|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'''Igginbottom's Wrench and The Things You See.
He has a unique playing style that involves a strong scalar sense, combining elements of jazz and progressive rock. His phrasing almost always features striking yet subtle shifts between notes that are both consonant and dissonant, with wide and unpredictable intervallic leaps. Whilst soloing, he predominantly uses various legato techniques such as slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs (including a specialised variation of the latter, which works more akin to a 'reversed' hammer-on), all of which result in an extremely fluid lead tone.
One of his most identifiable traits is his use of densely layered, fingerpicked chords, which are often awash with delay, chorus and other complex effects, and articulated using volume swells to create sounds reminiscent of the horn and saxophone. He has said that he once preferred those instruments to the guitar, having been influenced greatly by such saxophonists as John Coltrane and Charlie Parker.[Morrison, Mike (2006-02-09). "Allan Holdsworth Interview". therealallanholdsworth.com. Retrieved on 2008-11-03.] At the same time, some of his favourite guitarists were Django Reinhardt, Joe Pass, Charlie Christian and Hank Marvin.
On his 1986 release, Atavachron, Holdsworth first recorded with the SynthAxe; a fretted, guitar-like MIDI controller with a tube that dynamically alters note volume and tone via breathing (similar to a talk box)
. Although he has used the SynthAxe on all his solo releases since Atavachron, and still enjoys using it in the studio, he says he no longer wishes to make it such an integral part of his playing (especially live), mainly because of it being so rare and difficult to maintain and repair.[Hallebeek, Richard (1996-05-11). "Allan Holdsworth interview". richardhallebeek.com. Retrieved on 2009-08-06.]
DiscographyStudio albums- 1976: Velvet Darkness
- 1982: I.O.U.
- 1983: Road Games (EP)
- 1985: Metal Fatigue
- 1986: Atavachron
- 1987: Sand
- 1989: Secrets
- 1992: Wardenclyffe Tower
- 1993: Hard Hat Area
- 1996: None Too Soon
- 1999: The Sixteen Men of Tain
- 2001: Flat Tire: Music for a Non-Existent Movie
- 2005: The Best of Allan Holdsworth: Against the Clock (compilation)
Live albums- 1997: I.O.U. Live
- 2003: All Night Wrong
- 2004: Then!
Collaboration albums- 1979: Sunbird – with Gordon Beck
- 1980: The Things You See – with Gordon Beck
- 1988: With a Heart in My Song – with Gordon Beck
- 1996: Heavy Machinery – with Jens Johansson and Anders Johansson
- 2009: Blues for Tony – with Alan Pasqua, Chad Wackerman and Jimmy Haslip (live double album)
Other album appearances- 1969: '''Igginbottom's Wrench'' – 'Igginbottom
- 1972: Belladona – Nucleus
- 1973: Tempest – Tempest
- 1975: Bundles – Soft Machine
- 1975: Believe It – The New Tony Williams Lifetime
- 1976: Million Dollar Legs – The New Tony Williams Lifetime
- 1976: Gazeuse! – Gong
- 1976: Capricorn Princess – Esther Phillips
- 1977: Re-Touch & Quartet – John Stevens
- 1977: Enigmatic Ocean – Jean-Luc Ponty
- 1978: Expresso II – Gong
- 1978: Feels Good to Me – Bruford
- 1978: U.K. – U.K.
- 1978: Live In Boston – U.K.
- 1978: Touching On – John Stevens
- 1979: One of a Kind – Bruford
- 1979: Time is the Key – Pierre Moerlen's Gong
- 1980: Conversation Piece – John Stevens
- 1981: Land of Cockayne – Soft Machine
- 1983: Individual Choice – Jean-Luc Ponty
- 1983: Retouch – John Stevens
- 1984: Transatlantic – Jon St. James
- 1986: Soma – Soma
- 1986: Change of Address – Krokus
- 1986: Fast Impressions – Jon St. James
- 1988: Radio Free Albemuth – Stuart Hamm
- 1988: If This Bass Could Only Talk – Stanley Clarke
- 1988: No Borders – Carl Verheyen
- 1988: The Distance Between – Strange Advance
- 1989: Attack of the Neon Shark – Alex Masi
- 1989: A Question of Time – Jack Bruce
- 1989: ''Guitar's Practicing Musicians – various artists
- 1990: Truth in Shredding – The Mark Varney Project
- 1990: Silent Will – Andrea Marcelli
- 1990: Blue Tav – Steve Tavaglione
- 1991: Love in Peace – Paz
- 1991: Forty Reasons – Chad Wackerman
- 1991: Guaranteed – Level 42
- 1992: Lone Ranger – Jeff Watson
- 1993: The View – Chad Wackerman
- 1993: Come Together: Guitar Tribute to the Beatles – various artists
- 1995: Suffer – Gongzilla
- 1995: Oneness – Andrea Marcelli
- 1995: Worlds Away & Back – Strange Advance
- 1996: Stare – Gorky Park
- 1997: From Your Heart and Your Soul – Steve Hunt
- 2002: Pray for Rain – Atlantis
- 2003: BBC Radio 1971-1974 – Soft Machine
- 2003: Abracadabra – Soft Works
- 2004: Sonic Undertow – Riptyde
- 2004: Mythology – Derek Sherinian
- 2004: Book of the Dead – K2
- 2005: Nebula – David Hines
- 2005: Anthology: Under the Blossom – Tempest
- 2006: Deconstruction of a Postmodern Musician – Corrado Rustici
- 2006: Floating World Live – Soft machine
- 2007: Prowlin – Dan Carlin & Friends
- 2007: Quantum – Planet X
- 2007: The Acatama Experience – Jean-Luc Ponty
- 2007: Rock Goes to College – Bruford
- 2008: Progasaurus – Chris Buck
- 2008: Everyone Knows My Drinking, No One Knows My Thirst – Eric Keyes
- 2009: Highway Star – Snew
- 2009: The Early Years – Paul Korda
- 2009: Propensity – with John Stevens and Danny Thompson (originally recorded in 1978)
VHS video releases- 1992: REH Instructional: Allan Holdsworth (guitar instructional, reissued on DVD format in 2007)
- 1997: Drums & Improvisation – Gary Husband (Holdsworth is interviewed and contributes to three songs)
DVD video releases- 2002: Live at the Galaxy Theater
- 2005: Carvin: 60 Years in the Making (features an extended interview with Holdsworth, amongst others)
- 2006: Rock Goes to College – Bruford
- 2007: ''Allan Holdsworth and Alan Pasqua featuring Chad Wackerman and Jimmy Haslip: Live at Yoshi's (live tribute performance to Tony Williams)
Books- Transcriptions and sheet music.
- Transcriptions, sheet music and accompanying CD.
-
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Alan Holdsworth
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
