I notice that when guitarists talk about Allan they talk about the technique but when other musicians talk about him they talk about the way his music makes them feel
If you are only talking about his legato, you are not a musician. You are a finger mover. I'm tired of people talking about his legato and Gambale's sweep picking. Musicians talk about the harmonic and rhythmic content.
That's quite a generalization. I'm a guitar player, and to me, Holdsworth is the only musician to bring me to tears, and do so repeatedly. The biggest aspect of Holdsworth, in my opinion, was his intuition and emotion. People think he was some sort of super-intellectual "technician", but he was 100% heart-based, as he has admitted to in interviews. He _did_ have incredible technique and a vast intuitive and intellectual understanding of music theory, but it was simply a means to the end of expressing what he felt.
@@lex.cordis oh for sure it’s a huuuge generalisation but you kind of know what I mean; it can be hard to see beyond the technique as a guitarist. Not just positive either … a lot of people dislike him for this stuff… Anyway, I agree with you and I’m a guitarist so I broke my own rule ;-)
There's something really special about Wardenclyffe Tower. Its some of the best writing of his career... that he could write a song a deeply sad and full of longing as Sphere of Innocence and on the same album a song with such soaring highs and positivity as Dodgy Boat is incredible. He was such a phenomenal composer and one of deep feeling.
The best thing about him, is that he was a tremendous improviser and didn't analyze his own playing to the extent that other people have done. That's what makes him a great player, and tonal communicator
To me each of Allan's albums are like Shakespeare epics. The tunes that pop into my head at random can dominate my mind but it changes over time. Sometimes I will single out any track and play it. Joshua makes me think of a jet fighter simulator with after burner g force turns, high speed aerobatics ,panoramic glide slope, smooth final approach and flawless elegant landing and throttle down.. On August 6 its Three Sheets to the Wind. It takes years of discipline to listen to and understand each one of his tunes so I'm still playing them over and over since 1990
For the past few years, Wardenclyffe Tower has (maybe) been my favorite song. Something about that first run gives me chills, and Allan's synthaxe take on it is so amazing🥶
People really sleep on his SynthAxe stuff. I think it's some of his most beautiful material. Secrets, Distance Vs. Desire, Eidolon, Spokes, etc. All of it is absolutely mind-bending.
This song brings me to teas everytime , where Joshua just gives me a huge smile , snd The Bradford Executive flabbergast me to i gotta reach down and pick my jaw Up from the floor....so many feelings ....so many tears of Joy, sorrow and utter amazement , i can truly say that , for me, Allan is so far abowe everybody else on the planet , that he WAS , could only have been , an Alien ......😢❤...Thank You Grandmaster Holdsworth , may you rest in peace. 😪 By the way ... Listen To Steve Hunts rendition for solopiano 😘
It's impossible to choose one tune. But some of my favorites are The Things You See, Home, Funnels, Sand, Three Sheets To The Wind, The Un-Merry Go Round, 4:15 Bradford Executive. And his heart wrenchingly beautiful solo on Steve Hunt's Joshua. His music is deep and beautiful and I hope musicians continue to play it on all types of instruments.
Wardencliffe Tower is my favorite album from Allan. This song in particular touches me in such a profound way. I always likened his music to a sensory experience like an odor or smell, similar to how a smell could bring back a memory in a powerful way. His music is so powerful to me it’s like he’s almost in the same room because the presence is so strong. No other music does that to me. Words don’t come close to describing how his music affects me…keep his music alive my brother.
I thought I recognized Jeremey's chart! Sphere of Innocence, great choice. One of my absolute favs and one of his best. I'm glad you were trying to convince Allan to play this one but the problem is, it was written in 5ths tuning haha. He did play it live for a couple of years but used a double neck. The 5ths neck for the chords, and the standard neck for the solo. It never uses the low F string (The tuning is F C G D A e) so I did write out a version in C standard, but its pretty wonky although not impossible. Funny that the OTHER tune you wanted to play ALSO was in 5ths tuning, but at least he was able to move that over to standard tuning, with some modifications.
So many good Allan tunes, that sometimes just take a few extra listens to get into. His and vinnies playing on City Nights is killer, and his melodic soloing on most of the 16 men album is incredible. Would love to see you post those charts you have some day, transcribing Holdsworth harmony is difficult for me lol
For me to scroll the sheet at the right time is enough...I can't think to do that playing the bass, but we know that Evan is a multitasking artist and this is too easy for him!!! Sorry, I stop joking. Allan is a genius. No one wrote music at his level in contemporary jazz-fusion scene. You can continue is heritage because of your exceptional skills and musical gift. Thanks for this video
Just few days ago i was inviting a friend of mine into Allan's magic world sending him this tune. This tune, and everything of Allan, is also helping me to heal my soul afrer the tremendous loss of my mother. To me is as if i could keep in touch with her listening Allan's masterpieces as this tune is. Thanx Evan
I didn’t like Allan at first, but after I gave most of his albums and live albums the respect they deserve I’ve been reengineered. Some next level harmony, it’s really like cosmic creation, especially the solos. And most of the songs I feel are impossible to play are some of the easiest that I’ve learn on guitar. I’m still trying to get a decent overdrive like his but it’s more about touch than anything. Appreciate it Evan!
Thanks Evan. I never met Allan but through his music he saved my life. So wonderful that others feel it too. Like you, I get a lump in my throat and tear up just talking about it.
Thank you so much for this Evan. I have been a lifelong student of Maestro Holdsworth’s music. Eventually after I looked beyond the notes, I was struck as you by the sweet sentimentality of his music. I felt in his unique ability to harness the creative impulses of this world, that it was in some ways a burden and he just longed to go home.
oh this is beautiful. I've only dipped my toes into the shallow end of Holdsworth's discography but this album is for sure up next. also aside from the melodic richness the drum accompaniment is so tasteful and on point, wow
Such an excellent album and song. The Sixteen Men of Tain is my favorite but Wardenclyffe Tower isn't far behind. One can really tell where he was at mentally and as an artist. This track especially is incredibly poignant after coming back to Allan following a long stretch of life and focus on other music.
