Soft Machine: Difference between revisions
From Allan Holdsworth Information Center
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Soft Machine were a British progressive rock band. Allan would record the album "Bundles" with them, and tour Europe and the U.S. Live recordings featuring Allan have been relased on the album "BBC sessions", "Floating World Live" and "Switzerland 1974". The concert in Switzerland was also released on DVD. Allan would later play as a session musician on the Soft Machine album "Land Of Cockayne" (in practice a Karl Jenkins solo album), and in 2004 would record the album "Abracadabra" with previous members of Soft Machine under the name [[Soft Works]]. | |||
The lineup for "Bundles": | The lineup for "Bundles": | ||
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*[[Mike Ratledge]]: keyboards | *[[Mike Ratledge]]: keyboards | ||
=Summary of quotes on Soft Machine= | |||
In the mid-1970s, Allan Holdsworth joined the band Soft Machine, contributing significantly to their sound with his guitar work. He was initially invited to join the band for a clinic organized by the Musicians' Union. After a successful collaboration, he continued to play gigs with Soft Machine, eventually becoming an official member. | |||
Holdsworth's addition brought a new dimension to the band, as he was more rooted in rock, even though jazz influences could be heard in his previous work with Jon Hiseman's Tempest. Soft Machine's repertoire at that time was mostly new, allowing Holdsworth to fit in relatively quickly. His playing style, marked by his exceptional speed and smoothness, enriched the band's sound. | |||
Despite not having prior knowledge of the band's history, Holdsworth's tenure with Soft Machine was creatively fulfilling. He contributed guitar solos and even explored playing the violin. His work with Soft Machine helped shape the band's music during that period. | |||
Holdsworth left Soft Machine to seize the opportunity to work with Tony Williams, marking a bittersweet departure as he had enjoyed playing with Soft Machine. He had a lasting impact on the band's sound, injecting a fresh energy and creativity into their music. ''[This summary was written by ChatGPT in 2023 based on the quotes below.]'' | |||
=Quotes on Soft Machine= | |||
==[[Allan Holdsworth (Guitar magazine 1974)]]== | ==[[Allan Holdsworth (Guitar magazine 1974)]]== | ||
It’s well under a year since Allan Holdsworth joined the '''Soft Machine''', and already his dazzling guitar work has contributed greatly to the international respect in which the band is held. I met him just after the Newcastle Jazz Festival, where, as well as playing a storming set, the Softs presented an instrumental clinic, a sort of rock seminar. I asked Allan how it went. | It’s well under a year since Allan Holdsworth joined the '''Soft Machine''', and already his dazzling guitar work has contributed greatly to the international respect in which the band is held. I met him just after the Newcastle Jazz Festival, where, as well as playing a storming set, the Softs presented an instrumental clinic, a sort of rock seminar. I asked Allan how it went. | ||
How did you come to join the '''Soft Machine'''? | How did you come to join the '''Soft Machine'''? | ||
I’d done a couple of those Musicians’ Union clinic things before, and when the '''Soft Machine''' were booked to do one they asked me to join them. They said they needed a guitar player for this one occasion: it was supposed to be a rock thing, so it would have been a bit silly without a guitarist. It went quite well so I was asked to do a few gigs with the band, to see how it went. The first gig I did officially with the Softs was in January. | I’d done a couple of those Musicians’ Union clinic things before, and when the '''Soft Machine''' were booked to do one they asked me to join them. They said they needed a guitar player for this one occasion: it was supposed to be a rock thing, so it would have been a bit silly without a guitarist. It went quite well so I was asked to do a few gigs with the band, to see how it went. The first gig I did officially with the Softs was in January. | ||
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==[[Sad scene say Softs (Melody Maker 1974)]]== | ==[[Sad scene say Softs (Melody Maker 1974)]]== | ||
'''Soft Machine''' are probably unique in the way that they can be so many different things to so many different people, without changing their music one iota: a rock band to rock fans, jazzmen to Jazz people, and can even play in occasional classical concerts of avant garde music. | '''Soft Machine''' are probably unique in the way that they can be so many different things to so many different people, without changing their music one iota: a rock band to rock fans, jazzmen to Jazz people, and can even play in occasional classical concerts of avant garde music. | ||
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A.H. - With that band, we did a lot of festivals in Europe. That band had a pretty big following in Europe. They did a lot of concerts on their own. We also played a lot of small concert halls and clubs. | A.H. - With that band, we did a lot of festivals in Europe. That band had a pretty big following in Europe. They did a lot of concerts on their own. We also played a lot of small concert halls and clubs. | ||
[[Category:Bands]] | |||
