Allan Holdsworth Trio - The Sixteen Men Of Tain - Warsaw 1998

[ilton181]

Esse homem é um monstro...

[Chromatype]

such incredible lines...alway jaw dropping good

[mirzamarco]

Yeah Allan, but you should improve some more, this is too simple for us...!

[GregDeano75]

When I listen to any Alan Holdsworth uploads on youtube there often seems to be a lot of debate about guitar styles + players and bitching about who's better. I can't play any instrument for pony and know bugger all about theory or time signatures. The only thing I'm 100% sure of is that these three musicians blow my mind. Love the drum workout near the end 10/10.

[cheezruff]

Can't get enough Gary Novak, everything he does excells!

[lmk001]

Rediculous

[MrFiskegal]

Not a easy task to solo over this song. But his approach is using a scientifical method: combining several scales and sounding original with large intervals and very original phrasing.

[paisteguy799]

gary novak: THE most underrated drummer of the last 60 years...hes just as good as any drummer out there inmy opinion

[Samsgarden]

@paisteguy799

agreed

[Listendudeok]

He's making a new record!!!

[skinkusmetalicus]

Never forget Dave Carpenter. I cannot believe he is dead. Wow! So much wonderful music he has left behind.He will mean a lot to a lot of people for the rest of their lives. RIP Dave Carpenter from Tasmania Australia. xxx

[emeraldomusik]

in this title everything is wonderful: the warm sound, the tricky bass, refined drum playing, and the master Allan who playes lines and chords that nobody can expect.

[LUMBERTHON]

sounds like a clarinet. thi is totally ossome!!

[ExtremeBogom]

I have recently come to the conclusion that it is impossible to play Allan Holdsworth solos without in fact being Allan Holdsworth.

He is the one guitarist who always seems distant, like an alien.

[ReThord]

Gary Novak = Beast

Prefer him over Chad Wackerman everyday.

[austin33309]

@ReThord agreed. this man has balls.

[mcufre]

Is that drum solo over a 15/8 vamp? I am scared, these guys can't be human.

[pngilman]

@mcufre > Is that drum solo over a 15/8 vamp?

it is indeed; and consider the brilliant mischievous wit that writes a head in *fifteen* for a song entitled the *sixteen* men of tain...

[paisteguy799]

@mcufre exactly what i was thinking, how the fuck can u feel the 1 playing a crazy ass solo with so many ghost notes and polyrythms, i sort of comprehend how gary has those chops..sort of, and mind you, i dont even know if colaiuta can play with that much precision, and ghosting, but most of all i simply cant understand how novaks musicianship throughout the song and his solo is soo good...fuck me sidways, 15/8...at first i justthought it was a normal 4/4 swing/fusion tune...goddamit

[ntesslafan]

I think the sections of the song where Allan solos remind me of a roller coaster climbing, climbing, climbing and then going down hill until beginning to climb the hill again. One of my favorites.

[gebass6]

@ntesslafan Interesting!The same section has always remided me of cars on a steep highway downgrade.Shifting down in gears.

[shpilk]

Dave Carpenter [RIP] is amazing in this whole performance, providing both bass and extensive chording stopping throughout. Jay Novak is one of the most underrated percussionists I've ever heard.

All brilliant players.

Probably Allan's best line up ever.

They all really let loose and articulate on 16 Men.

Buy the CD, it's worth it's weight in gold.

[a1gold174]

The greatest.

[dougtube2006]

Killer tune.  I've never heard him use that sound b4. So much for the SynthAxe I suppose ...

[shpilk]

It's a song about scotch! Damn good scotch at that.

Every time I hear the album version, I close my eyes and think it's a tour of Glenmorangie. You can even hear the pet mascot, the cat meowing, towards the end.

[SeraphSnake]

@shpilk Indeed a great scotch. And even greater song!

[JobamMartins]

This is perfect. Great song

[gvt76]

Muito bom mesmo! Allan detona tudo!

[dagostinoification]

m.allan holdsworth vous nous entrainez dans votre monde étrange et swingant virtuose et magicien musicien,vous nous enchantez depuis des années!originalité,climats.a la fois torrides et intimistes.je vous aime!didier d'agostino batteur-compositeur sur le génial youtube.

[Mattius946]

awesome modern jazz. they're setting the bar high for the future of music and thats a very good thing

[sxmadrid]

Wow. Nothing wrong with anyone's playing there. Magnificent stuff.

[darthmorbous]

a steinberger guitar

[ZoomGeek]

ok people lets not flame the person who discriminated about the drumming, his ears just lack the sense of off-beat.

[matt89102]

I have to say I really dug this lineup. I saw them with the addition of Alan Pasqua a couple weeks after Tony Williams passed @ "The Catalina". They were great!! .

I remember James Cromwell was in the audience.

[22fret]

I don't get the idea. What's wrong with the drummer? To me, he's perfectly OK...

[AbbathGS]

Some arsehole who doesn't appreciate the brilliant drumming is going around giving minuses to all comments praising Novak on this song.

Get a life and go listen to Meg White.

[electrichaggis]

Novak ,poetry in motion !

[shpilk]

Novak is feeling every single bar differently, and accenting it to fit the mood exactly as I would imagine a world class percussionist would try to do in a complex interpretive piece like this.

[impavitus]

@shpilk yeah that guy has some crazy drumming, love it.

[FlogCheney]

I would strongly disagree. Gary Novak is a great drummer. He has developed a level of fluidity that is not often seen or heard. His control of space and dynamics really helps this tune shine.

I ordinarily don't post responses, but Novak is well worth sticking up for.

[shpilk]

Novak swings this so hard, it's impossible to imagine it played any other way. I listen to the other versions of '16 men',and use this as the comparison. Carpenter was incredible as well.

[hardhitter0421]

Ok...Reviewed this material again...I am not sold on Novak......Holdsworth got no support from Novak's drumming on this tune...period, that is my opinion. Screw the difficulty...his feel for the material is a yawn, over played and without interpretation...thanks for the Shout Out.

[shpilk]

Allan doesn't look happy with the tone he's getting. I think it's incredible.

[pngilman]

one of the best things i've ever seen in my life. and i'm *old*.

thanks for posting.

[fralando]

I listened for Allan, but, you're right about Dave.... Phenomenal....

[bylwrks]

IS that Dave Carpenter?? RIP god bless....

[wotjesus]

What were those string-of-beads things on Novak's cymbals?

[Poparad]

When the cymbal is struck, the beads rattle against it, creating a "sizzle" effect. Another variation of that is to have loose rivets build into the cymbal. With the beads, you can remove them and just have a normal ride.

[Zapollo8]

Greatest fusion player of our time! What type of headless guitar is he playing?

[lezerpiramis]

It's a Bill DeLap Custom Guitar

[pastalavista]

Just realised what a stupid thing I just said, I listened to it again WITH headphones and Dave Carpenter is awesome on this.

[pastalavista]

Love Novak with A H, prefer Jimmy Johnson on bass though.

[lezerpiramis]

Which chords are in the main theme??

[drumier]

the greatest electric guitar player on earth

[brainpolice2]

Holdsworth is from another planet.

[trouser]

Either that or he practices a lot.

[fenomjr13]

Dave Carpenter sera por siempre el mejor bajista de la humanidad¡¡¡

[jjgfx]

fix the title to sixteen

[jazzfusion]

i like how posted some Holdsworth on my birthday March-29th.Thx Leroben

[mrich223]

Fantastic concert - this trio actually swings and Holdsworth locks right in - they really hook up.

[Zombie1990]

What guitar is Holdsworth playing?

[lerolben]

I think it's Bill DeLap baritone custom alder wood copy of Steinberger.

[aryuserius]

@lerolben It looks like it the "Spruce Goose". One of Delap's guitars for Allan. Maple neck, ebony board, alder body, spruce top and back. For a long time he played the same configuration with a birch top and back.

[LUMBERTHON]

@lerolben lol, "you think," yet you know exactly :-P

[stargate669]

one with 6 strings

[Zombie1990]

Was it really necessary to respond to a 2 month old post that was already answered?

[b0ttomzone]

hehe 1:35

turn up dave!

[5tgb6yhn5tgb]

Just incredible - what a stunning piece - so groovy, but in a chilled way - awesome playing by all.

[electrichaggis]

just doesn't get better than this. The best of the best. Gary you're simply brilliant.

I've seen them ALL many times but nobody has a touch like Gary. Not even Vinnie

[BullyU4fun]

barbarino from the old show "Welcome Back Kotter?" :-|

[bardobound]

LOL

[guitarsNvocals]

completely agree with electrichaggis:

"just doesn't get better than this. The best of the best. Gary you're simply brilliant.

I've seen them ALL many times but nobody has a touch like Gary. Not even Vinnie"

Gary Novak's drumming on '16 men of tain' is my favourite drumming,

but: in the end the drummers that Holdsworth worked with cannot really be compared -

they are all top-men in their own playing-style: Gary Husband, Vinnie Colaiuta, Chad Wackerman...

[mileswarm]

exactly, Gary is definitively best drummer ever

[Gretschdrums75]

this is how trios are supposed to sound

[LostChameleon]

Great band.

[mrich223]

Swinging.....! This is one of his best rhythm sections ever. The dynamics and interplay is fantastic and Holdsworth plays right in with it. (Dave C left a great legacy.)

[yanotunes]

Holy fuck this is good video. My ears just grew up as big as those behind the band. This is pure drug.

[bardobound]

whew...  Novak is swinging like Tarzan on a big vine...

[Fjord76]

I saw them in 97 in Paris and ...wow!!!!

For me,it may be the best trio for Allan's music although I would have loved to see him with Vinnie Colaiuta&Jimmy Johnson in the early 90's...

[danielworks]

david carpenter died at 48 of age by a heart atack

sorry my bad english

[Poparad]

I'm sorry Dave died. :-(

[guitarlines]

amazing !!!

[nickkellie]

RIP Dave Carpenter

[3shiftgtr]

I loves me some Holdsworth, but I REALLY like him with JAZZ/POST BOP drumming. Wackerman is cool and all, but Novak just gets it here and on the disc. 16 men is my fav AH disc mostly cuz there is NO CHAD. A break from Chad is truly welcome. Not hatin'...just sayin'.

[lvanhalen]

this album is awesome allan h fusion god along with other fusion cats but allan in a place all his own. His style very cool

[Modes9]

I always love Allan's comping. Sometimes the soloing does sound a bit random. He once described his own playing as "waffling around". If anything, he may be guilty of not playing enough patterns.

[AbbathGS]

That's the "problem" with Holdsworth. He is so concerned with being unique and avoiding those obvious fallback licks because he's always challenging himself.

The same thing that makes him underrated and under appreciated is also the reason he's the best ever.

[SteefStevens]

There is no problem with Holdsworth, it's how and who you are. That;s the thing about a unique artist. though i ain't particular Holdsworth fan.. i will never say je jas a problem or that something is the problem...... every man has his fck ups

[agipony]

In my opinion this is one of Holdsworth's finest compositions. I like his solo on the cd better, but the bass and drum solos here are great.

Thanks for uploading.

[datBdat]

The drummer Gary Novak is playing at The Baked Potato w/Michael Landau in a few weeks. Then two weeks later Holdsworth will be there. Can't wait to see them both.

[lvanhalen]

4:50 give the drummer some nice

[legitfreek]

What a great song.Great album.

[biffpadova]

RIp Dave

[lastsinger]

To all fast players of the guitar world: try to make music no sports on the guitar.

This can be learned from Allan Holdsworth, all his technique is always part of music with emotion.

[AbbathGS]

It's not for everyone, but this is the ultimate in free musical expression; players at the top of their game brilliantly improvising over a great song. Holdsworth is leagues ahead of anybody.

[bardobound]

hey monitor dude, bring up the bass in Allans wedge. how many looks from Allan do you need?

[pobinr]

Great chord progresions, but what has the solo to do with it. What difference would it make if that solo was played in any other AH tune ?

All a bit random isn't it really.

[matpetheny]

I think you wouldn't say this if you knew this piece better. When Allan plays the solo there's just bass underneath, with no harmony so you have to know the harmony by heart and hear it in your head - then it all makes great sense, but of course it's quite an intelectual effort. But beleive me, this is definately not random... If you played those chords underneath it would all work amazingly.

[pobinr]

I know the piece. Have a signed copy of the album. Love the chords. But the live solo there is way off at a tangent from the harmony. Allan's live solos do seem to be made up of a lot of muscle memory patterns rather than creative lines in good context with the harmonies. I'm still a fan though.

[matpetheny]

As far as I know, the thing that Allan avoids the most is using any patterns, schemes and licks. But it also depends if we're talking about this particular performance, which I agree is not the best, or his playing at all. I was recently at his concert in Berlin and didn't hear a single pattern, it was pure improvisation, although following his lines is sometimes very difficult for me. Did you see "Live at Yoshi's' DVD?

[mancini2468]

...memory patterns rather than creative lines in context with the harmonies? Man, what the heck are you listening to?

[jevoshawke13]

Even great jazz improvisors fall back on melodic patterns. Joe Pass did it all the time with his legato playing.

[NotYourTypicalNegro]

Damn, that sh__ is swingin'!

[steviesspankin]

Sublime... a true genius

[bardobound]

SMOKING!

[jazzfusion7]

I agree with you Bigfanofvinnie....for this kind of music you need musicians who can carry Holdsworths' weight in terms of music and improvisation...you know...grooving...I love the lush colors of this song.....Sir Holdsworth....number #1 always....thanks for posting....

[ajpurc]

WOW! Holdsworth rules

[bigfanofvinnie]

Such Passion from each of them. A jaw dropping performance of this tune! -Amazing

[NotYourTypicalNegro]

My favorite Holdsworth lineup!

[janderson2000]

Unfortunately it can no longer be.

[NotYourTypicalNegro]

Interesting comment. Is there a particular reason that isn't so? They don't get along or something?  Just wondering.

[janderson2000]

RIP Dave Carpenter 6/24/08

[NotYourTypicalNegro]

Aw man!  I didn't know! Oh that's terrible.

[ntesslafan]

I too saw that Dave Carpenter passed on June 24, 08 yesterday. I too am very saddened by his passing at the young age of 48. I was looking forward to hearing later recordings by this group of musicians. It is a shame, but at least we have the 16 Men of Tain to remember his playing and how talented Mr. Carpenter was.

[toddsixtynine]

As always incredible!