| Recensione: Allan HOLDSWORTH, Yorkshire-born like John McLAUGHLIN, now resides in Southern California. He is one of the most revered, often imitated and enigmatic electric guitarists in modern rock/jazz history. In addition he is an avid fan of the guitar synthesiser. On rare occasions you will also find him on record playing violin and acoustic guitar (both 12 and 6 string) - the challenge is to find him singing lead! He is also a keen cyclist and brewer.
With a professional career starting in the late 60's, Allan's early bandwork and recordings included stints with 'IGGINBOTTOM, IAN CARR, TEMPEST, SOFT MACHINE, GONG (both a band member and later as guest - a revamped version the jazz rock GONG was formed in the USA in the 90's with the name GONGZILLA: HOLDSWORTH appeared on their first album "Suffer"), U.K. and BRUFORD in the UK, as well as jazz rock fusion favourites, the NEW TONY WILLIAMS LIFETIME and Jean-Luc PONTY in the USA. Whilst in the States, HOLDSWORTH recorded his first solo album "Velvet Darkness" at CTI's studios, which with outtakes took less than 26 hours to make. The album has been long disowned by HOLDSWORTH as being really a 'demo' not fit for release: even on the remastered CD, the recording quality is relatively poor (most unusual for an album issuing from the acclaimed CTI label), although some of the music/tunes are excellent (and in deed, of note is Alphonso JOHNSON's session playing, which is amongst the best basswork he has done). Through the 70's Allan's developed a smooth legato (fluid) style (in parallel to guitar effects appearing on the marketplace), lightning speed runs, and often combined with playing solos which were tangential to the main theme of tunes. |