Allan Holdsworth Interview Live @ Johnny D's 4/28/09

[CusterFlux]

Awesome seeing Allan so relaxed and open in the interview, nicely done! ( he's usually quite quiet, it's hard to get him to open up on camera )

[666patrickbateman666]

The greatest musician who ever walked the earth ....and Mars !

[Aidan6496]

Okay, I have to ask-How is Chad Wackerman doing this??!??!!!?

[Holdsyfan]

I am so fortunate to be born in the same era as that of Allan and to watch him and meet him in person, I think, I can die peacefully now!

[vincentizghra]

Wow, can't believe he comes from pop/rock into fusion. What a journey it must have been. Wish I could meet this guy, everything about him is just so inspiring.

[acloakwithahood]

Improvising = an unconscious release of everything you've learned. A Profound and clear statement.

[TyShredder]

Lol, he's clearly drunk. Of course he's going to sound a little retarded.

[pleximanic]

@TyShredder He don't sound retarded at all but your comment does!

[Timotheedle]

jeez...

did he really appreciate some one coming to actually talk to him and hear what he thinks?

[CherokeeMusic]

As weary as I am of overrated musicians, I really wish Allan Holdsworth had achieved more commercial success in his life. Nobody deserves it more than him, and yet, his music is still so esoteric. WHAT has happened to music, people? How is it that talentless drones like The Jonas Brothers are making millions while dedicated, passionate artists like Holdsworth and Eric Johnson go unnoticed?!

[Samsgarden]

@CherokeeMusic

I don't think Holdsworth would have artistic freedom on a commercial level, plus there are so many things wrong with that statement....I don't want to elaborate further on it.

[CherokeeMusic]

@Samsgarden Good point.

[dorlandosonicNL]

@CherokeeMusic

What surprises me more is that people who listen to A.H. actually know the names of these millionaires (from the pop scene?). I wouldn't even know who the hell The Jonas Brothers are. The same thing happened to me last time on youtube: some guy tried to get people to 'thumb down' a Justing Bieber video. I explained to him that it's better to totally ignore all that stuff if you don't like it. By even mentioning the artist, you'll attract more people to him. He thanked me.

[vgraham44]

@CherokeeMusic The taste of the general masses is conditioned thru media brainwashing that attitude is more important That forging into less popular waters such as, real talent, spiritual awareness & inward explorations thru the melodic vistas of an all but forgotten universe, won't win the popular vote.

[jimmijune]

hey thanks for this excellent post , I love Allan and he has been the best in my book since I first heard him in the 70's and aside from his talent he is a wonderful humble pleasant down to earth guy . I think every musician should expose themselves to his talent and art , and go see and support him , he is a jazz musician who makes a living playing guitar and has a family . Allan is a special gift to this world , and I hope the world treats him as such , forever .

[rapidtranq]

He sounds so humble and thats the mark of a gr8 human being. Screw all these "famous" guitarists. I think Holdsworth is THE greatest guitarist since Hendrix (and Eddie Van Halen...knows that!!).

[AtanasovPeter]

@rapidtranq since Hendrix....What has Hendrix to do with fusion and jazz ?:D

[jmcgann00]

YEAH! Thanks Dana and Allan!

[BiorythmicDrifter]

He is a god amongst men! Chad is a joy to listen to as well...amazing stuff!

[BiorythmicDrifter]

He is a god amongst men! Chad is a joy to listen to as well...amazing stuff!

[goddardo]

What a bloody racket

[dwilmer7]

No guitar player comes close to AH's technical skill.

[widepass]

@dwilmer7

But

Technical skill means nothing without great rhythmic harmonic and melodic concepts and Allan has a ton of all that!.

Take Gutheri Govan for example he got great Technical skills but his rhythmic harmonic and melodic concepts are weak!

[rexasul]

@widepass Are you shitting me? His rhythm and sense of harmony is out of this world.

[giantstepjoe]

@widepass I would call Guthrie's rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic concepts anything but weak- but that's just me.

[666patrickbateman666]

@widepass

Yeah exactly, Holdsworth is the REAL DEAL and Govan although technically brilliant is just rambling notes, no story telling whatsoever !

[mortald]

we love you Allan!

[petar870602]

Frank Gambale said- I can't understand what he is playing so i ask him "Allan what the hell are you playing" and he said "the same as you".

[pleximanic]

Yeah it's not WHAT you play it's HOW YOU PLAY IT!

[MaXaNoMaLoUs]

RONALD BRUNER JR should jam with Holdsworth. I LOVE chad too!!

[Deerse]

Allan Holdsworth ,

the Einstein of improvisation .

[flashmaster1990]

@Deerse

Einstein,

the Holdsworth of physics. :D

[insaneguitarfreak]

@flashmaster1990 Physics, the Einstein of Holdworths (???) :D

[taghl]

Thank you for posting this JohnnyD'sTV.

I have a feeling that legato players, perhaps a bit more able to focus on scalar patterns "lighting up" as possiblities before them, might be more naturally able to improvise at length in mixing and matching parts of various scales, and changing the pace of the attack. Just a thought.

Ive got some of Allan's stuff, and its terrific. Ive got a live album of Allan's called "Then" and some world-class improvising goes on therein

[SagittariusA1]

totally agree :)

[tjuo77]

English people that put on a transatlantic accent are far worse!!

[jazzyrob41]

this guy is one of the finest musicians alive and you pick on his speech?

[tjuo77]

You're right of course. His playing is from another planet.

[palle68]

aaah love Johnny D's , so many good nights of music there I remember, during my Berklee days ;)

[davidhilton]

yeah me too.

[lidesnowi]

Refretting the Delap guitars?

[tranztek]

So whats happened to Allan's Delap guitars? Shame about the loss of his forum as well - be inetersted to know where any of the guys post instead.