Allan Holdsworth RIP

[terryc]

This was announced yesterday by his family, cause of death undisclosed.
Some of you may remember that Jimmy J played bass with his band, I first heard him on the 'Bundles' album by Soft Machine back in 1975, he also played guitar with Level 42 on the 'Guaranteed' album.
A great player with an unusual style.

[David Houck]

Terry; thanks for letting us know.

[chrisalembic]

Very sad news..I have listened to Allan Holdsworth's Music so many days and will always continue to do so.

[edwardofhuncote]

Just this minute got a text from our guitar player, who is quite a fan of Holdsworth, saying so. That's too bad.    

[David Houck]

Here is The Sixteen Men of Tain; I thought it might be a nice example of his studio tone, composition, and playing.

[keith_h]

This is sad news. Allan was an early influence on me along with many of other folks in the fusion movement.

[tncaveman]

     sad news     A huge influence of mine.   


video with Bill Bruford band when he was 32

[811952]

I spun the UK debut album yesterday to familiarize my son with Allan. I couldn't believe I'd not done that already. Allan was unique and always very lyrical in his lines. Rest In Peace. This has been a tough couple of years.


John

[hieronymous]

This one hit me hard for some reason - maybe because it was so sudden and unexpected. I never got to see him live. I wasn't aware that he played with Level 42, but I like some of his more obscure work with Soft Machine and Gong. And of course the album with Tony Williams that has Fred on it, and the stuff with Jimmy Johnson. He did leave us a lot of amazing music to explore.

Here's the UK album with Bill Bruford, John Wetton & Eddie Jobson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHJrOg79kQU&t=195s

And here's the album with Gong - maybe not his best work but still worth a listen, this is the instrumental Gong led by drummer Pierre Moerlen - it also has Francis Moze, one of the original Magma bassists on fretless: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XcfKHiWEN4&t=358s

And here's a trailer for a great CD/DVD of the Bundles lineup of Soft Machine - some people denigrate this lineup in relation to the earlier ones with Hugh Hopper but I love John Marshall's drumming and Roy Babbington on Fender Bass VI - he left this lineup to join Tony Williams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5AdkYRm344

[jazzyvee]

I don't know a heck of a lot of Allan's work well and I only really discovered him in the late 90's when he did a couple of gigs in my city and after that checked out his albums. The first being The 16 men of Tain. But I remember sitting only a few feet from  him when he was playing and still not being able to work out what he was doing to get all that sound out from his fingers. He seemed to be making very little movement with his right hand and his left hand seemed to be gliding over the fretboard. Amazing player and genuinely a sad loss to music. I will certainly be playing some of his music tomorrow night on my radio programme in memory of  him.
R.I.P Allan

[cozmik_cowboy]

Quoth John McLaughlin: "I'd steal everything Alan's doing, if I could figure out what he's doing".

Peter

[5a quilt top]

+1 to THAT.


A very sad loss for me personally as I spent the better part of my late teens and early 20's trying to capture his guitar tone - especially on "Nostalgic Lady".


That pursuit was both a blessing and a curse.


A blessing because it taught me a few things: to "squeeze" and coax the notes with your pick. Let your fretting hand do the work on leads. Don't be satisfied with the standard chord grips commonly-used for accompaniment and harmony. And, listen to musicians other than guitarists for phrasing tips.


A curse because I put exploring my own musical path on the back burner and measured everything I was doing by the yardstick of his approach, therefore delaying the development of my own identity.


Fortunately, I realized that if he had done that  - pursuing the style of Joe Pass, for example - the world would never have been able to experience his unique musical vision.


Thanks for the lessons and the inspiration, Allan - may you rest in peace.

[keith_h]

He seemed to be making very little movement with his right hand and his left hand seemed to be gliding over the fretboard. 

I noticed that same thing. His playing made more sense when he was using finger style but when he was picking I never saw enough movement to go with all of the notes. I get the feeling that most of his playing was in his left hand and his right hand was just there to handle the dynamics and incidentals.

[dead_head]

I've been a huge fan of Allan since the 70's. I have pictures of the two of us hoisting pints together.
R.I.P., Allan. What an amazing talent...........

Rob   

[tncaveman]

Wow - Soft Machine.  Those cats look crazy man - LOL    I have that one album.  The video short was pretty cool.  I looked for some Tony Williams with Allan but did not find any videos.


Here's one with Jimmy J   

I LOVE Allan's playing on the Gong stuff and with Tony Williams.  I guess the synth-axe stuff was my least favorite.


My fav solo album is I.O.U.  I have the no record label  version that I think he has pressed with his $$  Great stuff.


RIP

Stephen