Allan Holdsworth-- Best Unlistened To Guitarist ?

Heat Miser · #1 09-03-2005, 02:56 AM

I've heard a few A.H. songs. I just saw the Carvin DVD with him on it. The dude is unbelievably fluid and he plays those "blue" and "light blue" notes in those crazy minor modes like no one else. I submit he is more "musical" and "edgey" than Eric "tone king" Johnson......

So,,,, how come nobody has any idea who the heck he is ? More folks know about George Benson, John Scofield, Pat Methany, and Russel Malone... And we know that if a jazz album sells a mere 50,000 copies it's a huge success.

And if anyone can recommend some good A.H. albums, please reply.

-= H/M =-

megadeth · #2 09-03-2005, 04:02 AM

he is god. i have his best of CD. 2 CD set. it ****ing rocks !! btw i have all 23 albums too in mp3.

suggestions: try bittorent.

mi2tom · #3 09-03-2005, 04:19 AM

Tell you guys the truth

I've never heard of any holdsworth album... Perhaps now is the time

megadeth · #4 09-03-2005, 10:22 AM

BEST OF HOLDSWORTH:: buy it..i highly recommend it.. CD 1 is guitar songs...2nd CD is using Synth-Axe..
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...75022?v=glance

Tom Gilroy · #5 09-03-2005, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heat Miser

I submit he is more "musical" and "edgey" than Eric "tone king" Johnson......

-= H/M =-

I don't quite agree with that, Allan is more "edgey" but I wouldn't say more "musical".

Allan is an awesome player. And it amazes me that he hates guitar and never wanted to learn it.

pawel · #6 09-03-2005, 11:24 AM

Allan is not exactly unlistened to. Sure, Metheny, Scofield, Frisell, and the older generation jazz guitarists (Pass, Burell, Hall, Montgomery, Kessel, Ellis, etc...) are better known, but I wouldn't say Allan is much less known than other "fusion" players like Scott Henderson or Frank Gambale.

He has been around for a long time, since the 60s. Played in a number of established UK/European progressive/rock/jazz-rock bands (Tempest, UK, Soft Machine, Gong), played in Tony Williams Lifetime, and released a number of albums under his own name, which involved musicians like Jeff Berlin or Vinnie Coiauta. EVH cites him as a great influence and was, or was supposed to be involved in the making of the "Road Games" album. Some say that Eddie's tapping technique was in part developed to be anble to recreate some of Holdsworth's lines.

...Overall, I wouldn't call that "unlistened"

As for albums, I would recommend the 2CD compilation "Against the Clock" (warning, the whole of one CD is played on the synthaxe, which takes some time getting used to), "Metal Fatigue" for the rockier stuff, "IOU" for the earlier Holdsworth, and "Sixteen Men of Tain" for the newer, jazzier Holdsworth.

Re: the "musical" comment, his sense of harmony is very unique and hard to grasp, but at certain moments he can be more lyrical than just about anyone, IMO.

maliciousteve · #7 09-03-2005, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Gilroy

I don't quite agree with that, Allan is more "edgey" but I wouldn't say more "musical".

Allan is an awesome player. And it amazes me that he hates guitar and never wanted to learn it.

Does he really hate it? why so?

Tom Gilroy · #8 09-03-2005, 03:24 PM

He wanted to learn French Horn, but his parents couldn't afford it and bought him a guitar instead, and he hates it. Notice how he uses legato to get the guitar to sound lore fluid like the horns.

vette6600 · #9 09-03-2005, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawel

Allan is not exactly unlistened to. Sure, Metheny, Scofield, Frisell, and the older generation jazz guitarists (Pass, Burell, Hall, Montgomery, Kessel, Ellis, etc...) are better known, but I wouldn't say Allan is much less known than other "fusion" players like Scott Henderson or Frank Gambale.

He has been around for a long time, since the 60s. Played in a number of established UK/European progressive/rock/jazz-rock bands (Tempest, UK, Soft Machine, Gong), played in Tony Williams Lifetime, and released a number of albums under his own name, which involved musicians like Jeff Berlin or Vinnie Coiauta. EVH cites him as a great influence and was, or was supposed to be involved in the making of the "Road Games" album. Some say that Eddie's tapping technique was in part developed to be anble to recreate some of Holdsworth's lines.

...Overall, I wouldn't call that "unlistened"

As for albums, I would recommend the 2CD compilation "Against the Clock" (warning, the whole of one CD is played on the synthaxe, which takes some time getting used to), "Metal Fatigue" for the rockier stuff, "IOU" for the earlier Holdsworth, and "Sixteen Men of Tain" for the newer, jazzier Holdsworth.

Re: the "musical" comment, his sense of harmony is very unique and hard to grasp, but at certain moments he can be more lyrical than just about anyone, IMO.

yeah, he's definitely not an unknown. i think if you know fusion, you know about holdsworth.

Chris Brooks · #10 09-04-2005, 07:42 PM

He wrote the book on smooth.

Must have albums IMO are Secrets, IOU live, and Metal Fatigue.

Tsorovan · #11 09-04-2005, 11:52 PM

Or, as I'd say: I.O.U., Atavachron, Sand, Secrets, Hard Hat Area, Wardenclyffe Tower, The Sixteen Men of Tain. These are the most essential ones IMO. Road Games is his weakest.

Out of those, Hard Hat Area, 16MoT and I.O.U. are even more essential than the others, I'd say; though, only by a smidgeon.

Also essential: Bruford - One of a Kind and U.K. - S/T

Texter · #12 09-05-2005, 10:34 AM

LOL I went from French Horn to guitar...AH has recorded some great stuff, indeed. I'm looking forward to the new Planet X album.

Tom Gilroy · #13 09-05-2005, 01:29 PM

He likes his beer too. All hail Holdsworth and his magical beer valve!

spencer096 · #14 09-12-2005, 11:27 PM

AHHH!!!!!!!!! I DIDNT SHOW UP FOR A MONTH AND THERE WAS A HOLDSWORTH THREAD I MISSED!?!?!?!

better late than never i guess...

one of my biggest musical influences. VH and alex lifeson from rush both are considerably influenced by AH. its a criminal shame that hes not a multi-millionaire while it can be argued that he has the most original voice on any instrument. great musician....

Flobanez · #15 09-12-2005, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heat Miser

I've heard a few A.H. songs. I just saw the Carvin DVD with him on it. The dude is unbelievably fluid and he plays those "blue" and "light blue" notes in those crazy minor modes like no one else. I submit he is more "musical" and "edgey" than Eric "tone king" Johnson......

So,,,, how come nobody has any idea who the heck he is ? More folks know about George Benson, John Scofield, Pat Methany, and Russel Malone... And we know that if a jazz album sells a mere 50,000 copies it's a huge success.

And if anyone can recommend some good A.H. albums, please reply.

-= H/M =-

Well, All Night Wrong on Favored Nations turned me on to Holdsworth. I still like EJ though.

Allan Holdsworth is phenomenal.