He plays his instrument like a saxophone, abstractly. And his mind keeps constantly on creating IN the moment, and luckily his hands follow the mind. He also has good instinct for displacement and disorientation.
Mr. Holdsworth, to me, was at his finest with Bill Bruford, Dave Stewart, Jeff Berlin. His guitar tone on UK's first release I felt had reached that "other worldly" state hard to pin down. It had a rounded, full-stereo split character with basic Marshall JCM's, rack-mounted digital effects and his Boogie Body custom Blonde Strat. All band members were his equals, and all were able to "shine". However it seems Allan has, despite adding two-octave chordal legato jaw dropping runs, he's hit a wall.
@neutroniumamp I tend to agree, although I have found moments on things like Secrets and Wardencliffe Tower that I really like. But The Bruford records were masterpieces and that was a superb ensemble.
There are levels. Most 'music' is on a level. Our music is not on that level. It is above it. It is on a different level. Allan is on our other level. The above level where Elvin Jones site with Frank Zappa and Igor Stravinsky. Praise and give thanks to the level. Parallel lines never meet. Respect and give thanks to the level. We, on the upper, higher level, must ignore the lower level, because viewing it would make us sad, and commenting would only make us look superior. Thank you upper level.
I feel similar to some folks who prefer Allan's work from the 70's and 80's - but if you listen to this in context of music like Charlie Parker or John Coltrane, you might get a better sense of where he's at. And if you think this stuff is "out there" - just check out something like Stockhausen's Helicopter quartet - you'll come back to this and think it's top-40 dance music!
I have absolutely no problem with his contemporary work, and when I say contemporary- yes, I am awaiting the new album. The problem as I see it, is that AH works best as band leader where he feels comfortable in his own skin. He's quite the songwriter actually. This sort of music is all wrong for him.
The Helicopter Quartett is more a multi-media piece, and not remarkable. His earlier stuff, mostly from the 50s, is of import.
But, yeah, I'm not hearing or seeing any magic between them here. I wonder what brought them together.....Bozzio and the bassist seem way more compatible with each other.
Wow, horrible recording of musicians that have carefully crafted tone. The drums are obnoxiously loud and distorted, the bass is grating. About the only part of this video that saves it is Holdsworth's legatto and reverb.
@Steven4466 oh, hope you inferred that he was playing the steinberger at the baked potato. footage at youtube, with ron bruner and bunny brunel. i sat RIGHT NEXT to allan! i was 3 feet away from him. he was kinda upset because the drummer was a half hour late. at the end of the set i cracked some jokes with him and he seemed to ease up a little bit. i like that he is accessible to fans, he always talks to folks between sets, while he smokes a cig and drnks some wine! have met him thrice...
@Steven4466 heartily agreed. saw him at yoshis. golden sound and his playing was inspired, none of those dreadful 'balooga' riffs (that's what i call his pointless riff when you know he is searching). saw him recently at the baked potato. he struggled with feedback and other rogue qualities, like the notes clipping off, etc , sound was harsh and distracted him from playing. the spongy luminous character of the hollow wood guitars was just not there. he sounds good here in several spots, though.
I'm really gonna get some hate mail for this.....but as much as I love and admire the great Terry Bozzio, I'm really growing weary of his vast and varied assortment of tuned coffee cans.
I love Bozzio so much but this is so hard to listen to. Musicianship IQ=200 but it comes off as noise. i'd rather hear terry by himself or w/Chad Wackerman. He is a much better composer than this troupe.
there are alot of forms of improvisation I dont think anyone should judge this because it still has alot of musical value to it and plus alot of guitarist are too close minded to even try to play out of the box type stuff I personal enjoy unique stuff from listening to wes montgomery improvise all the way to alan holdsworth....
Wank, wank, wank - just like Holdsworth always does. Runs, runs, and more runs. This clown could not improvise his way out of a paper bag. This is free improv, and he had the opportunity to build something with the other musicians. Did he? No. He decided to awe everyone with his tired 70s runs. Who cares? No one. Not even God.
I did. As a Holdsworth fan, I do somewhat agree with him, although I wouldn't have stated it so abrasively. He might as well be playing on his own here, this is not group improv or showing any sensitivity. That doesn't mean I don't love him for what he does as a solo artist. I think a more chordal approach would have worked better with this one.
@gretschjazzer I think it would be quite difficult to improvise your way out of a paper bag. I presume you mean a human sized paper bag with a knot tied at the top to prevent escape? Then you really only have two choices: to untie the knot at the top or to go through the 'wall' of the bag. I suppose you could improvise in either case. For example, you could untie the knot at the top by using your teeth. Perhaps Jimi Hendrix would opt for this method. I would piss my way through the side.
@gretschjazzer I think it would be quite difficult to improvise your way out of a paper bag. I presume you mean a human sized paper bag with a knot tied at the top to prevent escape? Then you really only have two choices: to untie the knot at the top or to go through the 'wall' of the bag. I suppose you could improvise in either case. For example, you could untie the knot at the top by using your teeth. Perhaps Jimi Hendrix would opt for this method. I would piss my way through the side.
@gretschjazzer I think it would be quite difficult to improvise your way out of a paper bag. I presume you mean a human sized paper bag with a knot tied at the top to prevent escape? Then you really only have two choices: to untie the knot at the top or to go through the 'wall' of the bag. I suppose you could improvise in either case. For example, you could untie the knot at the top by using your teeth. Perhaps Jimi Hendrix would opt for this method. I would piss my way through the side.
Thanks man, this is really great. Holdsworth is a friggin' alien, isn't he? I just heard stuff on the radio with his trio, also 2010. Wow. Please keep on posting such great material. Best reagrds
Ive youtubed Holdsworth for 3 straight hours and i am still amazed and anxious to hear more. Thats what i love most about him. I however, and im sure i will get the third degree for this, am NOT a Bozzio fan.
There is a difference between saying that you don't like somebody and then saying that they suck. Only assholes give you negative attention if you don't like somebody or decent people will send you some links and ask why you don't like them. If you said that Bozzio sucks then that's going to bring more negative attention and justified negative attention at that. Not liking him is fine, everybody has their own tastes.
@thefallingdream If you haven't already, check out the Bill Bruford album he played on back in the late 70's called "One of a Kind". It's some of my favorite Holdsworth stuff.
ok check this out..listen to tales of topographic oceans by yes. the third side called the ancient...the rhythm and legato are very similar..for real listen to both ..i consider it a tribute to steve howe from allan
People late in Coltrane's career said that Kulu Se Mama wasn't jazz, but there are always conservative morons who don't want music to change or progress. Holdsworth is a genius, but anyone can plainly tell this isn't a 12 bar blues! Who cares?
I couldn't read that second word so I looked up the "Hughes amp" part and then got Kettner. They no doubt indulged Allan alot more than the other amp makers like Marshall. Unfortunately, Gibson didn't work with Allan either, like they should have, because Allan liked the SG style.
At first, I thought this sounded cacophonous, but then I thought how it reminded me a bit of some of the Indian ragas and various Arabic music that I listen to: pure improvisation. I can now appreciate this.
john mclaughlin hates this guy because he doesnt pick every note also i think he stole a lot of his thunder being touted as the fastest. i myself think allan is amazing, but what happened when eddie van halen was supposed to produce him huh never happened. more jealosy im afraid.
Holdsworth may not pick every note as you informed us. But by god you'll never hear his pull-offs go, "Be-Yow" in our lifetime either.
I saw their Santa Cruz, California date and was underwhelmed by a similar performance. Bozzio & Mastelotto may be proficient at creating an inspired evening of disjointed noodling but no one could get Allan
excited about contributing despite the fusillade of notes. I had no sense of a "band" much less music.
@eurabio Are you sure? This here has nothing to do with the music, AH usually plays. You might probably be a bit disappointed even though his "normal" stuff is simply awesome...
Can't compare this to Coltrane or real jazz musicians, though - these guys are good for rockers, but they are too boring and linear to even qualify as jazz. I saw the gig; everything had one flat feel, one flat tempo & rhythm, one flat feel all the time. They were creative enough for the first 5 minutes of a jazz gig & should stick with their pretentious prog-rock crap.
@boertush Thank god for obedient assholes incapable of an original thought like you who blindly eat any shit that a "big name" shoves down your mouth. You'd probably buy all Britney Spears albums if a "big name" like Holdsworth told you it's good jazz. These guys are flat, have zero innovation, they play one tempo, one flat drone for hours and are incapable of detaching themselves from that one cliche; if that's good enough for you, then you certainly deserve nothing better, dickhead.
@gormarx I could argue that Holdsworth is the opposite of what you just stated, but the truth is musically you're an ultra conservative tone deaf douche bag that would listen to Britney Spears if she'd throw in a few triplets and a little brass, ooh and if nobody would heard of her because you seem to like obscurity.
@boertush No, you couldn't argue anything because your English is barely good enough for a 7-year old. What does " if nobody would heard of her" mean? Al DiMeola is a jazz guitarist. John McLaughlin. Larry Coryell, not to mention Pat Metheny. Holdsworth is "jazz" as much as Sting - show up with a few jazz musicians, throw in a fourth chord in your pop crap and a strange scale run, and sell it under "jazz" to assholes who believe it - and thus here you are. Your taste matches your English and IQ.
@gormarx Easy dude. If you think Holdsworth just plays 4th chords over pop crap it's pretty obvious to me that you don't know enough about what you are commenting on. Try learning some Holdsworth chord melodies like "Hall of Mirrors" or "Above and Below" - show me ONE 4th chord and then we will talk.
Honestly, you are in no position to judge him as a musician, nor a guitarist, just based on these simple observations. You lack some historical perspective on what is happening in this vid.
@CharlieShaughnessy I didn't - that's Sting who does it (the limit on posts kills). I can judge anyone in any way, just like you - you just don't like the fact that someone dislikes something you like, just like boertush, only you are civilized. polite and eloquent (thanks). I've played music for decades, I know it well, and their gig was lethally boring, history notwithstanding. "Bored tush" decided to attack and insult because of a different opinion like a good Nazi would, that's all.
@gormarx Ever wondered why this is called the world wide web? I'm sure a 7-year old could figure that one out.
Here's a very inconvenient quote for you from McLaughlin about Holdsworth, "If knew what he was doing, I'd steal everything". Wether you like it or not Holdsworth gets a lot of respect from jazz musicians and guitarists in particular. Now, go get a new set of ears because facts don't seem to matter to you.
i am somewhat conflicted after reading some of your comments.
• it's great that he is willing to go on the road and improvise. this is such a strength of his when i have seen him i feel that he is super honest.
also, he seems to be super perfectionist from what i've gleaned from interviews... he has erased months of work in a night. so if he is loosening up and letting the notes fall where they may infront of people seems like growth.
•however, it is time to hear and tour new stuff already!!
i know these gentlemen, are extremely tallented, and i can appreciate all sorts of music. terry bozzio is one of the alltime greats, seen him a few times, even had the pleasure of seeing him with frank ,and mr beck.
but honestly, this sounds like shit, no notes going nowhere fast.
Never give a drummer equal billing. From that point on, it's drum music. If you're a strong enough player, you can hold your own within the barrage, but the game isn't yours, you're merely accompanying the drums.
I don't deny the guy's talented. But for the most part it's "let me show you how fast I can haul ass on my axe"! Pretty much like "noodling on meth". He's good though. But for my money 'Give me Jeff Beck or give me death"! Style, structure on a Strat.
@sleeve51 check out his studio albums, this is not representative of classic allan... IOU, 'one of a kind', 'road games' and 'metal fatigue' are classic allan guitar efforts with nice songs and more 'compositional' playing, and magic sounds, some of the best ever from a guitar. i would cite 'one of a kind' as being perhaps his most elegant and emotive, IOU is unique for its guitar chords, and some unique leadtones ('checking out', exp)plus awesome drums from gary husband. also atavachron/sand...
When Allan really gets going, it almost doesn't matter what's happening around him.(Not to imply that he isn't interacting..he is.): His melodic patterns imply multitudes of possible harmonic foundations / chord changes. They don't happen to be actually played by the band, & it works just as well as a modal piece, but a great arranger could take this music and reharmonize it into a true work, as Miles Davis was arranged into a bigger structure by Gil Evans
I watched that video thrice and the result is: I still prefer his work of the 70s (Softmachine,Bruford,UK,Ponty.....) Sure, he is probably the No. 1electric-guitarist on earth, but he lost his heart- and mind touching melodyideas (just my opinion) I ceased to buy his albums in the mid 90s, because they became to be "all the same" for my ears..can´t separate them really....too much technique and effects..However, I´m glad to know Allan H.´s music !
I just have to say this. I'm a Holdsworth fan from the Bruford days and the beginning of his solo career. I've seen him live 2-3 times. I don't know if I would sit through this. The guy kills me when he chords, and can play some of the most beautiful melodies over those changes... have you heard the acoustic stuff on "Home"? "Non Brewed Condiment"... on and on and on, so much great stuff. This stuff though... I don't know. There's nothing to grab onto... no melodies, not even brief ones.
I was there and it was AWESOME!! Fk songs, I didn't understand a lick of it. If we ever need to communicate with alien beings of a higher dimension, then Mr. Holdsworth should be our interpreter!
I remember in 2007 when there had already been significant talk about Snakes n Ladders. I said (on the Holdsworth forum) that I heard it was coming out in May...of 2010!!! I truly was joking at the time. But no disrespect meant to Allan, I realize he's got to make a living, and touring must get it done above spending time in the studio. But hopefully we do eventually see SOMEthing come from the studio...I'd love to hear some new tunes.
bozzio and mastelotto on the same stage is practically beggign for a bunch of noise. they're style is not good for 2 drumers of the same type. bruford with mastelotto was different but this is ridiculous
OK ..i was there ! in my hometown Eindhoven. Musically i was not very impressed. he did not play any soloing like this one in here. more dreamisch chords. maybe im not ready for this :) but hey ..to see AH and TB just 100 meters away from my home...
allan is my hero on guitar, but also the older fusion/rock oriented tunes. and with planet X, level 42 K2 and JL Ponty !!
I thought about going to this show, next thursday only 50km from my home... But if it's all like this, I have my doubt. I''ve always admired AH for his treatment of uncommon chords scales and him fabulous precision, but in my opinion this has gone lost now in too much experiment and to few structure (or hardly any structure at all). I still prefer the end 70s, when he played with Bruford.
It will be all like this and even more boring ... I'm a huge Bozzio/Levin fan, but this concert (münster, germany) was the worst I've ever been to ...
@Saschaariger: Thanks. I had already decided not to go. To me it sounds more like a daily exercise to keep the fingers in good condition, rather than music suitable for a concert.
Holdsworth has never been a favorite of mine, personally. I was at this show in the front row, and he didn't change my mind. I can think of any number of other guitarists that I would rather have seen with the fantastic lineup of Bozzio, Levin and Mastellotto. That being said, it was a great show overall and good to see this vid.
I think he's wasting valuable time touring on this non-material. He should be working on getting the albums he promised were coming out 2 years ago to market...and then touring on those.
I don't care who you are....nobody is good enough to improvise a whole concert.
I know what it's called, and I know people do it. Also, depending on the situation, spontaneous composition is just a glorified word for jam session.
I have no doubt that they'll put together a good CD from these sessions, and that's positive. The only problem is that nobody will have attended the session they will put together because it will be culled from many different nights.
I saw this act. It had moments of interest and moments of disinterest. I don't know which were predominant.
"Good enough" is not a really great way to phrase it. I don't think it requires being "good enough" at anything to do free improv, check out some of my other videos. We all obviously aren't AMAZING players, but there are some seriously great moments happening. This is a whole genre of music...
I do agree, it would be great if he could release his solo material - he has been touring with his material though, and honestly this free improv Holdsworth stuff was a breath of fresh air.
I'm a Holdsworth fanatic, but I'd much rather hear him solo over his amazing chordal progressions. There's such an anarchistic/super-exploratory aspect to Allan playing anyway that I don't think it adds to the mix to take away what structure was there.
To be fair, I saw this show before they were properly marketing it, and had no idea they were just going to wing it all night until about 20 minutes into the show when the music never stopped, and the structure of the music never took hold.
Okay fair enough, you would rather have heard him play over his tunes. I love free music like this, because you get to see what the core of their musicianship is. Since there's a significantly lesser amount of structure here, we get a more organic understanding of what is going on.
@CharlieShaughnessy I think this project gives Allan the freedom of expressions he's looking for from the Seventies with Soft Machine or Tony Williams; I love the way he mixes contemporary music in his soloing. Well... I like everything he does!
@CharlieShaughnessy Organic is great, but a full night of it is perhaps a little pretentious not to mention hard on the concentration (for listener as well as performer). I accept from improv comes some great moments, but then that's why musicians usually takethose moments with their best ideas and put them into a structured song we all like.
@janderson2000 This reminds me of what coltrane did towards the end of his career............just free improvisation, free from the confines of a chordal progression...........interesting stuff. makes you kind of wonder what is "music"..............maybe thats the point....
Actually if you look at history of music, everyone improvised in concerts. People would come together and play music. It even happened in the 20th century where jazz artists would come out of nowhere and just play. So I really disagree with your comment about not being able to improvise a concert.
@shadowknight132 Yes, and the good stuff they remember, write down, and develop... that's what makes a great piece. Otherwise, it ends up being "moments" of greatness inside a larger "hit and miss" affair...
@janderson2000 I don't think he's wasting time, I think he's just doing his thing. I do share your frustration over the albums not being produced, but at least we're getting to watch this. ;)
He plays his instrument like a saxophone, abstractly. And his mind keeps constantly on creating IN the moment, and luckily his hands follow the mind. He also has good instinct for displacement and disorientation.
babayaga77 6 hours ago
Un bodrio... always boring this man, im sorry
nepoide 2 days ago
I don't get it. It's beyond me. Anyway, don't try to get laid with this playing in the background.
vexamatic 3 days ago
Allan is so far beyond mortal playing skills, he has probably forgotten how to play a G major chord..
mattnsim 5 days ago
How exciting, nice tune...
clangerlover 1 week ago
I hope you all hear some Meshuggah here...
CaptainNeonSUN 1 week ago
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Awesomeness @ the highest level, Allan is genius savant!
Manolian 2 weeks ago
Great video! If you just like to watch Holdsworth.
vishusvirg 3 weeks ago
A bit noodely for my tastes.
Nacho66 1 month ago
Mr. Holdsworth, to me, was at his finest with Bill Bruford, Dave Stewart, Jeff Berlin. His guitar tone on UK's first release I felt had reached that "other worldly" state hard to pin down. It had a rounded, full-stereo split character with basic Marshall JCM's, rack-mounted digital effects and his Boogie Body custom Blonde Strat. All band members were his equals, and all were able to "shine". However it seems Allan has, despite adding two-octave chordal legato jaw dropping runs, he's hit a wall.
neutroniumamp 1 month ago 2
@neutroniumamp I tend to agree, although I have found moments on things like Secrets and Wardencliffe Tower that I really like. But The Bruford records were masterpieces and that was a superb ensemble.
thrunobulax1 3 weeks ago
My favorite disco track for 2012.
Samijn 1 month ago
Anyway, he's the world's best guitar-playing beer-brewer. I bet.
nyantama 1 month ago
Saw Terry Bozzio in concert with Zappa..................outrageous drummer!
dclarkboi1 1 month ago
Actually, would love to hear Bozzio and Levin play some old Holdsworth and UK toons. Jams can be tiresome.
drawlbag 1 month ago
There are levels. Most 'music' is on a level. Our music is not on that level. It is above it. It is on a different level. Allan is on our other level. The above level where Elvin Jones site with Frank Zappa and Igor Stravinsky. Praise and give thanks to the level. Parallel lines never meet. Respect and give thanks to the level. We, on the upper, higher level, must ignore the lower level, because viewing it would make us sad, and commenting would only make us look superior. Thank you upper level.
drawlbag 1 month ago
master of the Universe
BenjaminKersting 1 month ago
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stratoleft 2 months ago
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Allan Holdsworth trademark anti-gravity.
stratoleft 2 months ago
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stratoleft 2 months ago
MUSIC FROM THE FUTURE...
fabiobasscam 2 months ago 7
Allan is not from around here. He stems from an alternate evolutionary source. do you have any T.P. for my bunghole ?
wilmaman 2 months ago 15
What a load of wank!
England5is5the5best 2 months ago
I feel similar to some folks who prefer Allan's work from the 70's and 80's - but if you listen to this in context of music like Charlie Parker or John Coltrane, you might get a better sense of where he's at. And if you think this stuff is "out there" - just check out something like Stockhausen's Helicopter quartet - you'll come back to this and think it's top-40 dance music!
ScottLoiselle 2 months ago
@ScottLoiselle
I have absolutely no problem with his contemporary work, and when I say contemporary- yes, I am awaiting the new album. The problem as I see it, is that AH works best as band leader where he feels comfortable in his own skin. He's quite the songwriter actually. This sort of music is all wrong for him.
Samsgarden 2 months ago
@ScottLoiselle
The Helicopter Quartett is more a multi-media piece, and not remarkable. His earlier stuff, mostly from the 50s, is of import.
But, yeah, I'm not hearing or seeing any magic between them here. I wonder what brought them together.....Bozzio and the bassist seem way more compatible with each other.
aculturemind 2 months ago
Wow, horrible recording of musicians that have carefully crafted tone. The drums are obnoxiously loud and distorted, the bass is grating. About the only part of this video that saves it is Holdsworth's legatto and reverb.
blackfloyd23 3 months ago
@blackfloyd23
It's a bootleg.
Samsgarden 2 months ago
poo poo jam time!!!
hookydoo 3 months ago
i want one of these guitars for the bathroom.
arsehole420 3 months ago
great ¡¡¡¡¡ my idols playing jamming at the best ¡¡¡
capricornusvideos 3 months ago
i was at this show. the emperor has no clothes.
dressedtosmellgood 4 months ago
@dressedtosmellgood Haha i get it xD
allmusicsucks 3 months ago
Unlistenable!
iain399 4 months ago
@Steven4466 oh, hope you inferred that he was playing the steinberger at the baked potato. footage at youtube, with ron bruner and bunny brunel. i sat RIGHT NEXT to allan! i was 3 feet away from him. he was kinda upset because the drummer was a half hour late. at the end of the set i cracked some jokes with him and he seemed to ease up a little bit. i like that he is accessible to fans, he always talks to folks between sets, while he smokes a cig and drnks some wine! have met him thrice...
jamesedwardtheobald 4 months ago
@Steven4466 heartily agreed. saw him at yoshis. golden sound and his playing was inspired, none of those dreadful 'balooga' riffs (that's what i call his pointless riff when you know he is searching). saw him recently at the baked potato. he struggled with feedback and other rogue qualities, like the notes clipping off, etc , sound was harsh and distracted him from playing. the spongy luminous character of the hollow wood guitars was just not there. he sounds good here in several spots, though.
jamesedwardtheobald 4 months ago
Where's Terry??? Looks like he's shrinking in his Old Age!
1957thack 4 months ago
I'm really gonna get some hate mail for this.....but as much as I love and admire the great Terry Bozzio, I'm really growing weary of his vast and varied assortment of tuned coffee cans.
casestudyification 4 months ago
So has Allan gone back to the Steinbergers? Great video.
casestudyification 4 months ago
I love Bozzio so much but this is so hard to listen to. Musicianship IQ=200 but it comes off as noise. i'd rather hear terry by himself or w/Chad Wackerman. He is a much better composer than this troupe.
eqsmooth 4 months ago
nice clip...fantastic
dhouchi 4 months ago
there are alot of forms of improvisation I dont think anyone should judge this because it still has alot of musical value to it and plus alot of guitarist are too close minded to even try to play out of the box type stuff I personal enjoy unique stuff from listening to wes montgomery improvise all the way to alan holdsworth....
guitarldh19 5 months ago
Great post! All great musicians. Seeing Holdsworth's hands up close I realize...I really don't understand what he does...but I like it.
JasonLeonPike 5 months ago
AGH! That caught me off guard! I turned on the video and started reading some stuff elsewhere, then the song completely changed on me!
LukeSniper 5 months ago
Wank, wank, wank - just like Holdsworth always does. Runs, runs, and more runs. This clown could not improvise his way out of a paper bag. This is free improv, and he had the opportunity to build something with the other musicians. Did he? No. He decided to awe everyone with his tired 70s runs. Who cares? No one. Not even God.
gretschjazzer 5 months ago
Watch no one pick up on the humor in gretschjazzer's comment. I loved both the video and his comment.
marcwormjim 5 months ago
@marcwormjim
I did. As a Holdsworth fan, I do somewhat agree with him, although I wouldn't have stated it so abrasively. He might as well be playing on his own here, this is not group improv or showing any sensitivity. That doesn't mean I don't love him for what he does as a solo artist. I think a more chordal approach would have worked better with this one.
Samsgarden 5 months ago
@gretschjazzer Freakin major scales are so yesterday! : )
dontillman 5 months ago
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Easleytee 5 months ago
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Easleytee 5 months ago
@gretschjazzer
I can see how you would think this.
Holdsworth works best with his own material I believe, he isn't a soundscape artist.
Not sure why they chose him in the line-up if it was a sense of dynamism and reciprocation that they wanted.
Samsgarden 5 months ago
@gretschjazzer I think it would be quite difficult to improvise your way out of a paper bag. I presume you mean a human sized paper bag with a knot tied at the top to prevent escape? Then you really only have two choices: to untie the knot at the top or to go through the 'wall' of the bag. I suppose you could improvise in either case. For example, you could untie the knot at the top by using your teeth. Perhaps Jimi Hendrix would opt for this method. I would piss my way through the side.
BobMcboyle 5 months ago
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@gretschjazzer I think it would be quite difficult to improvise your way out of a paper bag. I presume you mean a human sized paper bag with a knot tied at the top to prevent escape? Then you really only have two choices: to untie the knot at the top or to go through the 'wall' of the bag. I suppose you could improvise in either case. For example, you could untie the knot at the top by using your teeth. Perhaps Jimi Hendrix would opt for this method. I would piss my way through the side.
BobMcboyle 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@gretschjazzer I think it would be quite difficult to improvise your way out of a paper bag. I presume you mean a human sized paper bag with a knot tied at the top to prevent escape? Then you really only have two choices: to untie the knot at the top or to go through the 'wall' of the bag. I suppose you could improvise in either case. For example, you could untie the knot at the top by using your teeth. Perhaps Jimi Hendrix would opt for this method. I would piss my way through the side.
BobMcboyle 5 months ago
que maestro!!
SIRFALAZ 6 months ago
shit
abrejes1 6 months ago
una bestia
fanqueen 6 months ago
this sounds alot like THE Ancient from Tale of Topographic Oceans by Yes check it out before leave of green
DoU12Rock 6 months ago
Amazing ;-)
LightEye2012 6 months ago
It's hilarious how easy Allan makes that look. What planet/galaxy/universe is he from?
SirYami220 6 months ago 3
Thanks man, this is really great. Holdsworth is a friggin' alien, isn't he? I just heard stuff on the radio with his trio, also 2010. Wow. Please keep on posting such great material. Best reagrds
schubert002 6 months ago
TAB? ahah
mito13progressive 6 months ago
Ive youtubed Holdsworth for 3 straight hours and i am still amazed and anxious to hear more. Thats what i love most about him. I however, and im sure i will get the third degree for this, am NOT a Bozzio fan.
thefallingdream 6 months ago 2
@thefallingdream
There is a difference between saying that you don't like somebody and then saying that they suck. Only assholes give you negative attention if you don't like somebody or decent people will send you some links and ask why you don't like them. If you said that Bozzio sucks then that's going to bring more negative attention and justified negative attention at that. Not liking him is fine, everybody has their own tastes.
Fluffypopcicle 6 months ago
@thefallingdream If you haven't already, check out the Bill Bruford album he played on back in the late 70's called "One of a Kind". It's some of my favorite Holdsworth stuff.
SecretAgent068 6 months ago
@SecretAgent068 I agree.
Aside from loving those albums, I haven't really liked most of Alan's or even
Jeff Berlin's playing as much as I did on those Bruford albums.
Those albums set the bar really high.
But Road Games is a fantastic album.
...
SteveHoweJeffBerlin 6 months ago
Those are some insane chord stretches. I think Allan Holdsworth is from the same gene pool as Paganini with those enormous rubber fingers.
Xanadude575 7 months ago
ok check this out..listen to tales of topographic oceans by yes. the third side called the ancient...the rhythm and legato are very similar..for real listen to both ..i consider it a tribute to steve howe from allan
DoU12Rock 7 months ago
People late in Coltrane's career said that Kulu Se Mama wasn't jazz, but there are always conservative morons who don't want music to change or progress. Holdsworth is a genius, but anyone can plainly tell this isn't a 12 bar blues! Who cares?
JeffreyMulac8 7 months ago 2
God I hope he doesn't get arthritis in his elbow from playing with the guitar so close to his neck.
MerkinMuffly 8 months ago
Comment removed
tradnwal 8 months ago
I couldn't read that second word so I looked up the "Hughes amp" part and then got Kettner. They no doubt indulged Allan alot more than the other amp makers like Marshall. Unfortunately, Gibson didn't work with Allan either, like they should have, because Allan liked the SG style.
stratoleft 9 months ago
Poor Holdsworth... Plaing over Terry bozzio's groove is like playhing to a lot of cans falling down the stairs.
leonzioooo 9 months ago
Boring finger exercises, not gaining to please the auditiorium.
SwamiOrchestra 10 months ago
Аллан,Левин,Мастелото,Фриппа бы ещё притащили!Дурь в четвёртой степени!Красота-настоящий праздник!
azaria190 10 months ago
i'm an Holdsworth fanatic as well ... no further comment ;) <3
hgsbnt 10 months ago
Absolutely unbelievable improv. Mind boggling stuff here.
orlandoCF1 10 months ago
Holdsworth + Lane...the true titans of the electric guitar.
Easleytee 11 months ago
Dude, this is pure brilliance! The kind that comes from YEARS of dedication to one's craft.
DrTaz 11 months ago
AMEN
Listendudeok 1 year ago
to create something from nothing is something HOLDSWORTH IS KING OF ALL GUITAR PLAYERS case closed.
INCOMINGFIST 1 year ago
from another planet
joeylodes 1 year ago
At first, I thought this sounded cacophonous, but then I thought how it reminded me a bit of some of the Indian ragas and various Arabic music that I listen to: pure improvisation. I can now appreciate this.
dlo693 1 year ago
john mclaughlin hates this guy because he doesnt pick every note also i think he stole a lot of his thunder being touted as the fastest. i myself think allan is amazing, but what happened when eddie van halen was supposed to produce him huh never happened. more jealosy im afraid.
maxinedal 1 year ago
@maxinedal Jealousy?!! Directed at who by whom?
Holdsworth may not pick every note as you informed us. But by god you'll never hear his pull-offs go, "Be-Yow" in our lifetime either.
I saw their Santa Cruz, California date and was underwhelmed by a similar performance. Bozzio & Mastelotto may be proficient at creating an inspired evening of disjointed noodling but no one could get Allan
excited about contributing despite the fusillade of notes. I had no sense of a "band" much less music.
NoelGrassy 9 months ago
I like the guitar.
GuitarMirth 1 year ago
Whaaaatt an inspiration.. He's so damn smooth and everything flows well. Such a diverse player.
guitar4life33 1 year ago
If I had the chance to ask Allan Holdsworth ONE question, it would be
"at what age were you first abducted?"
senna01 1 year ago
Allan Holdsworth, Tony Levin, and Terry Bozzio all on one stage?
How did they fit all that technical ability up there?
MetalTillDeth44 1 year ago
Notice how his vibrato is side to side not up and down?
999manman 1 year ago
Beautiful music. This made buy some Holdsworth albums.
eurabio 1 year ago
@eurabio Are you sure? This here has nothing to do with the music, AH usually plays. You might probably be a bit disappointed even though his "normal" stuff is simply awesome...
22fret 1 year ago
it s official...allan holdsworth is an alien....
autonomy21 1 year ago
Can't compare this to Coltrane or real jazz musicians, though - these guys are good for rockers, but they are too boring and linear to even qualify as jazz. I saw the gig; everything had one flat feel, one flat tempo & rhythm, one flat feel all the time. They were creative enough for the first 5 minutes of a jazz gig & should stick with their pretentious prog-rock crap.
gormarx 1 year ago
@gormarx You wouldn't know jazz if Coltrane himself would explain it to you.
boertush 10 months ago
@boertush Thank god for obedient assholes incapable of an original thought like you who blindly eat any shit that a "big name" shoves down your mouth. You'd probably buy all Britney Spears albums if a "big name" like Holdsworth told you it's good jazz. These guys are flat, have zero innovation, they play one tempo, one flat drone for hours and are incapable of detaching themselves from that one cliche; if that's good enough for you, then you certainly deserve nothing better, dickhead.
gormarx 10 months ago
@gormarx I could argue that Holdsworth is the opposite of what you just stated, but the truth is musically you're an ultra conservative tone deaf douche bag that would listen to Britney Spears if she'd throw in a few triplets and a little brass, ooh and if nobody would heard of her because you seem to like obscurity.
boertush 10 months ago
@boertush No, you couldn't argue anything because your English is barely good enough for a 7-year old. What does " if nobody would heard of her" mean? Al DiMeola is a jazz guitarist. John McLaughlin. Larry Coryell, not to mention Pat Metheny. Holdsworth is "jazz" as much as Sting - show up with a few jazz musicians, throw in a fourth chord in your pop crap and a strange scale run, and sell it under "jazz" to assholes who believe it - and thus here you are. Your taste matches your English and IQ.
gormarx 10 months ago
@gormarx Easy dude. If you think Holdsworth just plays 4th chords over pop crap it's pretty obvious to me that you don't know enough about what you are commenting on. Try learning some Holdsworth chord melodies like "Hall of Mirrors" or "Above and Below" - show me ONE 4th chord and then we will talk.
Honestly, you are in no position to judge him as a musician, nor a guitarist, just based on these simple observations. You lack some historical perspective on what is happening in this vid.
CharlieShaughnessy 10 months ago
@CharlieShaughnessy I didn't - that's Sting who does it (the limit on posts kills). I can judge anyone in any way, just like you - you just don't like the fact that someone dislikes something you like, just like boertush, only you are civilized. polite and eloquent (thanks). I've played music for decades, I know it well, and their gig was lethally boring, history notwithstanding. "Bored tush" decided to attack and insult because of a different opinion like a good Nazi would, that's all.
gormarx 10 months ago
@gormarx Ever wondered why this is called the world wide web? I'm sure a 7-year old could figure that one out.
Here's a very inconvenient quote for you from McLaughlin about Holdsworth, "If knew what he was doing, I'd steal everything". Wether you like it or not Holdsworth gets a lot of respect from jazz musicians and guitarists in particular. Now, go get a new set of ears because facts don't seem to matter to you.
boertush 10 months ago
@boertush your McLaughlin quote reminded me of a Coltrane quote in a simliar vein: "We'd all play like Stan Getz -- if only we could!"
DoctorPatient 9 months ago
i am somewhat conflicted after reading some of your comments.
• it's great that he is willing to go on the road and improvise. this is such a strength of his when i have seen him i feel that he is super honest.
also, he seems to be super perfectionist from what i've gleaned from interviews... he has erased months of work in a night. so if he is loosening up and letting the notes fall where they may infront of people seems like growth.
•however, it is time to hear and tour new stuff already!!
semiprecioustones 1 year ago
charlie what camera you use to film this concert?
bad english sry xD
NprogresiveR 1 year ago
i know these gentlemen, are extremely tallented, and i can appreciate all sorts of music. terry bozzio is one of the alltime greats, seen him a few times, even had the pleasure of seeing him with frank ,and mr beck.
but honestly, this sounds like shit, no notes going nowhere fast.
sorry guys
johnny316b 1 year ago
Never give a drummer equal billing. From that point on, it's drum music. If you're a strong enough player, you can hold your own within the barrage, but the game isn't yours, you're merely accompanying the drums.
lazur1 1 year ago
NICE!!! REAL NICE!!! GREAT VID,, WHATS THE NAME OF YOUR CAMERA???
fusioniskey 1 year ago
2:43 is crazy!!!!
89naturegirl 1 year ago
Comment removed
89naturegirl 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
NO LEAS ESTO!!SI LO AS LEIDO COPIA Y PEGA ESTO EN 5 VIDEOS MAS SI NO LO HACES TU MADRE MORIRA EN 3 DIAS POR FAVOR HAZME CASO ES UNA MALDICION
matteorock97 1 year ago
yeah, Holdsworth!
acohen87 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Nice, Shred to shred!!!!!! But Bozzio's Kit is just REDICULOUS...........
How'd you like to set that monster up every night!
chuckinator13 1 year ago
Nice, Shred to shred!!!!!! But Bozzio's Kit is just REDICULOUS...........
How'd you like to set that monster up every night!
chuckinator13 1 year ago
Nice, Shred to shred!!!!!! But Bozzio's Kit is just REDICULOUS...........
chuckinator13 1 year ago
Nice, Shred to shred!!!!!!
chuckinator13 1 year ago
I don't deny the guy's talented. But for the most part it's "let me show you how fast I can haul ass on my axe"! Pretty much like "noodling on meth". He's good though. But for my money 'Give me Jeff Beck or give me death"! Style, structure on a Strat.
sleeve51 1 year ago
@sleeve51 check out his studio albums, this is not representative of classic allan... IOU, 'one of a kind', 'road games' and 'metal fatigue' are classic allan guitar efforts with nice songs and more 'compositional' playing, and magic sounds, some of the best ever from a guitar. i would cite 'one of a kind' as being perhaps his most elegant and emotive, IOU is unique for its guitar chords, and some unique leadtones ('checking out', exp)plus awesome drums from gary husband. also atavachron/sand...
jamesedwardtheobald 4 months ago
I wonder why Allan don't release his new 2 CD's?
It's been over 5 YEARS in the making now!
I guess he is bored with it by now.
lidesnowi 1 year ago
the best
yngwiemalmsteen8 1 year ago
When Allan really gets going, it almost doesn't matter what's happening around him.(Not to imply that he isn't interacting..he is.): His melodic patterns imply multitudes of possible harmonic foundations / chord changes. They don't happen to be actually played by the band, & it works just as well as a modal piece, but a great arranger could take this music and reharmonize it into a true work, as Miles Davis was arranged into a bigger structure by Gil Evans
lazur1 1 year ago
this must be the most boring concert ever
sonofguitargod 1 year ago
I watched that video thrice and the result is: I still prefer his work of the 70s (Softmachine,Bruford,UK,Ponty.....) Sure, he is probably the No. 1electric-guitarist on earth, but he lost his heart- and mind touching melodyideas (just my opinion) I ceased to buy his albums in the mid 90s, because they became to be "all the same" for my ears..can´t separate them really....too much technique and effects..However, I´m glad to know Allan H.´s music !
Tarabos1 1 year ago
I just have to say this. I'm a Holdsworth fan from the Bruford days and the beginning of his solo career. I've seen him live 2-3 times. I don't know if I would sit through this. The guy kills me when he chords, and can play some of the most beautiful melodies over those changes... have you heard the acoustic stuff on "Home"? "Non Brewed Condiment"... on and on and on, so much great stuff. This stuff though... I don't know. There's nothing to grab onto... no melodies, not even brief ones.
MeWatchy 1 year ago
I was there and it was AWESOME!! Fk songs, I didn't understand a lick of it. If we ever need to communicate with alien beings of a higher dimension, then Mr. Holdsworth should be our interpreter!
acudoc64 1 year ago
long live the HoldswortH, music wise, lightener of the guitar paths, ur unique music and wise knowledge shall never be forgotten.
m0skit0zindahouse 1 year ago
thats the best guitarist alive right there
corruptedxsilence 1 year ago
thanks for the clip charlieshaughnessy! this is so cool. what kind of guitar is he using? what brand is it?
MyLifeChanger 1 year ago
@MyLifeChanger Steinberger. Bill DeLap usually mods his guitars in one way or another (changing pickups, etc...)
CharlieShaughnessy 1 year ago
This reminds me of what Coltrane did for "Venus." Soloing over only drums. Without a pianist playing the chord progression.
Although, Allan is soloing with a bassist but all you really hear are the two drummers.
shadowknight132 1 year ago
maestros de mastesros para muchos un dios .......(para mi tmb)
KOKOESP1 1 year ago
Damn! Very Miles Davis...I love it!!
magirecords2004 1 year ago
I remember in 2007 when there had already been significant talk about Snakes n Ladders. I said (on the Holdsworth forum) that I heard it was coming out in May...of 2010!!! I truly was joking at the time. But no disrespect meant to Allan, I realize he's got to make a living, and touring must get it done above spending time in the studio. But hopefully we do eventually see SOMEthing come from the studio...I'd love to hear some new tunes.
mancini2468 1 year ago
bozzio and mastelotto on the same stage is practically beggign for a bunch of noise. they're style is not good for 2 drumers of the same type. bruford with mastelotto was different but this is ridiculous
boibad12 1 year ago
hey... allan... come back down... I can't reach up there...
Timotheedle 1 year ago
...alter sack will cool sein
o0RayRay0o 1 year ago
Holdsworth have one of the most muscular left hands I have ever seen.But then,he need that the way he play.Damn...
Nevigo 1 year ago
"Earth to Allan,,,,come in, Allan."
Amazing.
312chicagoadam 1 year ago
@312chicagoadam
haha, nice! I start to think this sometimes in his soloing. :)
Timotheedle 1 year ago
lets see, how about that tonight :)
Podegra 1 year ago
Nice post... I esp like the Holdsworthian "Eruption" @ 1:40!
oilkills 1 year ago
OK ..i was there ! in my hometown Eindhoven. Musically i was not very impressed. he did not play any soloing like this one in here. more dreamisch chords. maybe im not ready for this :) but hey ..to see AH and TB just 100 meters away from my home...
allan is my hero on guitar, but also the older fusion/rock oriented tunes. and with planet X, level 42 K2 and JL Ponty !!
twotails1967 1 year ago
I thought about going to this show, next thursday only 50km from my home... But if it's all like this, I have my doubt. I''ve always admired AH for his treatment of uncommon chords scales and him fabulous precision, but in my opinion this has gone lost now in too much experiment and to few structure (or hardly any structure at all). I still prefer the end 70s, when he played with Bruford.
PeterLaman 1 year ago
It will be all like this and even more boring ... I'm a huge Bozzio/Levin fan, but this concert (münster, germany) was the worst I've ever been to ...
Saschaariger 1 year ago
@Saschaariger: Thanks. I had already decided not to go. To me it sounds more like a daily exercise to keep the fingers in good condition, rather than music suitable for a concert.
PeterLaman 1 year ago
The REAL GOOD STUFF IS NOT FOR THE MASSES!
pleximanic 1 year ago
Holdsworth has never been a favorite of mine, personally. I was at this show in the front row, and he didn't change my mind. I can think of any number of other guitarists that I would rather have seen with the fantastic lineup of Bozzio, Levin and Mastellotto. That being said, it was a great show overall and good to see this vid.
RobJaam 1 year ago
God in human form!!!! Any idea what effect he is using around 3:00 ? It sounds like a harmonizer
123method 1 year ago
@123method
Holdsworth is unbelievable, but hey, he's still like you and me.
He's no god.
To say that, would be to put yourself below him, and him above you.
ExtremeBogom 1 year ago
@123method yeah, it's harmonizer on that segment (maybe some other stuff added as well [chorus/delay/reverb/whatever])
pngilman 1 year ago
@pngilman: It's sound to me as simply mixing the signal with a pitch shifted signal.
PeterLaman 1 year ago
Any Holdsworth is great....the man could fart a solo of incomprehensible concept. He needs to put out a new album, soon!
BiorythmicDrifter 1 year ago
Hey dude, I think your right, It sounds like farting to me.
wordauras 1 year ago
I think he's wasting valuable time touring on this non-material. He should be working on getting the albums he promised were coming out 2 years ago to market...and then touring on those.
I don't care who you are....nobody is good enough to improvise a whole concert.
janderson2000 1 year ago
@janderson2000
You are mistaken my friend. People improvise whole concerts all the time. It's called spontaneous composition.
Check out Anrtonio Quijano's quartet with Paul Dunmall. They do it every time :-)
Andersonshelta 1 year ago
I know what it's called, and I know people do it. Also, depending on the situation, spontaneous composition is just a glorified word for jam session.
I have no doubt that they'll put together a good CD from these sessions, and that's positive. The only problem is that nobody will have attended the session they will put together because it will be culled from many different nights.
I saw this act. It had moments of interest and moments of disinterest. I don't know which were predominant.
janderson2000 1 year ago
"Good enough" is not a really great way to phrase it. I don't think it requires being "good enough" at anything to do free improv, check out some of my other videos. We all obviously aren't AMAZING players, but there are some seriously great moments happening. This is a whole genre of music...
I do agree, it would be great if he could release his solo material - he has been touring with his material though, and honestly this free improv Holdsworth stuff was a breath of fresh air.
CharlieShaughnessy 1 year ago
I'm a Holdsworth fanatic, but I'd much rather hear him solo over his amazing chordal progressions. There's such an anarchistic/super-exploratory aspect to Allan playing anyway that I don't think it adds to the mix to take away what structure was there.
To be fair, I saw this show before they were properly marketing it, and had no idea they were just going to wing it all night until about 20 minutes into the show when the music never stopped, and the structure of the music never took hold.
janderson2000 1 year ago 3
Okay fair enough, you would rather have heard him play over his tunes. I love free music like this, because you get to see what the core of their musicianship is. Since there's a significantly lesser amount of structure here, we get a more organic understanding of what is going on.
CharlieShaughnessy 1 year ago 8
@CharlieShaughnessy I think this project gives Allan the freedom of expressions he's looking for from the Seventies with Soft Machine or Tony Williams; I love the way he mixes contemporary music in his soloing. Well... I like everything he does!
anobiumpertinax 1 year ago
@CharlieShaughnessy Organic is great, but a full night of it is perhaps a little pretentious not to mention hard on the concentration (for listener as well as performer). I accept from improv comes some great moments, but then that's why musicians usually takethose moments with their best ideas and put them into a structured song we all like.
MetalFatigued 1 year ago
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jancivil 1 year ago
@CharlieShaughnessy right on man well said! ill take their improv jams anyday! thumbs up from me!
purplejaybird 8 months ago
@janderson2000 This reminds me of what coltrane did towards the end of his career............just free improvisation, free from the confines of a chordal progression...........interesting stuff. makes you kind of wonder what is "music"..............maybe thats the point....
vetmusician 1 year ago
@janderson2000
Actually if you look at history of music, everyone improvised in concerts. People would come together and play music. It even happened in the 20th century where jazz artists would come out of nowhere and just play. So I really disagree with your comment about not being able to improvise a concert.
shadowknight132 1 year ago
@shadowknight132 Yes, and the good stuff they remember, write down, and develop... that's what makes a great piece. Otherwise, it ends up being "moments" of greatness inside a larger "hit and miss" affair...
janderson2000 1 year ago
@janderson2000 I don't think he's wasting time, but I do share your frustration over the albums not being produced.
Apolyion 1 year ago
@janderson2000 I don't think he's wasting time, I think he's just doing his thing. I do share your frustration over the albums not being produced, but at least we're getting to watch this. ;)
Apolyion 1 year ago
5:19 is the weirdest fret movements and leggato ive ever seen.. awesome
MaXaNoMaLoUs 1 year ago
@MaXaNoMaLoUs i was just going to say around the 5 minute mark to 5:45 or so is the rawest playing ever
BodhiSvaha 1 year ago
@BodhiSvaha 4:09 to 5:40
BodhiSvaha