Velvet Darkness | The story of ALLAN HOLDSWORTH 

Broke my heart to hear that when Allan died , a family friend had to create " a go fund me page to cover the cost of his funeral for his daughters. But then the money and more was raised in a couple of days. Which just shows the love and respect he had. Pity it wasn't shown a bit more when he was alive .RIP

In 2016 a mate told me about a friend of his who had been in the Allan Holdsworth Trio. One day they'd done the soundcheck, and agreed the time to meet back before the gig. That time came and went, and no Allan. 10 minutes passed, 15, half an hour - no Allan. He wasn't answering phone, checking local bars - no sign. In the end this friend took a long shot and went back to Allan's hotel apartment. The door was wide open, which was worrying sign. He couldn't see Allan, but he heard a sound. Traced it to the bedroom, and Allan was under the bed, sobbing. The nerves of performing had so crippled him he just couldn't play. Apparently he'd held himself together up to that point on the tour, but that night just couldn't do it.. So that night the Allan Holdsworth Trio did the gig without Allan Holdsworth. An astonishing player, but still just a person with all the emotions that that entails

Yorkshire "lads" John MacLaughlin from Doncaster, Gard Husband from Leeds, and Allan Holdsworth from Bradford. A museum's worth of talent and creativity

Excellent video Andy. I got to work with Allan the last 3 years of his life. I had met Leonardo Pavkovic who was Allan's manager/promoter/quasi record label (MoonJune) and he introduced me to him. I had an idea to do a Pledge Music Campaign (long since bankrupt) to raise money for Allan and enable him to mix a lot of different trios that he had recorded but never mixed or released. Allan was and always will be my favorite guitarist along with Joe Pass on the pure jazz side. I saw Allan many times live. So this was a dream come true. Sadly, it was a really tough go with him. We were only able to release one new track; "Earth" that was written by drummer Virgil Donati with Jimmy Johnson on bass. I think this is the last known recording of Allan. You touched on the hard truth of Allan's career and his last years were very difficult for him. Of course, he passed up many opportunities to became if not rich, well-off. He was striving for something that was not attainable because of his perfectionism. All that to say that I did get to talk to him quite a bit about how he approached the guitar. Two points: In terms of soloing, he wasn't thinking about modes at all but more that the guitar was like an abacus laid over chord forms. I was kind of shocked by that. Also, he did not like people trying to sound like him. At all. It was not flattering to him. I think if he was alive now, he'd be very distressed by the clones who've taken it to a pretty crazy level. Like Picasso, there really is only one Allan Holdsworth. Allan was the whole package. A great composer, unbelievable soloist and an electronics genius. I was very lucky to have spent some time with him. And keep up the really cool videos!

The Sixteen Men of Tain is a masterpiece

"To me, Allan’s playing is a rare example of a guitar player exhibiting no kind of ‘family tree’ whatsoever - when you listen to most players, you can hear at least some evidence of their early influences, and yet with Allan the most logical explanation for what you’re hearing is that this guy must have arrived very abruptly and unexpectedly - if not from another planet then, at the very least, from the future!” - Guthrie Govan. Whats crazy to me is he never stops getting better, perhaps his best playing is on 90s albums like Hard Hat Area and None Too Soon.

You have to mention Jean-Luc Ponty. Allan’s work on enigmatic ocean is amazing!

AH was head and shoulders above his peers. His vision was mind blowing. An absolute gentleman to boot...

I was lucky enough to have Allan sign all my albums i had of him and when he got to Velvet Darkness he wrote i hate this album later i got to meet Alphonso Johnson and got him to sighn the same album after reading what Allan wrote he responded writing i love this album and i agree.

Thank-you for defending the GREAT Roy Marchbank. He is totally legit and probably the greatest plectrum style technician of all time. I am proud to have had him as a teacher. His pedagogy works wonders!

Bill Bruford's One of a Kind album had some great Holdsworth playing and solos on it.

Every time I hear the phrase "too many notes" I think of my all-time favorite movie, about one of my favorite composers.

I saw Allan many times live over the years and bought all the recordings, but he often musically left me scratching my head because my listening was at least two years behind where his playing had progressed. As time passes I appreciate his musical artistry more and more because I've grown.

Thank you for being real regarding Holdsworth. It broke and continues to break my heart how his artistry wasn't more widely appreciated and understood. I have, however, come to accept that, for a reason most don't understand, vessels which often channel something divine, will be mishandled and often broken by the mediocre standards of the general society. However, because of the transcendent music he made, I'm glad he didn't compromise and stayed true to himself. There is an essence and a purity to Holdsworth's music that is beyond the technique and the technology... the sharing of that was his greatest achievement, in my book. It definitely resonated with young American man of European and African heritage living in the U.S. southern country while looking at the end of the 20th century.

This is a beautiful tribute to AH who I had the privilege to see twice in concert. I compare him to Buster Keaton in the movie industry. He was also a genius who couldn’t adapt to the system.

Very interesting. I note that you mentioned Ollie Halsall as having a style similar to Allan, and that they knew each other, and both played in Tempest. For awhile, they were both in Tempest at the same time.

Thank you Andy! AH was from another universe! One of my best friends met Holdswoth once and he asked him to sign some records. He signed Velvet Darkness :" I hate this. - Allan Holdswoth"

Very inspiring .. as always, ... btw, thanx for the link to Roy Marchbank, hard to believe what I just experienced ... he's from another galaxy ... Law of three ... People, listen to this, as Andy is to modest to promote this great band ... (Sorry Andy, I had to do this )

Allan was not just a great guitarist, he was a great musician. There is a difference.

I saw him playing in a room behind the bar in a pub in London 1978. We were 10 people in the crowd. I sat so near where he was standing playing so I could reach out my hand and touch him. I remember I said in swedish to my friend who had brought me there: He sounds like a saxophone player, he doesn’t sound like a guitar player. And Alan looked at us obviously wondering where we came from. Really happy I was able to experience this.

Wow...I think this is one of your hardest rants ever, Andy. You really poked the knife on this video. I understand why. The Round Midnight part was a great segue to Allan 's story. I guess for the jazz elders of the 70s we're too young. For missing Allan while he was around is something which is now hard to imagine. Thinking about Roy Marchbank and knowing that even today, after we've learned our lesson, we might still be doing this mistake all over again? Now that's unaacceptable.

Thanks Andy for this tribute to the genius of Allan Holdsworth. I was lucky enough to see him perform twice between 2006-2009 in New Jersey, and both time had a chance to share a conversation with him, he was so nice, humble and down to earth. Since I was french and told him I learn saxophone playing along John Coltrane's CDs and Gong "Gazeuse", he told me stories about playing and recording with Gong and told me that he always wanted to play this guitar (phrasing) like a saxophone. His solo in the track "Espresso" in Gong's Gazeuze album (1976) is one of my favorite, the breathing, articulation, sound, technic and emotion in it are out of this world, I close my eyes and travel in another world, it often bring me tears. I am very glad to see that Allan Holdsworth is now now getting the recognition he deserved.

I had privilege of being close to Allan and met several times to hang out! A beautiful and humble Human Being

When an artist of any kind comes along and creates a new form, a new aesthetic, some people get very upset, don't they? It's sad, really. Whether or not his music is to your taste, and let us never forget that one's taste is not always consciously or rigorously developed, Roy Marchbank is doing something amazing. I hope he gets the respect he so richly deserves sooner rather than later.

I saw Allan at - * The Roxy * The Golden Bear in HB * The Coach House in SJC * The Galaxy in CM * The Baked Potato twice * Catalina's Bar & Grill (old & new) All within reasonable driving distance. I was blessed.

I find it incredible that people describe Allan's music and playing, as having no feeling or emotion. His music is some of the most deeply profound and emotional out there, and takes you to places in your soul you never knew existed. Sounds over dramatic to put it like that you might think, but no not at all... I am actually being serious and sincere when I say describe his music that way.

I got to see the IOU tour 1982with husband Carmichael and Williams keystone., Palo Alto calif , great show miss you Allan RIP

Great video, Roy is awesome btw. And yeah all guitar players edit the solos :)

"Allan Holdsworth single-handedly rewrote the language of jazz guitar." td

I LOVE LOVE LOVE... How the greatest electic rock-guitar playing ever recorded, was performed by a guy who didn't really like guitar, and doesn't really enjoy playing rock 😂😂😂 Bless Mr Allan Holdsworth!!!

Wonderful presentation. My favorite Holdsworth records are "Sand," which was my intro to Allan, "The Wardenclyffe Tower," and "Secrets."

These guys come along once in a lifetime. Holdsworth had a singular vision, which is rare in these days of cut and paste music.

This is gold! Love Allan, Shawn, and Roy! Cheers!

Stumbled upon this video last night, and it actually made me quite emotional, and everything you talked about resonates with me 100%, there is a huge amount of love for the man and his work, and I think we all should do our best to keep his legacy alive.

I thought Guthrie was good but Roy Marchbank is a whole other level baby!!!Flying above his contemporaries in every aspect. Just as Allan was in his day, if he’d been more appreciated then. Did we throw that chance away, to spend more time with greatness? Probably. Will we do it again? Hope not. I’m well impressed with the new synth direction Roy’s taking.Allan would have got right in about that too.

I saw him at the Jazz Cafe in 1996, he was sipping Guinness, he squinted up to the restaurant mezzanine and said 'there are girls are up there. Lads you gotta buy em dinner'. I stood about 8 ft away from him. I stopped playing guitar for about a month because I tried to make sense of the reality of him. I had the Sand CD but it never worked in any player so I just kept it in a rack, unlistened. Then about 10 years later I put it on and it worked! I heard the story of a young lad from town going to the seaside and all of his feelings and emotions, expectations and desires. Allan Holdsworth was a singular musical visionary with a singular voice that spoke directly to me and made me love him. RIP Allan. Great job Andy.

Thank you. Yes, keep going! Thanks for the heads up on Roy Marchbank!

I am watching the video on RU-vid and I think Andy did a great job on this. Timing is critical to success, but as Roy Beatto pointed out, a great deal of Holdsworth's thinking paralleled Pat Metheny (I personally think Beatto oversimplifies it here), but Metheny moved a bit more slowly. As listeners, over my 70 years, popular thinking tends to accept certain levels as the best...and attach to certain players. The issue is that players don't stop at Hendrix, McLaughlin, Van Halen, or (name the latest icon) in their development. Music and players don't stop progressing. Audiences sometimes do because they get comfortable with a certain level or approach. Just to note some comments below: Roy Marchbank showed up on my algorithm when I started looking for Holdsworth, so the right searches will produce hits. When I saw Zappa plays Zappa a few years ago, I overheard one audience member saying he didn't like the fast guitar playing Dweezil was doing. It is his right to dislike it, but I know a lot of people who can't follow fast players. They just can't understand it or think it's showboating. These same people would have probably disliked Page, Winter, or Hendrix or later McLaughlin, Coryell, Dimeola, etc back then. It's a little bit of work to absorb higher speeds. More work to absorb new tonalities and chord structures, etc. By the way, Andy, of rock players, I have observed guitar players tend to be Luddite not only with technique but equipment. Many insist on Tube amps, classic guitars when the newer equipment can provide more flexibility. Al Kooper, when playing organ a few years back, was asked by the guitarists he played with to rent a B3 rather than use a modeling keyboard because the guitar players didn't like the sound of the digital instruments. I am primarily a keyboard player and the sonic difference is pretty insignificant. Folks like Holdsworth make breakthroughs because they are uncompromising...but I think he still would have run into stone wall because his language was always changing and jazz was walled off, and music in general was becoming more rigid in the late 1970s onward. I know the man who brought Holdsworth and Elton Dean together for Soft Machine Legacy and Dean was struggling too through his commitment to free jazz. Record companies won't take chances because many listeners won't. It's a vicious circle. But the serious listener- I really encourage people to challenge themselves to seek out new talent. I think a lot of people see the best music through a rear view mirror, but it is still being made. I live in the past a lot myself, but I like to visit new places or places I missed. It's fun!

Great rant. I have to admit that I went to see Allan at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London back in the 80s with a whole group of very eager guitarists. Allan was deep into the Synthaxe and mostly using a patch that emulated a flute. I'll confess that it was a bit of a shock and my ears were not open enough to simply engage with the content. That said, later videos of him playing in trios and mostly using his signature guitars have been a joy. There is a terrible reluctance to embrace the new, especially in the guitar community. I remember when McLaughlin unleashed Shakti to a wave of disappointment. It's funny to see them lauded now - vindicated after 50 years. Twas ever thus. Keep that passion, Andy.

I found this vid, and because of your words checkout out Roy. He's a freaking genius. I love Allan and Shawn, but there's always going to be someone who takes it to a NEW level. People who can;t hear emotion at speed have SLOW MIND and probably vote and watch TV. ignore them.

Factual, well researched and more important, from the heart, hats off to Mr. Edwards

I’ve said this earlier on another channel, I couldn’t be more proud of Roy Marchbank if he was my own son! I’ve watched his progress for many years now and have always been immensely impressed by his unique talents as a musician and composer but just as much by his absolute determination to stick to his vision. He’s been misquoted and undermined in ways that would drive many to drink or worse. I saw this happen to Holdsworth. Never a bad drunk and thankfully he still lived his three score years and ten, Lane wasn’t so lucky. Both had hardly a pot to piss in when their time came! I’m a hardened old sod now but even I’ve been surprised at the relentless witch-hunt from certain dark corners of the Internet directed at Roy. It’s obvious to those who are prepared to listen and are used to listening to complex music that Roy’s is one of those unique talents you’ll witness once, maybe twice in a lifetime. I’ve seen it twice, once in Allan, now in Roy, though Roy’s taken legato to a whole other dimension. One thing I never saw in Holdsworth was the range of styles that Roy can play, I also never saw Holdsworth play acoustic guitar but I’m sure he could and probably very well. Perhaps he never got the chance to really bring that to an appreciative audience? I wasn’t that keen on the SynthAxe but this Swam technology is something else. It’s in the right hands and mouth for maximum musical exploration! Jazz fusion and prog now has a new king of the six strings and whilst I won’t be forgetting the legacy on which the new stands, I’m ready to accept innovation because the alternative is trying to smash it down or banish it and that’s doing the future of original music and these other worldly musicians no good at all. There you go Andy, I’ve had my rant now thanks for the video, what you said needed to be said. Law of Three must stick to the vision now you’ve been unleashed on a unsuspecting public!

I can’t thank you enough for introducing,e to the amazing Roy Marchbank. Just an astonishing talent. Not sure if you ever heard of Steve Topping. His first album and Late Flower are incredible works of art on an elite level. I actually came across him from some very complimentary statements made by Allan Holdsworth. Being the connoisseur you are I’m sure you would find him of interest if you haven’t already heard him…keep up the good work my friend.

I had the pleasure of seeing Allan live a dozen times. The greatest guitarist I have ever seen or heard. No.1

I've just remembered that I saw Allan Holdsworth in 1980 when he was touring with the UK fusion band Turning Point. Neil Ardley (synths) was the other guest member on that tour. On the subject of innovative guitarists, Britain has produced several very important guitarists in the avant-garde field - Derek Bailey, Keith Rowe, Fred Frith.

Thank Andy for covering Allan Holdsworth he’s very misunderstood.

This is very thoughtful Andy and I agree with you, especially your point that many feel threatened by musicians as good as Allan and Roy Marchbank (he's astounding, too) and try to belittle what they are doing to make themselves feel better. You can't help but think of that Joni Mitchell line - "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone" - when you look at the Holdsworth industry that has sprung up following his death. I guess some feel guilty/ashamed that they didn't take more notice, or worse, that they were unkind about him whilst he was alive. I struggled with Allan. I didn't like some of his music, especially on first hearing, but whenever I hear it, I have to listen. Part of that is amazement at what he is (was) doing - technically, he was a wizard, whether or not you subscribe to the cliché that technique = no feeling (I don't) - but I also love the way he takes you down a musical back road and just as you are thinking "Not sure I like this", he resolves it in some way and you think "That's lovely". and come back for more. And anyone who 's modest and loves traditional bitter and push bikes is automatically a good bloke in my book. All the best.

For a period of about 5 years - 1976-1981 - I used to scan the London listings and attend every Allan Holdsworth gig that I could. One of my favourite gigs was one that he did at the Half Moon in Putney, with Pat Smythe on electric piano and Ray Warleigh on sax. I'm pretty sure that the great Bryan Spring (another largely unsung genius that I used to "stalk" on the jazz circuit) was on drums, and I think either Jeff Berlin or Dill Katz was on bass.

Andy taking us all out to the woodshed. I freely admit to being a stodgy Luddite and that much of the modern virtuoso players leave me in the dust. I am not qualified to be critical of that, I am amazed and maybe confused at times, It’s not my realm, I collaborated in songwriting with a partner and my guitar went dinky doinky. Allan was a giant as is Roy, I think it’s fantastic that players are pushing the boundries. Andy maybe you should edit some of these “Woodshed” comments into shorts, they are very engaging and thought provoking. Thanks for another great video.

I support the Marchbank! I believe there’s no limit to skill and the guy is just pushing and pushing! I can’t dream of having his skill, but I do know that’s the way you become more and more skillful from personal experience.

Saw him in Toronto with Stanley Clarke and friends (Steve Smith, Airto, sax Brecker) playing real book standards....Stanley on upright. AH just wove cool things through those guys all night.

"Holdsworth is the BEST in my book." - Edward Van Halen

I couldn't get enough of Holdsworth, I bought every album he produced, and any album he played on [Jean Luc Ponty ect.] He made a tingling in your spine and grand vistas manifest in your imagination.

Don't forget the wonderful Jim Mullen if you are mentioning British guitar greats ....happily still with us.....plus (not a guitarist) Gary Husband who played drums with both Allan and Jim

So happy I found this post. Thank you so much for this great piece on Alan Holdsworth. Truly a genius and we miss him

My friends once told me what I was playing sounded like Allan back in the early 80s. I had no idea who he was but became an instant fan once I got Road Games and was blown away by 'Tokyo Dream'. Also became a Chad Wackerman fan from that, but didn't realize he was with Zappa. Incredible artist.

I bought Atavachron at the Harvard Coop in Cambridge, MA in 86 when it came out…my first Holdsworth album. Naively, I was a 16-year old guitarist and was curious about all the hype Metal Fatigue had stirred. I saw him open for Chick Corea Elektric Band a few months later and I never looked back. I was smitten. I got to shake his hand about 10 years later in a small club outside Albany, NY and thanked him for all the years of music that grew to mean so much to me. That’s a moment I’ll never forget.

Good on you Andy. Great insight into the legend that is Alan Holdsworth. As mentioned below it appears that not enough people have learned from earlier mistakes. Thank you 😎👍

Great talk Andy, I only saw Allan Holdsworth once back in 1989 (Jimmy Johnson was on bass!), he was playing that synth axe thing a lot of the time. I too missed other chances to see him and now kick myself. Will have another listen to Roy Marchbank - cheers.

Buddy of mine from Long Island , guitarist John Vullo , did an amazing 5 Hour deep dive youtube lesson on Holdsworth’s playing. It’s incredible. Everyone should check it out.

Thank you , Andy, I appreciate your comments.

Great show, again, Andy. I just checked out a short video of "Law Of Three", your band, wow. That's amazing stuff 👏👏🎉 I'd love to see you interview and chat with your guitar player. He's incredible. He was doing what sounded like "The Lark Ascending" amongst other mind blowing stuff. It sounded excellent.

Great insights, narrative and analysis. Thank you! If only Allan would have done the "one" commercially successful album and tour to solidify his future income, I can only imagine what he would have done when he didn't worry about finances. Cheers! edit: I will never play like Allan, but I am working to capture some of his tones in homage. Allan is by far my favorite guitarist and tied with Keith Emerson for my favorite musician. I often imagine a Holdsworth & Emerson collaboration in my music dreams!

Great video, I agree with everything your saying basically. Thanks.

One thing I have found frustrating over the years is, I can't find a single quote from Jeff Beck about Allan Holdsworth. I even asked Gary Husband had Jeff Beck ever discussed Allan with him, and his answer was "not to his recollection" . Why? as he often commented on McLaughlin being the best guitarist, plus Vinnie Colaiuta played with both Allan and Jeff. Who knows? Sadly, two of the best electric guitarist ever have now departed. Also, let's not forget the late, great Ollie Halsall everyone. Another great player ahead of his time and with mutual respect for Allan.

It’s so very good to hear you speak of the industry around Alan that has emerged . All these headless guitars . The genius of that pickup w 22 pots on fat boys … etc. The REH video , it’s not that it doesn’t reveal much , it’s that what it reveals , the window into his thinking - the method and the applications are so huge that some simple guiding principles and guidelines are enough to unfold several lifetime’s worth of work in familiarizing oneself or absorb any of it : pan diatonic interval structures across scales to generate chords : seeing form as the possible keys/scale/chords as they occur for how long things last ; “ time signatures “- “ it’s all in one “ philosophy . He innovated and did it his own way in every aspect . Maybe it’s the era he came up in , or cultural stuff … or the lack of basic recognition for his art and contribution…. that could make almost anyone an alcoholic … to feel insane and alone for being moved by these things and the culture seems to not care . That jazz ethos of every night the solos are different against the backdrop of these elaborate personal statements . He was so ahead of his time . I saw him twice as well . I knew a compliment was not going to land so I just told him that I’m moved by his music and it’s important to me. ( keep editing to comment on things as I follow your vid ). I’m so curious now to hear this Roy player . One last thing about the industry ; the people that snubbed him before that have to reconcile and accept things now … the taxidermised bear that hangs above you at brunch is not to be confused with an actual bear . Alan was a bear

A beautiful, authoritative, thorough and heartfelt tribute to my favorite musician of all time. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this 🤜🤛

One of the most honest and thoughtful, as well as one of the most inspiring videos I've ever seen on youtube, cheers!

Very insightful. Thanks.

Hi Andy, as you know I am an Allan nut having bought Igginbottom when it came out and preached his gospel ever since. I agree with nearly all you say (happy to discuss those things I don't 🙂), but the one thing that has lifted my heart is we are now seeing Allan's influence permeating so many young advanced guitarists today, if you look at YT, there are countless videos featuring Allan inspired tutorials etc. John Mclaughlin is absolutely entitled to be up there with the greats, but Allan was and always will be otherworldly. What a lot of people fail to remember about Allan is that he innovated guitar technique on a number of occasions in addition to his obvious harmonic and compositional genius. For me, Allan is above all others.

I hear this and think of Les Paul and Bill Frisell and Django. Innovators who changed music. Good show, Andy.

I saw Allan in the 80s and then again actually opened for Allan at a club in Miami in the 2000's. He always inspired me and i always looked forward to his next recording and i was never dissapointed. Now the closest musician i know who i actually look forward to his recordings now is Scott Henderson.

I’ve seen Allan twice. First time with Steve Hunt, Jimmy Johnson, Chad Wakerman. Second time with Gary Novak and Dave Carpenter. Novak and Carpenter went backstage, Allan to the bar. So I managed to have a short conversation with him before more fans came and started talking to him. He is the world’s most modest person.

Number one, forever

Great video on my favorite guitarist. Lucky to have seen him twice, but even more lucky to have his recordings.

Story very well told ..Thanks..

I hope Roy is thick-skinned enough to take the Luddite comments as compliments, albeit backhanded ones. But, yeah, your rant is well justified, Andy. As for Alan; you say he was a perfectionist, which can be a curse, making someone their own worst enemy. It's unfortunate that he apologised to you about what he considered a bad performance after you'd been so enthused by it. It seems like it didn't affect you too much (correct me if I'm wrong), but over the years performing on stage I've seen that happen a lot with fellow actors saying to friends/fans/family who've come a long way to see them perform, really enjoyed it, only to be told, "Oh, but you should've come last night, it was much better" - or, worse - "the audience was much better." Cheers, Ian

I love Atavachron. To me, it's the jazzy cousin of Rush's Grace Under Pressure... a kind of humanistic take on cold war paranoia.

Great video. I learned a lot man you’re killin it

Great video, Andy

I had never heard of guitarist Roy Marchbank prior to your video and he is AMAZING!!! Thank you so much for his introduction. I'll be listening more of him.

Great video. Appreciation grows for Holdsworth

Brilliant video, Andy!! ☝️😎

I discovered Allen probably through Jean Luc Ponty, but it's hard to remember. That was a long time ago. Love the Bill Bruford album he's on as well.

Your analysis is spot on

Brilliant really enjoyed it👍

Allan deserved a better fate than what he was dealt.

Violinists, piano players, trumpeters, saxophonists, drummers, flautists ..... you name it .... have had free reign to go speeding into the night with a flurry of fast notes without anyone complaining or screaming 'LACK OF EMOTION!!!'. When guitar players play fast, for some reason, it's emotionless, self-indulgent, technical. An improvisational guitar player, with a knowledge of music and their instrument are just expressing what they feel, IN THE MOMENT, and if they are good enough, like Holdsworth, they can express ANYTHING they want to. Playing fast is an expression of an emotion; just a different emotion than playing more slowly. It's like the difference between gentle rain or a raging torrent from a huge waterfall.... and all points in between. All tempos have their place in the human well of emotion... you can walk slowly, or you can run as fast as you want.... one is relaxing, the other is exhilarating ... but they all expressions of different human feelings, therefore equally valid. Allan Holdsworth is amazing, and he can express whatever he wants to.... and there are more emotions than just 'sad' or 'uplifting'... that players like David Gilmore brilliantly express. Uncertainty, confusion, anger, desperation, euphoria, bliss, elation, searching, contentment, hunger ..... players like Allan Holdsworth show it is possible to express so many different emotions than the standard happy or sad. Lots of people don't get it because it's too challenging for them, and I understand why... lots of people are content with the straightforward, tried and tested and the 'what they know'.

One amazing evening I saw the Bruford band supporting Brand X at the Leeds Student Union venue. It was good, and Bruford were better - sounding than Brand X. (A first for a support group.) On my way home I heard a familiar sound coming from the bar at the other end of the union complex. It was Allan and his band, and we got a bird's eye view of the band from the skylight (Leeds Uni is a funny place), and the sound was fine. (Only glass between us and them.) Phew!

I loved that album. Found it at a college radio station library back in the late 80s, and dubbed it to cassette-- as they used to say

Well said. I could not agree more. 👏🏻👍🏻

Loving your videos 😎

The onset of people/guitarists/musicians transcribing and analyzing Holdsworth started to become an “industry” as you say, before Allan passed away in 2017. Your point in this video however is true and well taken; it does seem that since his passing there are more and more analysis videos of his playing and music now on RU-vid for instance, as well as transcription books appearing.

Well said Andy. Many of us agree with you. Allan Holdsworth was very special.

Great tribute Andy to a.true one off legend x

Great video, Andy! Thank you telling it like it is about Allan H., and other wannabee music critics who don’t know a thing about music, musicians, and most off all, JAZZ!! 👍🥁🥁🥁🥁👌

Wonderful Video Andy ! I really hope you and your mates blow the gate up to the point there is no gate anymore !

Very well said!

Yes AH! Had the opportunity to see him many times over the years and always had a good chat and drink with him at the venues but yes a sad end for the Paganini of the guitar, one of the most brilliant!

Allan was the freaking Gandalf of guitar. Changed my entire perspective on music, and that's even after being a child raised on Zappa and Return to Forever, Miles Davis and Brubek.