Who is Allen Holdsworth.

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ocnor said:
It sounds like they are just wanking in whatever key comes to mind at the moment.
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Yeah, but when a key comes to my mind, I only get three chords, or four, tops. And a pentatonic scale or two.
 
AlChuck said:
The UK thing is not really the best place to hear Holdsworth first, it's kind of uncharacteristic, much less improvisational blowing which is one of his great strengths. The other two records he did with Bruford (Feels Good to Me and One of a Kind) are better overall, I think.

After all these years I still think one of the best examples of Holdsworth's playing is Believe It! by the Tony Williams Lifetime. I believe it's only available now as a package this album and the other album Holdsworth was on, called The Collection. The second one, Million Dollar Legs, is much less interesting.

After that I'd recommend the live dates Then! from 1992, and (as someone already mentioned) All Night Wrong from 2002.
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Believe It is one of my absolute favorite ablums of all time! And Holdsworth was only one of the reasons I love it so much. Anyway, I was definitely disappointed in the stuff he did after that, though I'll admit I haven't listened to his newer stuff because of his follow-ups. IMO, he's never as good on solo material as he is playing for other people. I can see why someone would call it mindless wanking, but if you listen to Believe It, you'll see that it's not mindless. And among bass players of my age group (well, the ones with taste, anyway), Snake Oil is one of the ultimate classics.
 
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AlChuck said:
The other two records he did with Bruford (Feels Good to Me and One of a Kind) are better overall, I think.
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Agreed, especially One of a Kind. What a piece of art that is--incredible guitar work and drumming to die for. Even today, that recording sounds as fresh and creative as it did back then. Crank up the first great cut--Hell's Bells--and prepare to be dazzled.

J.
 
I disagree, sort of

The musicianship aside, Feels Good to Me's songs are so much more accessible. And if you want to hear the mindful-ness of AH's wanking, listen to my fave, Back To The Beginning. I remember telling APL that I thought his daughter's vocals sounded like Annette Peacock off of this album. Great, great stuff.

We keep on makin' the same mistakes, forever and ever amen.

Caught in the circle, we can't stop spinning back to the beginning again...


Oh, man! That's gonna be in my head for days now.
 
Cardio, I catch your point, and I like that album, too. I think this is just one of those personal-taste issues. I grew up during the prog-rock era and was teething on groups like Yes (especially), Genesis, and Crimson. One of a Kind suited me more because of that background: I found it heavier, more in the grand tradition of prog-rock. In contrast, Feel's Good was almost too jazzy for me at the time, especially with the female voice, although I eventually came to like that album very much, as well. Either way, either album, it's all great stuff and easy to recommend.

J.
 
Whew, glad I'm not the only one that's into the Bruford stuff!

I thought I'd add that Holdsworth has played on a couple of Jean-Luc Pony's records. Enigmatic Ocean and Individual Choice if I'm not mistaken.
 
I'm happy to see I'm not the only one that has heard the Tony Williams and Bruford stuff.

MadAudio, good point about the Jean-Luc Ponty stuff. Holdsworth has some really great solos on Enigmatic Ocean. I forget which tune it is but the one where they trade eights is awesome. It's interesting the contrast between Daryl Stuermer (the guitarist in Ponty's band) and Holdsworth. Stuermer is a good player, but heard right next to AH there he seems choppy, forced, pushed, a bit at the edge of his ability to function. AH just rolls in with that incredible feel and phrasing, as natural and effortless as talking, with that wonderful tone he has...

As to ocnor's comments, well, to each his own. Holdsworth sure doesn't sound like anybody before him (though many have copped some of his thing since), and what he plays really speaks to me. Just because the playing is fast and the compositions are harmonically different than the usual thing doesn't make it "wanking in whatever key comes to mind at the moment." I really admire that Holdsworth was able to forge a new style of playing at such a high level with such little similarity with what came before. I really admire that and it's incredibly rare. Jaco Pastorius comes to mind, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra... and Bird and Coltrane...
 
If you haven't heard it, you really need to hear "Devil Take the Hindmost." The solo in that song is just absolutely wicked. And I think it's some of the more accessible Holdsworth playing out there, because it pretty much takes place over a Gm vamp. (Granted, he takes a few liberties with his note choices!)

I can't remember which album it's on, but I'm sure someone hear will know.
 
famous beagle said:
If you haven't heard it, you really need to hear "Devil Take the Hindmost." The solo in that song is just absolutely wicked. And I think it's some of the more accessible Holdsworth playing out there, because it pretty much takes place over a Gm vamp. (Granted, he takes a few liberties with his note choices!)

I can't remember which album it's on, but I'm sure someone hear will know.
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That's on "Metal Fatigue."
 
Allan kicks ass, plus he is dead sexy to boot....check out "Fred" by Tony Williams Lifetime.
 
Dead Sexy? Wow. That is the last thing I would expect to hear about AH. Fantastic giutar player. .02.
 
Thurgood said:
Dead Sexy? Wow. That is the last thing I would expect to hear about AH. Fantastic giutar player. .02.
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I have strange tastes...what can I say.
 
OK, I'll shut up right after this.

Thurgood said:
Dead Sexy? Wow. That is the last thing I would expect to hear about AH. Fantastic giutar player. .02.
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Yeah, gotta agree with you on that one. Well, maybe he is dead sexy, in a skinny, old, grey, pasty white guy kinda way. Hey, maybe there's hope for me yet!

While there is usually music going on in my head, lot's of times it's the same thing over and over, sorta like my head has a soundtrack and constantly comes back to it's recurring theme song(s). Two of the major components of my 'theme' music are 'Back to the Beginning' and 'Fred'.

The one that really drives me nuts is I keep hearing the intro to Long Distance Runaround over and over and over and over...

Not that anyone cares, but as much as I love AH and Bruford, my favorite UK album is the one without either of them - 'Danger Money'.
 
I forgot to mention that Allan et al played "Fred" when I saw them the other night. It was a great version, if I do say.
 
I first heard of him in the late 70's, when I got the Gong "Expresso" album. His style is not for everyone, I guess, but it sure opened my ears.
 
Mad, I knew you had taste!

AH, Tony Williams. and Lynda Carter!

Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm!
 
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