Guitar Synths in Jazz (Music Technology 1987): Difference between revisions
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Allan Holdsworth | '''''Summary''': Allan Holdsworth, a renowned guitarist, initially aspired to play the saxophone but began with a guitar due to affordability. His music career led him to influential jazz-rock groups, including Soft Machine and collaborations with musicians like Tony Williams and Jean-Luc Ponty. Holdsworth embraced the SynthAxe, creating unique textures, and experimenting with synthesizers on his album "Sand." He discussed the creative freedom the SynthAxe provided and how it helped him transcend the traditional guitar, seeking to achieve his musical vision.'' ''[This summary was written by ChatGPT in 2023 based on the article text below.]'' | ||
Guitar Synths in Jazz | |||
Music Technology, May 1987 | ==Guitar Synths in Jazz== | ||
[[File:Mt87c.jpg|300px|right]]Music Technology, May 1987 | |||
By Rick Davies | By Rick Davies | ||
(Photos uncredited in source) | https://www.facebook.com/AllanHoldsworthArchives/posts/748157348691494 | ||
(Photos uncredited in source, but presumably by Peter Figen. See https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1487736/) | |||
I NEVER REALLY WANTED to play guitar in the first place, it was just an accident." (I can't believe I'm hearing this.) "I wanted to play saxophone. I wouldn't have been a musician at all, except my dad bought a guitar from an uncle, and left it lying around. At the time, saxophones were very expensive and not very easily come by, so l started messing around with it.' | I NEVER REALLY WANTED to play guitar in the first place, it was just an accident." (I can't believe I'm hearing this.) "I wanted to play saxophone. I wouldn't have been a musician at all, except my dad bought a guitar from an uncle, and left it lying around. At the time, saxophones were very expensive and not very easily come by, so l started messing around with it.' | ||
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"One tune we did, a piece called "Distance vs. Desire', which is a ballad, is like a duet with myself. I think I was able to get as much expressiveness out of the synthesizer as I've ever been able to get out of a guitar. So that was a revelation to me, something to get totally excited about, seeing as I'm still new at it. | "One tune we did, a piece called "Distance vs. Desire', which is a ballad, is like a duet with myself. I think I was able to get as much expressiveness out of the synthesizer as I've ever been able to get out of a guitar. So that was a revelation to me, something to get totally excited about, seeing as I'm still new at it. | ||
“On the last piece, where I did the guitar sound, I wanted to see if I could do that. I just did it as a challenge. It's really amazing that you thought it was guitar.' | |||
Holdsworth seems to pattern a lot of his playing after wind instruments. Is this intentional? | Holdsworth seems to pattern a lot of his playing after wind instruments. Is this intentional? | ||
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“Oh no. Why? If I'm playing a guitar and I'm hearing a flute, I'm not hearing a guitar anymore anyway. So for me, hear the SynthAxe, I'm able to respond and get inside the sound I'm using more than I could with a guitar. When I play a guitar with any conversion system on it, I'm still thinking “guitar“. Whereas, while I'm playing the SynthAxe, I'm totally engrossed and lost in that sound, with what I'm doing at the moment. It's still new to me, and I'm still growing and learning about it, but it's totally rejuvenated my way of thinking about music. I think that eventually, I'm going to be able to get closer musically to what I can hear in my head than I could with the guitar. I'll try.' | “Oh no. Why? If I'm playing a guitar and I'm hearing a flute, I'm not hearing a guitar anymore anyway. So for me, hear the SynthAxe, I'm able to respond and get inside the sound I'm using more than I could with a guitar. When I play a guitar with any conversion system on it, I'm still thinking “guitar“. Whereas, while I'm playing the SynthAxe, I'm totally engrossed and lost in that sound, with what I'm doing at the moment. It's still new to me, and I'm still growing and learning about it, but it's totally rejuvenated my way of thinking about music. I think that eventually, I'm going to be able to get closer musically to what I can hear in my head than I could with the guitar. I'll try.' | ||
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