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Atavachron Digest - The Allan Holdsworth Discussion Digest
Volume 2, Number 71
Friday, 10 December 1993
TODAY'S TOPICS:
==============
A slightly different take on the quiz
Re: A slightly different take on the quiz
Synthaxe
Re: Synthaxe
Synthaxe
Re: Synthaxe
Bela's Drummer
Re: Bela's Drummer
Re: Synthaxe / .sigs and MegaQuoting
RE:synthaxe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jeff Preston
Subject: A slightly different take on the quiz
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 93 5:49:33 EST
Exceedingly Silly Stuff Department:
I forgot to give credit to Dan Barrett for getting *one* quiz question
correct -- way to go, Dan! ;) As a consolation prize, Dan will receive
a broken B-string from a guitar that looks faintly like one that Allan
used in 1986. Here are Dan's answers, submitted for your entertainment...
> #1) Name the company that actually built a production model of
> a guitar bearing Allan's initials.
It was the obscure Swedish guitar manufacturer, Snorkheim.
The innovative instrument, dubbed "The Uncommon Chord
Machine", had frets that were only 2mm apart, so any guitarist
could reach across 20-30 of them and pretend to have Allan's
hands.
> In the "entirely optional Atavachron reader's survey" conducted
> last year, Atavachron readers were asked to rate all of the then-known-
> to-be-released albums on which Allan had appeared.
>
> #2) Which album was not only rated highest by the respondents,
> but also tied for top place in the *number* of responses given
> overall?
"Jingle Jangle" by The Archies. It's a little known fact that
Allan played electric zither on this album.
> Allan and his most recent touring band (Steve Hunt, Gary Husband and
> Skuli Sverrisson) plays a tune in concert that no one in the band
> wrote, nor is it on any of Allan's solo releases.
>
> #3) What is the name of this tune?
Free Bird.
> #4) Who wrote it?
Lynyrd Skynyrd (allegedly, though there is some controversy
that it was actually penned by Christopher Marlowe).
> Longtime Holdsworth associate, bassist Jimmy Johnson, also fronts
> a band of his own.
>
> #5) What is the band's name?
The Chipmunks.
> #6) For what landmark in studio recording history are they
> known?
"Chipmunk Punk."
> Another of Allan's associates was in the "house band" on a nationally
> (U.S.) syndicated talk show last year.
>
> #7) Who was the musician?
Our own Jeff Preston!
> #8) Who was the host of the show?
Anil Prasad, whose talk show "Ask Dan Spalari" was unfortunately
short-lived.
> #9) Which Holdsworth release was nominated for a Grammy award?
"Play that Funky Music." Unfortunately, it didn't win the
Grammy, but it later went on to win an Oscar for Best Special
Effects.
> Allan's tune "Zarabeth" from _Wardenclyffe Tower_ was named for a
> fictional character from an original Star Trek series episode.
>
> #10) What was the name of the episode?
"The Trouble With Tribble Clefs."
> #11) What is the name of the actress who played the part of
> Zarabeth?
It was a very clever Jim Henson muppet in the shape of a
walking, talking SynthAxe.
[ Yeah, but who provided the voice when it sang "It's Not Easy Being
Green"? --JP ]
> In the liner notes to _The Collection_, a double-length Columbia
> Jazz Contemporary Masters release combining _Believe It_ and _Million
> Dollar Legs_ by Tony Williams Lifetime, Matt Resnicoff wrote a
> synopsis about the mid-'70s version of Lifetime (more accurately
> known as "New Lifetime"). A good portion of this article focuses on
> Allan, and how he came to be in Tony Williams' New Lifetime.
>
> #12) To whom does Resnicoff give credit for initially referring
> Holdsworth to Williams?
It was a very young Deee-Lite.
> One of the most surprising collaborations Allan was involved in
> was with ex-Night Ranger guitarist Jeff Watson.
>
> #13) What was the name of the unlikely 1976 radio hit which they
> covered?
All 4 sides of "Tales From Topographic Oceans."
> #14) What band originally recorded this tune?
Elvis Presley.
> #15) On what album does Allan's first *recorded* use of a guitar
> synthesizer appear?
"Velvet Darkness." Unfortunately, Allan sued the record
company and had that track removed... mainly because he was
using the synth to make realistic fart-like sounds.
> One of Allan's solo albums was recorded in a studio which was built
> in a converted barge.
>
> #16) Name the album.
"Underwater Whammy-Bar" (limited, Algeria-only cassette release).
> #17) According to these credits, in what California community is
> The Brewery located?
It is in the heart of Rama Rajneesh's Commune For The Terminally
Dissonant.
> Allan was credited with playing on a tune on the cassette version
> of the 1986 album _Stand Up_ by Steve Morse, but due to a problem
> with the tape synchronization, Allan's part was not actually
> included.
> #18) What was the name of this tune?
"Cruise Control".
> #19) In which U.S. state did Tesla start construction of
> Wardenclyffe Tower?
New York, on 48th Street in New York City. Today, this site
is the home of Manny's Music.
[ He got this one right, since I was only asking for the state. Nice
embellishment, though. :) --JP ]
> #20) How many strings are on a standard SynthAxe?
Four hundred and eleven, tuned in octaves.
> Good luck... may the most resourceful person win! :)
Does this count as "resourceful?" :-)
[ I should say so! --JP ]
--
Jeff Preston =*= Moderator of the Allan Holdsworth discussion forum
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= atavachron-request@msuacad.morehead-st.edu =*=*=*=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: maclark@halnet.com (M. A. Clark)
Subject: Re: A slightly different take on the quiz
Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1993 09:26:38 -0600 (CST)
> Exceedingly Silly Stuff Department:
>
> I forgot to give credit to Dan Barrett for getting *one* quiz question
> correct -- way to go, Dan! ;) As a consolation prize, Dan will receive
> a broken B-string from a guitar that looks faintly like one that Allan
> used in 1986. Here are Dan's answers, submitted for your entertainment...
> [ I should say so! --JP ]
>
> --
> Jeff Preston =*= Moderator of the Allan Holdsworth discussion forum
> =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= atavachron-request@msuacad.morehead-st.edu =*=*=*=
After picking myself up off the floor and crawling back into my chair
I feel compelled to inform you that this has got to be the most hilarious
things I have seen in months! Hopefully some day I too can earn one of
the coveted B strings. Maybe I'll just try for an E. ;)
It's gonna be days before my stomach muscles quit aching!
Thanks Jeff.
[ Dan's the one who deserves the thanks! --JP ]
Mark
M. A. Clark (maclark@halnet.com) #include
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 93 12:47:46 +0100
From: Ari Rusunen
Subject: Synthaxe
I bought a record called Secrets with Allan. This record is my favorite already.
Some of the tracks in the record contains an instrument called SYNTHAXE and i
love the sound of this instrument.
The questions are: What is a synthaxe?
How does it look like? Are there any other records with this instrument that
Allan handles so beatufylly?
Thanks
<><><><><><>Programvarutekniklinjen<><><><><><><><>Programvarutekniklinjen<><>
< >
< pt91ar@pt.hk-r.se Ari Ruusunen "Have you lost the contact with >
< Risanasvagen 9 reality? >
< 372 73 Ronneby Dont worry it finds you later.">
< Sweden >
< >
<>Programvarutekniklinjen<><><><><><><><>Programvarutekniklinjen<><><><><><><>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 05:58:34 PST
From: bigelow@eso.mc.xerox.com (Wendell Bigelow x71408 718 6)
Subject: Re: Synthaxe
> From server@msuacad.morehead-st.edu Fri Dec 10 07:07:12 1993
> Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 03:54:12 PST
> Message-Id: <9312101147.AA04062@iapetus.pt.hk-r.se>
> Comment: The Allan Holdsworth discussion forum
> Originator: atavachron@msuacad.morehead-st.edu
> Reply-To:
> Sender: atavachron@msuacad.morehead-st.edu
> Version: 5.31 -- Copyright (c) 1991, Anastasios Kotsikonas
> From: Ari Rusunen
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: Synthaxe
> Content-Length: 816
> X-Lines: 26
>
> I bought a record called Secrets with Allan. This record is my favorite
already.
> Some of the tracks in the record contains an instrument called SYNTHAXE and i
> love the sound of this instrument.
>
> The questions are: What is a synthaxe?
> How does it look like? Are there any other records with this instrument that
> Allan handles so beatufylly?
>
> Thanks
>
> <><><><><><>Programvarutekniklinjen<><><><><><><><>Programvarutekniklinjen<><>
> < >
> < pt91ar@pt.hk-r.se Ari Ruusunen "Have you lost the contact with >
> < Risanasvagen 9 reality? >
> < 372 73 Ronneby Dont worry it finds you later.">
> < Sweden >
> < >
> <>Programvarutekniklinjen<><><><><><><><>Programvarutekniklinjen<><><><><><><>
>
Go to your local record shop and look for a copy of any record
by the band called, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
The "drummer" in the group uses a Synthax(by
the way, the "drummer" wears a "Napolean" hat and calls himself, Futureman!)
This band is extremely hip! Very fusion oriented with the Banjo(Bela) as the
lead instrument... More than likely their covers will have(assuming you still
have albums--as opposed to CD-only-- in your stores, they've all but disappeared
from mainstream music stores in the United States) a picture of Futureman
and his synthax....
Several of Holdsworth's albums use it, Atavachron, his latest:Wardenclyffe Tower
Sand, and one more I think...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wendell Bigelow
Software Engineer, Xerox Corporation
Rochester, New York
Internet-ID bigelow@eso.mc.xerox.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 93 10:42:03 EST
From: jphillip@su19bb.ess.harris.com (John Phillips)
Subject: Synthaxe
> The questions are: What is a synthaxe?
> How does it look like? Are there any other records with this instrument that
> Allan handles so beatufylly?
>
> Thanks
I have a copy of the (video) Laserdisc GRP LIVE AT THE RECORD PLANT.
Besides being an excellent video, it features Lee Ritenour playing
a synthaxe on "Dolphin Dreams". Its a good tune and gives a good
look at the synthaxe. I'm sure this is available on VHS (maybe at
one of the larger rental outlets).
J.P.
. . . . . . .
: : : : : : :
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
D D D D D D D
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 93 11:37:55 -0600
From: uchima@fncrd8.fnal.gov (Mike Uchima)
Subject: Re: Synthaxe
Ari Rusunen wrote:
>
> Subject: Synthaxe
>
> I bought a record called Secrets with Allan. This record is my favorite
already.
> Some of the tracks in the record contains an instrument called SYNTHAXE and i
> love the sound of this instrument.
>
> The questions are: What is a synthaxe?
> How does it look like? Are there any other records with this instrument that
> Allan handles so beatufylly?
>
> Thanks
>
The synthaxe looks kind of like a mutant guitar. My (limited) understanding
is that it's basically a synthesizer with a guitar-like user interface. I
think there was a discussion on this list a while back that indicated that
Allan doesn't actually use the "synthaxe" (which was a specific brand of
instrument) any more, because the company that made it is gone and he can't
get the thing serviced. I think he's now using a similar instrument from
another company...
If you really like Allan's synthaxe sound, definitely try to get a copy of
_Atavachron_. There's some pretty incredible stuff on it. There's also a
picture of Allan with his synthaxe in the liner notes, if you're wondering
exactly what it looks like. _Sand_ and _Wardenclyffe Tower_ also feature the
synthaxe prominently.
Allan also plays a lot of synthaxe on Mark Varney Project's _Truth In
Shredding_, and on his collaboration with Gordon Beck, _With A Heart In My
Song_. Both of these have gotten very mixed reviews, though (well, on this
list, at least; _With A Heart In My Song_ is probably my least favorite Allan
Holdsworth CD).
-- Mike Uchima
-- uchima@fnal.fnal.gov
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 10 Dec 1993 13:02:49 -0500
From: "Dave Midgarden"
Subject: Bela's Drummer
I may be mistaken, but I think Futureman play his own jury-rigged contraption
that he calls a Drumatar. The Drumatar is a bunch of small synthesizer/drum
units afixed all over an old guitar body: cymbals on the neck, bass drums on
the body with snairs and roototom-like things, etc. Sounds pretty good, but it
doesn't look much like a synthax to me, although it does ook weird.
I saw them a couple of years ago so he may have changed.
David Midgarden
_______________________________________________________________________________
Go to your local record shop and look for a copy of any record
by the band called, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
The "drummer" in the group uses a Synthax(by
the way, the "drummer" wears a "Napolean" hat and calls himself, Futureman!)
This band is extremely hip! Very fusion oriented with the Banjo(Bela) as the
lead instrument... More than likely their covers will have(assuming you still
have albums--as opposed to CD-only-- in your stores, they've all but
disappeared
from mainstream music stores in the United States) a picture of Futureman
and his synthax....
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wendell Bigelow
Software Engineer, Xerox Corporation
Rochester, New York
Internet-ID bigelow@eso.mc.xerox.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 11:11:57 PST
From: bigelow@eso.mc.xerox.com (Wendell Bigelow x71408 718 6)
Subject: Re: Bela's Drummer
> I may be mistaken, but I think Futureman play his own jury-rigged contraption
> that he calls a Drumatar. The Drumatar is a bunch of small synthesizer/drum
> units afixed all over an old guitar body: cymbals on the neck, bass drums on
> the body with snairs and roototom-like things, etc. Sounds pretty good, but it
> doesn't look much like a synthax to me, although it does ook weird.
> I saw them a couple of years ago so he may have changed.
> David Midgarden
> _______________________________________________________________________________
>
> Go to your local record shop and look for a copy of any record
> by the band called, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
>
> The "drummer" in the group uses a Synthax(by
> the way, the "drummer" wears a "Napolean" hat and calls himself, Futureman!)
> This band is extremely hip! Very fusion oriented with the Banjo(Bela) as the
> lead instrument... More than likely their covers will have(assuming you still
> have albums--as opposed to CD-only-- in your stores, they've all but
> disappeared
> from mainstream music stores in the United States) a picture of Futureman
> and his synthax....
>
You may be right! But *someone* in that group is(or did) using a Synthaxe!
That I know for sure!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wendell Bigelow
Software Engineer, Xerox Corporation
Rochester, New York
Internet-ID bigelow@eso.mc.xerox.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jeff Preston
Subject: Re: Synthaxe / .sigs and MegaQuoting
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 93 14:54:13 EST
> The questions are: What is a synthaxe?
The SynthAxe was the brainchild of three British inventors (whose
names I have forgotten, but I can report back on that tomorrow). It
isn't actually a synthesizer, inasmuch as it cannot produce any
sounds itself; it *is* a very sophisticated MIDI controller, much
like a keyboard or an EWI (electronic wind instrument). Allan's first
recorded use of the SynthAxe was on the album _Atavachron_, and has
been used to some extent on all of his solo releases since.
The SynthAxe, being so sophisticated, was terribly complex and prone
to frequent breakdowns... Allan in fact stopped touring with it years
ago because it was incredibly unreliable. Eventually, the company
producing the SynthAxe was forced to close their doors (the exotic and
very expensive instrument never really took the market by storm), and
no one was left to support the device. As I understand it, Allan still
has one unit, but it is not in working order.
Btw, Roy "Futureman" Wooten's SynthAxe/Drumitar does not actually
use the sophisticated sensors which came stock in the SynthAxe. His
version has been heavily modified, and while I'm not certain, I'd
bet that very little of the original SynthAxe (except for the shell)
is used in his instrument.
> How does it look like? Are there any other records with this instrument that
> Allan handles so beatufylly?
I have put a PCX file in the archive; to retrieve it, send e-mail to
listserv@msuacad.morehead-st.edu with the following as the first line
in the body of the message:
get atavachron synthaxe.uue
The file is ~50K and is in one part, UUEncoded. If the text within the
PCX file is not legible, let me know and I'll send that along as ASCII
text.
*** PERSONAL FAVOR TIME! ***
Not to be a jerk, but I would appreciate it if everyone would keep
their .sig files and extraneous quoting of other posts to a civilized
minimum. :) If you're having trouble with deleting lines out of
quoted text, I'd prefer to see perhaps a short paraphrase and no
quoted text rather than to see *all* of a posting again (headers,
.sigs and all!). Again, I'm not trying to be disagreeable or discourage
anyone from posting -- I'm just trying to be considerate of *all*
our readers (even the ones living in the Stone Age of 2400 baud
modems, etc.). :)
Jeff
--
Jeff Preston =*= Moderator of the Allan Holdsworth discussion forum
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= atavachron-request@msuacad.morehead-st.edu =*=*=*=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 93 15:01:04 EST
From: jphillip@su19bb.ess.harris.com (John Phillips)
Subject: RE:synthaxe
> I may be mistaken, but I think Futureman play his own jury-rigged contraption
> that he calls a Drumatar. The Drumatar is a bunch of small synthesizer/drum
> units afixed all over an old guitar body: cymbals on the neck, bass drums on
> the body with snairs and roototom-like things, etc. Sounds pretty good, but it
> doesn't look much like a synthax to me, although it does ook weird.
> I saw them a couple of years ago so he may have changed.
> David Midgarden
I talked with Future man at a local gig about a year ago (about thier
music , not his axe) and I got a good look at his instrument. It is,
indeed, a Synthaxe on which he has glued drum units. I also see him playing
the buttons on the axe itself, which I believe he has mapped to percussive
functions. I have never seen him mess with the strings.
J.P.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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