Biography
"Holldsworth is a giant."
- Guitar Player Magazine
"Holdsworth is the best in my book. He's fantastic. I love him...What I can do on two hands, he can do with one."
- Eddie Van Halen
"He�s the leader in a field of one. "
- Bill Bruford
"His technical prowess...is phenomenal"
- John McLaughlin
"Allan has something totally beautiful."
- Carlos Santana
"Allan Holdsworth changed the way people play the electric guitar, both musically and physically. He is a true genius."
-Joe Satriani
"Allan is one of the greatest guitarists ever...his work changed everything for guitarists everywhere." - Pat Metheny
"One of the most interesting guys on guitar on the planet is Allan Holdsworth. I really respect his playing. " - Frank Zappa
Allan Holdsworth is widely regarded by fans and contemporary musicians as one of the 20th century's most prominent guitarists. He is one of a handful of musicians who has consistently proven himself as an innovator in between and within the worlds of rock and jazz music. Many of music's best-known instrumental masters cite Holdsworth as that rare and shining voice - a legendary player who continues to push the outer limits of instrumental technique and the electric guitar's range of tonal and textural possibilities.
Particularly during the 90s, Holdsworth has enjoyed the recognition so many musicians strongly feel he deserves, given that he has developed his career outside the big label mainstream and has consistently produced his own recordings with complete creative control since the mid-80s. Despite the uncompromising nature of Holdsworth's predominantly genre-defying solo projects, he's no stranger to all-star jazz festival line-ups or large venue rock audiences.
Musician Magazine placed Holdsworth near the top of their 100 greatest guitarists of all time. There's never been a shortage of media attention or acclaim for Holdsworth's accomplishments and originality. An inductee of Guitar Player Magazine's Hall of Fame, Holdsworth is a five-time winner in their readers poll.
Beyond his ability in improvising mercurial solos and sculpting the guitar's voice into an ever-expanding range of textures and colors, Holdsworth has dedicated his energies to develop many different aspects of guitar technology. This has included new baritone variations of the instrument, his own custom 6-string designs (one most recently manufactured by Carvin), the invention of electronic components for the recording studio, and exploring the possibilities of guitar-based synthesizer controllers. Holdworth's ability to improvise over complex and challenging chord voicings always reveals a deep emotional base and a strong, imaginative personality that is as instantly identifiable as any among Holdsworth's generation of guitar and jazz masters. The sounds of Django Reinhardt, Jimmy Rainey, Charlie Christian, Joe Pass, Eric Clapton, and John Coltrane were among this English musician's early inspirations when he began to work professionally as a musician in his early twenties.
Born in the city of Bradford, England, Holdsworth had been extensively tutored in aspects of musical theory and jazz appreciation by his father, an accomplished amateur musician. Holdsworth paid his musician's dues early on working the dance-club circuit, where he began to meet fellow musicians who hailed from the south. One of England's best jazz tenor saxophonists, Ray Warleigh, heard amazing potential in Holdsworth's playing and brought him along to participate in jazz sets at the onset of the 70s, including sessions with Ray at Ronnie Scotts in London. Holdsworth's career brought him to international audiences suddenly in the early 1970s, when he joined drummer John Hiseman's short-lived but much acclaimed progressive rock band, Tempest. A decade later, Tempest vocalist Paul Williams would team up with Holdsworth again to form Holdsworth's IOU band and create their independently-released debut recording, which prompted Holdsworth to move his home from London to Southern California.
Holdsworth's career throughout the 70s saw a series of feast-or-famine periods all too familiar to many of the most talented musicians. By 1975 Holdsworth had developed a reputation as one of England's best, underrated guitarists in what was then the avant-garde of English instrumental music ensembles, thelegendary group, Soft Machine. Holdsworth's trademark sound is evident with a technique that routinely soars with supersonic intensity, and one of its earliest available samplings can be heard on the 1974 Soft Machine studio release, Bundles. While his reputation in Soft Machine attracted international audiences, he also gained the attention of one of jazz's greatest drummers, the late Tony Williams, known for his pivotal role in bringing Miles Davis to explore rock-based riffs and motifs in an improvisational context. Holdsworth recorded on one of the most celebrated fusion albums from the mid-70s, Believe It, (Epic), as a member of the Tony Williams' New Lifetime. This marked the beginning of Holdsworth's career as a legendary journeyman, but one rarely performing before U.S. audiences.
Between 1976 and 1978 Holdsworth's guitar sounds and solos emerged as a mesmerizing tour de force and he participated in many of that era's landmark jazz-fusion and instrumental rock recordings by Jean Luc Ponty (Enigmatic Ocean), Gong (Gazeuse!), and Bill Bruford (Feels Good To Me, One of A Kind). Late in the 70s, the once dominant genre of classic British prog rock stumbled on unsure footing as the punk and new wave bands rose in commercial prominence. Drummer Bill Bruford, a founding member of Yes who later joined King Crimson, suggested Holdsworth participate in a new project featuring the formidable rhythm section of King Crimson and a brilliant young violinist/keyboardist Eddie Jobson, who had worked with both Frank Zappa and Roxy Music. The resulting debut album, U.K., became what was later considered the last and greatest milestones of 70s progressive rock. The band's sound was at the time both technically and artistically at the cutting edge of rock music, given the coupling of Jobson's innovative use of synthesizers and electric violins, coupled with Holdsworth's unconventional chord voicings, searing solos, and passionate melodic phrases. The U.K. supergroup setting was as brilliant as it was short-lived, and egos and questions of creative direction led to a split between Bruford and Holdsworth on one side, and Jobson and bassist John Wetton on the other. In 1996 Guitar World cited Holdsworth's contribution to U.K. as the factor in naming it one of the top 10 rock guitar albums of all time.
In 1978, Holdsworth decided he wanted to pursue a different, more live-based direction as opposed to his recent participation in lush, studio-crafted masterpieces. He sought out a more immediate, less intricately arranged band context than what had been established with Bruford, in order to explore a rock-oriented musical context that also explored extended instrumental ensemble improvisations. Holdsworth wanted to rediscover some of the energy and dynamics that had been so memorable in his live performances working with Tony Williams, and reluctantly parted company with Bruford's band. Holdsworth began to develop his own trio with two other Northern English musicians, drummer Gary Husband, and bassist Paul Carmichael, which begun Holdsworth's first touring band as a leader, the now-celebrated IOU band. Their first recording IOU sold exceptionally well for an independent release, and Holdsworth's friend and admirer, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, proved instrumental in securing IOU a recording contract with Warner Bros. Executive Producer Ted Templeman wanted to experiment with a mini-album concept, which resulted in the 1984 Grammy-nominated release, Road Games, which featured vocal cameos from long-time Holdsworth collaborator, the legendary Jack Bruce. It also featured a new American line-up, with Jeff Berlin and Chad Wackerman comprising the rhythm section. However tensions with the label over creative control led to a split between Holdsworth and Warner Bros.
Being disillusioned with big label policies and constraints, Holdsworth opted to start a long and successful career recording for the independent Enigma label, which later became Restless Records. A string of finely crafted studio albums, defying easy categorizations began with 1985's Metal Fatigue, and was followed by Atavachron, Sand, Secrets, Wardenclyffe Tower, Hard Hat Area, None Too Soon, and The 16 Men of Tain - all extremely successful projects gravitating between high powered electric jazz and rock, and featuring sidemen as diverse as jazz great Tony Williams, Alan Pasqua (Santana, Bob Dylan), Billy Childs, Jimmy Johnson (James Taylor), Gary Husband (Level 42, Billy Cobham), Chad Wackerman (Frank Zappa), and other luminaries. In addition to releasing the highly acclaimed live albums, All Night Wrong (Sony Japan 2002/Favored Nations) and Then! (Alternity, 2003).
Holdsworth joined a special project featuring former Soft Machine members, Softworks, which included legendary experimental English jazz/rock musicians Hugh Hopper, Elton Dean, and John Marshall, also released in 2003. As a guest contributor, Holdsworth has ventured into many musical forms, including the progressive hip-hop of Riptyde (Alternity 2004), and is currently working on a best-of retrospective of his studio work titled Against The Clock, scheduled for release in early 2005, and his forthcoming new guitar trio project for release in 2005, Snakes and Ladders. Holdsworth took his guitar trio for a first-ever performance in Moscow in October, 2004, and he will be touring North and South America, and Europe into 2005. He is available for radio interviews and on air appearances for shows interested in featuring the acclaimed work of a true musician's musician.
--Christopher Hoard past contributor, Jazziz, Music Technology, LA Weekly,
Daily Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The Jazz Review and others.
Instrumentation
Allan Holdsworth - Guitar
Ernest Tibbs - Bass
Joel Taylor - Drums
Discography
AS A LEADER
"VELVET DARKNESS" 1976 CTI/KING/1990 EPIC ASSOCIATED (LP,CD)
"VELVET DARKNESS" 1994 KING-JAPAN/1997 CTI-JAPAN (CD)
"I.O.U." 1982 LUNA CRACK/1985 ENIGMA (LP,CD)
"ROAD GAMES" 1983 WARNER BROS./2001 GNARLY GEEZER (EP,CD)
"METAL FATIGUE" 1985 ENIGMA (LP,CD)
"ATAVACHRON" 1986 ENIGMA (LP,CD)
"SAND" 1987 RELATIVITY (LP,CD)
"SECRETS" 1989 INTIMA (LP,CD)
"WARDENCLYFFE TOWER" 1992 RESTLESS (CD)
"WARDENCLYFFE TOWER +3" 1992 POLYDOR-JAPAN (CD)
"BEST WORKS COLLECTION" (COMPILATION) 1992 JIMCO-JAPAN (CD)
"JUST FOR THE CURIOUS-INSTRUCTIONAL" 1993 CPP MEDIA (CD)
"HARD HAT AREA" 1993 POLYDOR-JAPAN (CD)
"HARD HAT AREA" 1994 RESTLESS (CD)
"NONE TOO SOON" 1996 POLYDOR/VERVE FORECAST(CD)
"I.O.U. LIVE" 1997 PURPLE PYRAMID (CD)
"THE SIXTEEN MEN OF TAIN" 1999 POLYDOR-JAPAN (CD)
"FLAT TIRE-MUSIC FOR A NON-EXISTENT MOVIE" 2001 MEGAZOIDAL (CD)
"ALL NIGHT WRONG" 2002 SONY (CD,SACD)
"THE SIXTEEN MEN OF TAIN (SPECIAL EDITION)" 2003 GLOBE MUSIC MEDIA ARTS (CD)
"THEN!" 2003 ALTERNITY/2003 UNIVERSAL-JAPAN (CD)
WITH GORDON BECK
"SUNBIRD" 1979 DISQUES JMS (LP,CD)
"THE THINGS YOU SEE" 1980 DISQUES JMS (LP,CD)
"THE THINGS YOU SEE/SUNBIRD" 1994 DISQUES A.G. (CD)
"WITH A HEART IN MY SONG" 1988 DISQUES JMS (LP,CD)
"DREAMS" 1989 DISQUES JMS (CD)
WITH JACK BRUCE
"A QUESTION OF TIME" 1989 EPIC (LP,CD)
WITH BRUFORD
"FEELS GOOD TO ME" 1977 EDITIONS E.G. (LP,CD)
"ONE OF A KIND" 1979 POLYDOR (LP,CD)
"HELL'S BELLS" 1980 E.G. (EP/45 RPM)
WITH BILL BRUFORD
"MASTER STROKES" (COMPILATION) 1986 E.G. (LP,CD)
WITH IAN CARR'S NUCLEUS
"BELLADONNA" 1972 VERTIGO/1990 LINE/2003 UNIVERSAL-JAPAN (LP,CD)
"DIRECT HITS" (COMPILATION) 1973 VERTIGO (LP)
WITH STANLEY CLARKE
"IF THIS BASS COULD ONLY TALK" 1988 CBS/PORT. (LP,CD)
"THE COLLECTION" 199? CASTLE (CD)
WITH COME TOGETHER
"GUITAR TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES" 1993 N.Y.C. (CD)
WITH CYMBIOSIS MAGAZINE
"VOLUME 1-#1" 1986 CYMBIOSIS (CASSETTE)
"VOLUME 2-#1" 1988 CYMBIOSIS (CD)
WITH ENIGMA VARIATIONS
"ENIGMA VARIATIONS" (COMPILATION) 1985 ENIGMA (CD)
"VOLUME 2" (COMPILATION) 1987 ENIGMA (LP)
WITH FRANK GAMBALE
MVP-"TRUTH IN SHREDDING" 1990 LEGATO (CD)
WITH PIERRE MOERLEN'S GONG
"GAZEUSE" 1976 VIRGIN (LP,CD)
"EXPRESSO" 1977 VIRGIN (LP)
"EXPRESSO 2" 1978 ARISTA (LP,CD)
"TIME IS THE KEY" 1979 ARISTA/1991 GREAT EXPECTATIONS (LP,CD)
"WINGFUL OF EYES" (COMPILATION) 1986 VIRGIN (CD)
WITH GONGZILLA
"SUFFER" 1995 LOLO (CD)
WITH GUITAR ON THE EDGE
"VOLUME #1" 1992 GUITAR ON THE EDGE (CD)
"VOLUME #2" 1992 GUITAR ON THE EDGE (CD)
WITH GORKY PARK
"STARE" 1996 M.I.R. (CD)
WITH GUITAR'S PRACTICING MUSICIANS
A.HOLDSWORTH,J.WATSON-"PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC" 1989 GUITAR (CD)
WITH STUART HAMM
"RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH" 1988 RELATIVITY (LP,CD)
WITH HERBIE HANCOCK
"V.S.O.P.-TOUR NARRATIVE" 1977 COLUMBIA-PROMO (LP)
WITH STEVE HUNT
"FROM YOUR HEART AND YOUR SOUL" 1997 SPICE RACK (CD)
WITH IGGINBOTTOM
"IGGINBOTTOM'S WRENCH" 1969 DERAM/1988 DERAM-JAPAN (LP,CD)
WITH JON ST. JAMES
"TRANS-ATLANTIC" 1984 EMI AMERICA (LP)
"FAST IMPRESSIONS" 1986 ENIGMA (LP,CD)
WITH ANDERS JOHANSSON & JENS JOHANSSON
"HEAVY MACHINERY" 1996 HEPTAGON (CD)
WITH KROKUS
"CHANGE OF ADDRESS" 1986 ARISTA (LP,CD)
WITH LEVEL 42
"GUARANTEED" 1991 RCA (CD)
"GUARANTEED" 1991 RCA (CD-SINGLE)
WITH ANDREA MARCELLI
"SILENT WILL" 1990 VERVE/FORECAST (CD)
"ONENESS" 1992 VERVE/FORECAST/1994 LIPSTICK (CD)
WITH ALEX MASI
"ATTACK OF THE NEON SHARK" 1989 ENIGMA/METAL BLADE (LP,CD)
WITH PAZ
"LOVE IN PEACE (AMOUR EMPAZ)" 1991 MASTER MIX (CD)
WITH ESTHER PHILLIPS
"CAPRICORN PRINCESS" 1976 KUDU (LP)
WITH JEAN-LUC PONTY
"ENIGMATIC OCEAN" 1977 ATLANTIC (LP,CD)
"INDIVIDUAL CHOICE" 1983 ATLANTIC (LP,CD)
"LE VOYAGE-THE J.L. PONTY ANTHOLOGY" 1996 RHINO (CD)
"THE VERY BEST OF JEAN-LUC PONTY" 2000 RHINO (CD)
WITH SOFT MACHINE
"BUNDLES" 1975 HARVEST-E.M.I./1990 SEE FOR MILES (LP,CD)
"TRIPLE ECHO" (COMPILATION) 1977 HARVEST-E.M.I. (LP)
"LAND OF COCKAYNE" 1981 E.M.I./1996 ONE WAY (LP,CD)
"THE UNTOUCHABLE" (COMPILATION) 1990 CASTLE (LP,CD)
"BEST OF THE HARVEST YEARS" 1995 SEE FOR MILES (CD)
"BBC RADIO 1971-1974" 2003 HUX (CD)
WITH SOFT WORKS
"ABRACADABRA" 2003 UNIVERSAL-JAPAN (CD)
WITH SOMA
"SOMA" 1986 OCCIDENTAL/1992 HEADING WEST (LP,CD)
WITH JOHN STEVENS
"TOUCHING ON" 1977 VINYL/1990 KONNEX (LP,CD)
"CONVERSATION PIECE PART 1 & 2" 1980 VIEW/1991 KONNEX (LP,CD)
"RE-TOUCH" 1983 VIEW/1993 KONNEX (LP,CD)
WITH STRANGE ADVANCE
"THE DISTANCE BETWEEN" 1988 EMI (LP,CD)
"WORLDS AWAY & BACK" 199? EMI MUSIC CANADA (CD)
WITH STEVE TAVAGLIONE
"BLUE TAV" 1990 CREATCHY-JAPAN (CD)
WITH TEMPEST
"TEMPEST" 1973 BRONZE/1996 ONE WAY (LP,CD)
"UP & ON/GREY & BLACK" 1973 BRONZE-WARNER BROS.-JAPAN (45 RPM)
WITH U.K.
"U.K." 1978 E.G./POLYDOR (LP,CD)
"IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT" 1978 POLYDOR (45 RPM)
"RADIO SPECIAL" 1978 POLYDOR-PROMO (LP)
"U.K./DANGER MONEY/NIGHT AFTER NIGHT" 1999 R & R (2 CD)
WITH VARIOUS ARTISTS
"AFFIRMATIVE:YES SOLO FAMILY ALBUM" 1993 CONN. COLLECTION (CD)
"CONTEMPORARY JAZZ MASTERS" (SAMPLER) 1990 COLUMBIA (CD)
"FUSION-DRUM INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FEST. AMSTERDAM" 1990 CBS (CD)
"CMPLER 2" (SAMPLER) 1992 CMP (CD)
"JAZZ FUSION VOLUME 2" 1997 RHINO (CD)
"MELTDOWN" (SAMPLER) 1992 RYKODISC (CD)
"J.WETTON/G.DOWNES/ASIA/U.K. COMPILATION" 1997 RESURGENCE (CD)
"GUITAR ZONE" 1998 TIMES SQUARE (CD)
"FUSION 101" 1999 (CD)
WITH THE CARL VERHEYEN GROUP
"NO BORDERS" 1988 CHASE MUSIC GROUP (LP,CD)
"NO BORDERS PLUS" 1994 LEGATO (CD)
WITH CHAD WACKERMAN
"FORTY REASONS" 1991 CMP (CD)
"THE VIEW" 1993 CMP (CD)
WITH JEFF WATSON
"LONE RANGER" 1992 SHRAPNEL (CD)
WITH JOHN WETTON
"KINGS ROAD" (COMPILATION) 1987 EDITIONS E.G. (CD)
WITH TONY WILLIAMS NEW LIFETIME
"BELIEVE IT!" 1975 COLUMBIA/2004 COLUMBIA (LP,CD)
"SNAKE OIL/RED ALERT" 1975 COLUMBIA (45 RPM)
"MILLION DOLLAR LEGS" 1976 COLUMBIA/1992 COLUMBIA-JAPAN (LP,CD)
"THE BEST OF TONY WILLIAMS" 1980 COLUMBIA (LP)
"THE COLLECTION" 1992 COLUMBIA/LEGACY (CD)
Links
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