! That is guitar mastery...
 ------------- http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/storefront/index.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sellerID=AP |
Posted By: Kazuhiro
Date Posted: April 28 2010 at 22:40
These albums were exactly recorded in Japan. The content is indeed music of fine quality.
"All Night Wrong" was recorded in the place that was called "Pit-Inn" that existed in Japan.
Allan Holdsworth has adjusted all musical instruments at the stage of the rehearsal. And, all the positions of the volume and the mike were arranged. And, time that live starts was waited for.
However, people who worked by "Pit-Inn" changed the arrangement that Allan Holdsworth gave further and mended arrangement.
Allan Holdsworth that knew it was very angry. And, it was disappointed. It is said that Allan Holdsworth was going to stop the musical career really this time.
And, the completed album is called "All Night Wrong".
It is not "All Night Long"
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Posted By: avalanchemaster
Date Posted: April 29 2010 at 00:25
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very interesting background info on the live albums.... and I know it is NOT "All Night LONG", I was merely making a VERY, VERY tasteless joke!  ------------- http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/storefront/index.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sellerID=AP |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: April 29 2010 at 07:27
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However, as a Brit, expect Allan to be using the title as a double entendre i.e both explanations of All NIght Wrong to be relevant. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: April 29 2010 at 07:46
I believe from talking to a number of long term devoted AH fans, that there many of us feel this way - indeed a few have suggested that after Metal Fatigue, Holdsworth's compositions have been vehicles of his superb playing, but few have that "old grey whistle test" thing about them cf. Fred (aka Kinder) from the late 70's and personal favourite. I feel Holdsworth comes into his own playing other's compositions and he does touch on the essence of what the tune is about many time . My reference point is the brilliant short solo on Jack Bruce's Obsession (ex. A Question Of Time); less than 1 minutes of guitar work that says 'obsession' to me. Often Holdsworth's contributions to others' recordings makes the mediocre shine (e.g. Stanley Clarke's Stories To Tell). However, I wish Holdsworth would take more opportunities to record with the artists, rather than drop in x bars of solo into a pre-recorded tape isolated in some distant studio - e.g. Jens Johansson's Heavy Machinery, MVP's Truth In Shredding - sometimes I don't feel a rapport in his playing.
BTW anybody heard Fred played on Blues For Tony double CD? I t sounds to me Alan Pasqua played his solo and almost closed the number, before remembering there was more to come and needing to rescue the tune allowing Holdsworth to do his solo - IMHO there is a strange hiccup between the two solos. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: April 29 2010 at 11:31
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^ I saw an interesting concert with Alan Holdsworth, Terry Bozzio, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto in January. They just played from a blank page for about 2 hours +. It was really cool to hear the sounds and music they came up with. There were some dragging moments but sometimes they would hit a groove that was just incredible. I wouldn't want to see this every time I saw Alan play but wow we were blown away. They only did this on the west coast of the USA that I am aware of. ------------- 
"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: Bitterblogger
Date Posted: April 29 2010 at 17:56
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Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: April 29 2010 at 18:43
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here is a link to some pics of the show I was at http://www.calprog.com/ - http://www.calprog.com/ and Tony's blog about the 6 stops they did play: http://tonylevin.com/index.shtml - http://tonylevin.com/index.shtml From the Whittier concert you can sort of see us in the front row. And I saw on Tony's site they are playing this in Europe right now. I would say if it comes by you go see it.
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"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |