Allan Holdsworth (Guitar Player 1980): Difference between revisions
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'''''Summary''': Allan Holdsworth, a British guitarist known for his exceptional jazz-rock solos, reflects on his musical journey. He discusses his early days with the guitar, musical influences, and experiences with various bands, including Soft Machine, U.K., and Gong. Holdsworth emphasizes his preference for simplicity, the use of vibrato, and his current project, the trio "False Alarm," aiming to showcase his multifaceted style. Throughout his career, he struggled with the stereotype of being solely a soloist and the challenges of staying engaged in bands that didn't align with his creative vision.'' ''[This summary was written by ChatGPT in 2023 based on the article text below.]'' | |||
== ORIGINAL VERSION == | == ORIGINAL VERSION == | ||
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Photos by Henry Kaiser | Photos by Henry Kaiser | ||
TYPECASTING ENGLAND’S Allan Holdsworth as a jazz-rock soloist extraordinaire is easy for anyone who has heard his spellbinding and complex lines, which abound with wide-interval melodies, singing harmonies, and high-speed picking. But his electrifying solos on albums by Jean Luc Ponty, Tony Williams Lifetime, Soft Machine, U.K., Bruford, and Gong have inspired players in several different styles, not just fusion. For example, in the April 80 issue of Guitar Player, Eddie Van Halen described one of the things that makes Allan so appealing to him: "He's got a rock sound.” | [[File:GP1280-1a.jpg|450px|right]] TYPECASTING ENGLAND’S Allan Holdsworth as a jazz-rock soloist extraordinaire is easy for anyone who has heard his spellbinding and complex lines, which abound with wide-interval melodies, singing harmonies, and high-speed picking. But his electrifying solos on albums by Jean Luc Ponty, Tony Williams Lifetime, Soft Machine, U.K., Bruford, and Gong have inspired players in several different styles, not just fusion. For example, in the April 80 issue of Guitar Player, Eddie Van Halen described one of the things that makes Allan so appealing to him: "He's got a rock sound.” | ||
Holdsworth's musical persona is created by the melding of many elements, and no single facet is easily extracted for examination without consideration of the other traits. His vibrato is directly related to his tone; his tone tends to vary depending on the register in which he is playing, gingerly picked acoustic chording is as much a part of his style as his incendiary electric lead work, and so on. Although best known for his solos rather than his ensemble work, the 32-year-old guitarist is discontent with what he feels is a stereotyped role, and he is trying to change that image to one of an all-around player. To this end Holdsworth is currently working with a guitar bass drums trio called False Alarm, creating original music that he feels adequately showcases his many facets. | Holdsworth's musical persona is created by the melding of many elements, and no single facet is easily extracted for examination without consideration of the other traits. His vibrato is directly related to his tone; his tone tends to vary depending on the register in which he is playing, gingerly picked acoustic chording is as much a part of his style as his incendiary electric lead work, and so on. Although best known for his solos rather than his ensemble work, the 32-year-old guitarist is discontent with what he feels is a stereotyped role, and he is trying to change that image to one of an all-around player. To this end Holdsworth is currently working with a guitar bass drums trio called False Alarm, creating original music that he feels adequately showcases his many facets. | ||
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More or less. But he had the idea of playing his violin in unison with the guitar. Daryl Stuermer played the other guitar part. We were able to keep a pretty good balance because Jean was very organized. | More or less. But he had the idea of playing his violin in unison with the guitar. Daryl Stuermer played the other guitar part. We were able to keep a pretty good balance because Jean was very organized. | ||
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How did you happen to play with Bill Bruford? | How did you happen to play with Bill Bruford? | ||
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== REPRINT == | == REPRINT == | ||
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I don't think so, because I don't know if there really is an easy way. I think that it means more to learn something on your own. The lesson is more valuable, because rather than just following someone else's path without much insight, you can understand how you did things. Really search yourself out. Go for the essence of things, and don't really worry about what others are up to. Try to look at it like, "This is a certain standard, so I should try to be more than that," but without going the same way. You can get to the point you want to reach by following many different paths. I know it sounds ambiguous, but like most people I guess it's not always easy to explain exactly what I'm thinking. The things that I'd like to do, I've barely started. | I don't think so, because I don't know if there really is an easy way. I think that it means more to learn something on your own. The lesson is more valuable, because rather than just following someone else's path without much insight, you can understand how you did things. Really search yourself out. Go for the essence of things, and don't really worry about what others are up to. Try to look at it like, "This is a certain standard, so I should try to be more than that," but without going the same way. You can get to the point you want to reach by following many different paths. I know it sounds ambiguous, but like most people I guess it's not always easy to explain exactly what I'm thinking. The things that I'd like to do, I've barely started. | ||
[[File:Gp1980.jpg|450px]] | |||
[[Category:Press]] | [[Category:Press]] | ||
