SECRETS

A definitive recording for this player and a well balanced showcase of his other-wordly gifts, 'Secrets' revealed an artist that had evolved beyond even the highest expectations and well past the most accomplished in his arena. Each cut holds a part of the strange alien path Allan Holdsworth takes the listener on, a ride with many turns of jazz style and phrases that seem to have been passed-over by other guitarists. His unstoppable cohorts Jimmy Johnson (bass), Alan Pasqua and Steve Hunt (keys), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and an appearance by Chad Wackerman make this an extra special record and Holdsworth's playing is at a creative and tonal high.

'City Nights' is a perfect opener, a tasty hors d'oeuvre that sets the pace. Though sentiment is not always Holdsworth's strongest point, the title cut that follows is a beautiful tone poem of atonality with a nice vocal and lyric by Rowanne Mark. The strange and delightful '54 Duncan Terrace' moves along gingerly and sounds like a rainy day as it drips and drops with new jazz colors and thoughts of times past. The solo platform 'Joshua' shows great pyrotechnics, and 'Spokes' moves well with odd meters. The heart-pumper 'Peril Premonition', however, is the highlight on this record, turning and lurching with unspeakable polycentric circles and pure jazz-rock magic. One of this master's best and among fusion's most impressive moments.