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The New Atavachron Digest 3/97
The New Atavachron Digest 97/03/08
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Reply-To: Jeff Preston
----------
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1997 23:29:26 +0000
From: Andrew Lewis
Subject: Re:
Well, I'm late with this, but I have to say a broken-hearted
farewell to Tony Williams, too. It wasn't "The New Lifetime", but
Miles' band from the 60s that changed the way I've listened to music ever since.
And Tony is what had captured me originally. Most certainly a
supernatural force coming through that man. Condolences to his loved
ones. Bye, Tony. Godspeed.
***************************************
On to lighter matters:
: Roger Billerey
wrote:
> Dave Fiuczynski: what about this dude? I mean, could anyone explain to me
> what in his playing makes people rave the way they do? His whammy playing
> is nothing new...
I saw Fuze live in NYC and was blown away by the energy... Haven't
liked him at all on records. The Screaming Headless Torsos debut
album was dreadful... He did some okay stuff on a Cindy Blackman
record, sounds like an amphetamine-amped Jeff Beck on his record with
John Medeski... I haven't heard him with Jack Walrath, but admit I'm
curious. I DO like him on Ronald Shannon Jackson's "Raven Roc"
album, at least...
> his tone is muddy and he's sloppy as hell, just like
> Vernon Reid.
SPeaking of Shannon Jackson guitarists... Vernon Reid I love. Never
liked the Living Colour records all that much, but seeing that band
live before they got a contract was a treat. Same songs done
radically differently every night, very exploratory. And mistakenly thinking I
was going to something like a Shannon Jackson show (which is where I
knew Vernon's guitar playing from) for an early Living Colour concert
at The Lone Star... well, these guys came out and opened up with
"Funny Vibe." I was plastered to the back wall. The guy is sloppy
compared to Allan maybe, but no, he's not someone I'd generally
describe that way, and live he can be one
of the most endlessly inventive players I've ever heard. I do like
his "solo" record, "Mistaken Identity", BTW, though it took a couple
of listens. He's uneven, but when he's on he's hard to touch.
Very forceful and lots of ideas. He *can* play real pretty, too...
> So what's the hype? Please let me know what you think.
In V.R.'s case, I think you need to hear him live on a good night. I
fortunately got to see Sonny Sharrock (RIP) at the Knitting Factory,
too... another gale-force guitarist. Shattering.
> Since it's become almost a custom, I'll give you my own top-15
list:...
[snip]
wow... I can't do this kind of thing, it's so mood dependent.
Tonight I'm digging Dark (with Miroslav Tadic)--album "Tomna Vada" on
CMP. Can't wait for Pat Martino's Bluenote debut. Bill Frisell
always... esp. on that Paul Motian live in Tokyo record. Mostly listening
to classical music this past month (middle and late Beethoven string
quartets--if you want some incredible, surprisingly "out" stuff,
check out the late quartets. Really. And, more recently, Shostakovich
quartets).
I join others in BEGGING for a live AH record....
(finally, something about Allan, and it's just a one-liner....)
till next time,
Andrew
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Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1997 23:49:45 -0500
From: Kent Del Castillo
Subject: TW
I remember seeing Tony Williams play in Orlando some years ago. His set
was at the front of the stage and the soloists would stand next to him
and quickly depart as soon as their solos ended. That loose feel which
always seemed right on the beat is still something I'm attempting to
comprehend [I know that sounds like a contradiction, but it's the best
way I could describe it]. When I heard him play live, I was blown away
simply by the ferocity of his attack. He could just knock you down. To
think, he was playing with Miles when he was seventeen!!! I'm glad I was
able to see him live. It's something I'll tell my kids.
I heard from a music prof. here at University of Louisville that he
complained to the doctor a few times after the surgery and the doctor
just wrote it off was something minor. That REALLY pisses me off!
He'll be greatly missed by everyone.
Kent
[Unrelated: I like Pink Floyd's Dave G., have every studio/live PF CD,
but I wanted to hear Trilok playing in a more wild style like he did
with McLaughlin, and I wouldn't expect that from Dave G.'s style
[although I would probably enjoy it regardless]]
----------
From: R.J.Heath@lboro.ac.uk (Richard Heath)
Subject: Tony Williams Discography
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1997 14:30:14 +0000
Jeff,
It was good to see all the tributes to Tony Williams in the last DIGEST -
could we, should we try to pass them onto his family to show with what
esteem he is held?
Further to those requests for a discography of Tony's recordings, in putting
together a tribute radio programme early this week, I found the latest
edition of the Penguin Guide to Jazz to be a reasonable starting point, at
least for records on CD. Look in the index, and better still go to the Tony
Williams and Miles Davis sections: I was surprised by number sessions Tony
did with Miles. As a result of reading this reference, I went back to some
long neglected records, mainly the excellent pre-electric and
formative/seminal fusion stuff, 1963 - 68, e.g. "Filles De Killimanjaro"
and "In a Silent Way", (listen to "It's About Time" for Tony's drumming).
However, the New Lifetime records are missing - including the (misnamed)
Tony Williams Lifetime "The Collection", with both "Believe It" and "Million
Dollar Legs", released in 1993. I would also recommend listening to Miles
Davis's 4 CD box set: " CBS Year 1955-85" for an excellent sample of music,
(I presume it has a slightly different title in the US).
Other records come to mind, but have either only been released on vinyl or
have Tony Williams as session player - many are long deleted. These include:
"Lifetime": Tony William. An early recording by TW on Blue Note in early/mid
60's. This is a stretching out of the jazz that he, Hancock and Shorter were
playing with Davis at the time -but nothing to do with the group of that
name. This is available on CD (but I guess only in the US, as it isn't in
the British edition of the Penguin jazz guide).
"Turn It Over": Lifetime (Polydor) . The first fusion album I ever heard and
had to pay dearly to get a copy. Whatever the critics say, I like Jack Bruce
here. It can be a difficult album to listen to if you are in wrong mood but
about thirty years later it is still most rewarding. Also a better sound
recording than "Emergency".
"Ego": Lifetime (Polydor). Apparently sans McLaughlin, although the few
tracks I've heard suggest the guitarist's presence.
"Lifetime": Lifetime (Polydor) a cheapo sampler put out in the UK in the
early 70's, containing several tracks from each of the three Lifetime albums
and no outtakes. It contains "One Word" from "Ego", (could somebody tell if
this is a modale composition?), with Jack Bruce's voice in peak condition -
of course Columbia managed to transpose the title of this tune on the
Mahvishnu version found on "Birds of Fire"!
"Joy Of Flying": Tony Williams (Columbia). This is a mini-jazz who's who of
an album, from Jan Hammer, Cecil Taylor to Brian Auger on keyboards, George
Benson to Ronnie Melrose on guitar, Clarke on bass etc. An excellent album,
if not slightly dated in places, e.g. Tom Scott doing his L.A. Express stuff
on Lyricon. But why it has never been remastered and re-released on CD -
enlighten me somebody please!?
As already mentioned, Jonas Hellborg's "The Word", a beautiful hybrid of
jazz, world and classical music (a strong Bill Laswell influence here?), has
Williams in fine form and readily identifiable as the session drummer.
Stanley Clarke's first "solo" album: "Stanley Clarke" (Nemperor/Epic about
1973), with Williams (back recording seemingly having disappeared for over
three years), Clarke (in very good funky bass form), Bill Connors on guitar
and Jan Hammer on keyboards + orchestra. Side 1 of the vinyl release shows
Williams' amazing ability to maintain a rock steady beat for a considerable
length of time while improvising round it - a must album, now on CD.
Finally, I would recommend John McLaughlin's "Electric Guitarist" for the
host of excellent session musicians, (although Jan Hammer is conspicuous by
his absence), and in particular for "Are You The One, Are You The One?"
(featuring McLaughlin, Williams & Bruce - the lack of Hammond organ means
this isn't a son-of-Lifetime track).
Other albums to the list please.
I would like to put up some limited defense for David Gilmour's (of Pink
Floyd fame) music and playing, although I would not go out of my way to
purchase his or Floyd's albums. Being a British blues boom teenager of the
late 60's I rushed to buy Paul Rodger's album "Muddy Waters Blues" in
1992/3, with its roster of blues guitarists on board. However, the stand-out
guitarist on the album, to my great amazement, was Mr Gilmour laying down
some excellent mellow Chicago-style playing. Further, seek out Pete
Townsend's "White City", both the studio and the subsequent live albums,
with Gilmour guesting on lead. These albums have a distinct jazz (even jazz
big band) style, Gilmour does a reasonable job in that setting. Finally,
Floyd's (contractual album??) "Animals", which at the time of release I
thought was tedious but at least was as close as Floyd ever got to fusion -
again because of Gimour's lead. (I'll admit, I have avoided listening to
this album ever since and might have got the musical content/style totally
wrong with the passing of time). Perhaps the guy is more versatile than some
people think. I also like Mr Gilmore's guitar on the one Steve Colemanalbum
in my possession!
Regards,
Dick Heath
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Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1997 09:32:21 -0500
From: Vince_Leonberger@mail.sel.sony.com (Vince Leonberger)
Subject: Tony Williams
All
I am truly saddened by the death of Tony Williams. I always thought
that Allan and Tony would someday release another album together. Kind
of Like the Beatles getting back together. Listening to "Through The
Looking Glass" makes me miss him even more.
Peace
Vince Leonberger
----------
Subject: re Carvin AH model
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 97 10:55:01 -0000
From: Jonathan Donald
I await the arrival of my AH guitar, and I'm excited that it someone else
who owns one is so enthousiastic about it. I feel like I gambled in
ordering this instrument, but I figured if someone like Allan was
involved in designing it, it must be pretty damn good.
>...the chambered out body adds
>resonance that you just can't get out of a solidbody.
Have you found that the chambering make the guitar more susceptible to
feedback in high-volume situations? I used to play an American Standard
Strat that had a rather largish pickup cavity (not unlike the AH Ibanez
cavity) and found that it was far more likely to feed back than any other
solid-bodies I've played.
>The pickups are a tad anemic, but they have tremendous
>clarity.
Anemic?? This is interesting and implies that Allan's pickup design
approach has changed (perhaps due to availability of high-quality,
high-gain amps?). His namesake Ibanez apparently incorporated a
super-high output pickup.
----------
From: Jeff Maxwell
Subject: Midwest Greetings
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1997 11:02:50 -0500
Checking in as a long time Holdsworth fan who's very gratified to hear the
opinions and compliments flying back and forth in this mail group. Tony
Williams' passing hit me right in the heart - seeing that group live in
Cleveland one night (with only about 75 people in the audience) was just
unbelievable. There was a truly great core of musicians in Ann Arbor,
Michigan in the late sixties and early/mid seventies, and our internal
communications were pretty tight. When "Believe It" hit us in '75, it
caused quite a pleasant shock - and a heck of a lot of listening and
attempted learning. Other amazing gigs - Allan, Berlin, Wackerman, and
Paul Williams at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit, Allan with Husband, Hunt, and
Jimmy Johnson at Alvin's in Detroit, Allan at The Ark in Ann Arbor...this
guy has been part of my artistic life since I first heard him. I could do
without all the vitriol about the Synthaxe - folks, it's just an instrument
and another mode of expression. It had some cool dimensions to it. It
doesn't detract from anything - it's another beautiful contribution from a
musician who should rank with Coltrane as an innovator but has been royally
screwed by the musical (and general) media.
To Allan, his family, and anyone who works with him - THANK YOU!!!! It's
been a continuing inspiration to hear and absorb your music. The
complexity and dynamism is sheer joy.
To any of the core of Ann Arbor maniacs who are still out there -
greetings! To Wendell Bigelow, Everett Armstrong, Randy and Allan Lynch,
Andy Adamson, Hugh Hitchcock, "Mel," the spirit of Tom Trott, Pete Ostle,
Martin Simmons, Pete Khan, Steve Chall, Rich Isgrigg - you know who you
are. Rock on.
Jeff Maxwell (jsmax@mindspring.com)
----------
From: Ivor Thomas
Subject: RE: real audio
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1997 10:56:38 -0800
About the Real Audio broadcast of the Catalina
show, Excellent suggestion!
Ivy Thomas
Portland, OR
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Date: Tue, 04 Mar 1997 14:22:28 -0800
From: henry
Subject: AH/catalina show/2-26-97
Eager fans;
Heres my feedback of the shows I was present for;
It looks like the tour will be a TRIO!! (Which I personally
preferred) at Catalina...I was absolutely looking forward to hearing
AP on keys but I'll tell you, Allans' articulation, clarity and tone
have improved SO much since I last heard him(The Roxy 1993) that I
never missed a fourth solo voice. Expect to hear a superb rendition
of "FUNNELS", solos all the way around on "SHALLOW SEA", and intense
covers of "LETTERS OF MARQUE" and "LOOKING GLASS"(the song which I
will remember that night for) both with Gary Novak showing total app-
reciation for Gary H. and Tony W. respectively!! This guy has all
the passion and energy of them both. But for
me, Mr Husband's brilliant,
mercurical ability to simmer and rise to the surface has yet to be
heard elsewhere.(o.k. he spoiled me on the early tunes back in '82).
At the bar, Allan told me G.H. is "sitting on his ***" back
in the U.K., so lets all take 1 minute on, say, 3/8 @ 12:mid and
channel support for this beautiful talent to get back to doing what
he does so well. Seriously.
Back to the shows; They jammed mercilessly on two great cuts
from that impossible to find(thanks to warner bros.)album," ROAD-
GAMES"; "TOKYO DREAMS" and the cut which has a brilliant bass solo by
Jeff Berlin, of which I can't recall the title(weak), Jeff claimed
that he was "buried in the final mix" on the lp). The
emphasis was on group performances all night. Mr
carpenter is a rabid soloist and was over my head most of the night
but he knows these tunes and comped with chords alot, but I had to
tilt my ear in his direction to hear him over the
"thunder-stage-left". No verbal homage to TW was offered, but "LOOKING
GLASS" took care of that for me. Catalina is in the middle of an entire
week devoted to TW by his band and special guests; they are online
catalina@jazz.com.
Hope this whets your anticipation;
HB
----------
From: "StevenEdwards"
Subject: more music
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 22:06:54 -0800
Hi all Al fans
Hope you dont mind me taking the liberty of plugging Keith More's debut
album,
Guitar Stories but the relevance is that he knows Allan as a fellow pro,
(they send each other demos etc.)and as Allan has had some influence on his
playing I'd be interested in hearing feedback from the "not so pro" musical
fraternity-ie -you guys + gals. I'm doing his basic webpage at the mo and
have sampled some bits in .wav
format so if you want to hear some hot guitar or more info then please
visit
http://www/dolphinet.co.uk/sedwards/index.htm then click on keithmore or
reply to me
direct and I'll gladly send whole tracks to you all (11kHz, mono about 10
mins load time), and ask Keith any questions you may have about whatever.
Thanks gang!
ps Why no UK gigs Allan? I asked Gary Husband at the Simon Philips gig the
other
night and he didn't know either!
----------
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 18:01:05 -0800 (PST)
From: David D Djernaes
Subject: Josquin De Prez
Good Afternoon Jeff and all in Atavachronia,
maybe someone can fill me in on this. I assume some of you have the
current Carvin direct catalog, as I flipped through mine, there was
something that struck me.
Can anybody help me? On page 42 of the current catalog, toward the bottom
of the page is a box of famous Carvin bass users. In the first column a
few names down is Josquin De Prez. Now correct me if I'm wrong but he has
been sort of dead for quite some time. In fact most of his music is close
to 5 hundred years old.
Ok, this seems a bit strange to me, but I have a hard time
believing ol' Josquin was rockin' out on his electric bass back then.
I have been out of the loop of who's who in the rock world for the last
couple of years, is there some schmuck who had the audacity to take the
moniker of a famous (depending on your music scene) dead composer? The
only other guy I can think of is Englebert Humperdink and that pretty much
says it all. I think its pretty tacky.
Anyway, does anyone know who he is? I'm curious as to his sound, any
knowledge on discographay would be helpful. Is he the foremost proponent
of that new music movement the
"neo-rennaissance-sacred/secular-dance-hall-disco-funk-fusion," or what?
respectfully,
Guillame du Fay
----------
Date: Thu, 06 Mar 1997 10:40:17 -0700
From: Chris Manuel
Subject: With A Heart In My Song
Folks,
Can anyone offer comments on the Holdsworth/Beck collaboration: "With A
Heart In My Song"? I'm really enjoying "None Too Soon" and wondered if
"... Heart" is at all similar.
Mainly, I want to avoid buying another "Velvet Darkness" as the Master's
tone sucks big time on that one. No wonder he hates it.
Later
----------
From: "Leslie Miller"
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 10:34:08 -0600
Hello All,
I am sooooo fustrated and unhappy! I am stuck too far away to see Allan on
tour! (If you detect a bit of jealousy....you are correct!) Now! That is
out of my system! Jeff, I have been enjoying the new bits on the
site...Thanks...The photos,etc. Still makes me wish I could see Allan
though! :( To the Wynton bashing/non-bashing....O.K. Yes the guy has his
good moments and his bad ones.....What artist does not? I am not a 100%
fan of his but I do give him credit for things he has done. Oh yes.. If
some of you have not tried anything by Tribal Tech give them a listen.
Scott Henderson is a knock out! And I agree with a couple of letters back.
If you did not catch Gary Willis on Artishop You missed a chance to have a
very open discussion. He was very kind to stick around even though there
were so few of us there.Also I do hope you might consider a complete Tony
Williams list. I have a scattering of his things and have always wanted a
complete list so I can slowly add on to it. And also YES! To a live Allan
Holdswoth CD.. I would buy it in a flash! (Let's keep hinting to him to do
this until he takes pity on us and releases one just to keep us quiet!)
Must go for now...." Life's funny games must remain"
----------
Date: Sat, 08 Mar 1997 16:10:40 -0500
From: Gary Davis
Subject: Notes from the Keneally Chat
Hi, folks:
The Artist Shop had a chat with Mike Keneally (soloist and guitarist for
Frank Zappa and Steve Vai) recently and here are a couple questions and
answers I thought would be of interest to this list. Kenzak was assisting
me by posting the questions from the participants. Mike used the nickname
"Boil That" from his solo album "Boil That Dust Speck."
from "Culo" If you had John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth on the
edge of a cliff... and you HAD to push one of them, who would you, and why? :)
I would push both of them away from the edge of the cliff. If
it was pre-ordained that someone needed to die at that moment, I'd sacrifice
myself.
from "XTC" Any thoughts on Tony Williams passing? He was one of the
true greats!
Utterly tragic. I had just put on a Miles CD when Joe Travers
called to tell me. The "Plugged Nickel" box is my favorite single musical
thing
in the world. My friend Lyle Workman had recently been working with Tony; I
haven't spoken to him yet, but he must be devastated. There are times when
I feel that Tony was the greatest drummer who ever lived.
As it turns out, Kenzak (alias Ken Mistove) is a major fan of Tony Williams
and had not heard of his passing at the time of the Chat. So when he
fielded that question it was a total shock to him.
Gary
**************************************************************
Gary Davis
The Artist Shop The Other Road
http://www.artist-shop.com OtherRoad@aol.com
SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENT ARTIST!!!
**************************************************************
----------
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The New Atavachron Digest 97/03/10
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Reply-To: Jeff Preston
----------
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 00:42:18 -0500
From: chip@csra.net (Chip the Extreamly Single of Known Space)
Subject: Vernon Reid,Fiuczynski
>: Roger Billerey
>wrote:
>> Dave Fiuczynski: what about this dude? I mean, could anyone explain to me
>> what in his playing makes people rave the way they do? His whammy playing
>> is nothing new...
I would say his whammy playing is influenced by Holdsworth, not to mention
some other aspects. I saw him on Letterman with M'cell Ndgeocello
(whatever) and he played a surprisingly fusion tinged solo in a pop song.
Hats off to anyone in the 90's who can get on Letterman in a pop band and do
that.
>> his tone is muddy and he's sloppy as hell, just like
>> Vernon Reid.
How many non-musicians know what "sloppy" is? "Sloppy", vis a vis Vernon
Reid, sounds like "energy" to alot of people. If he played sort of plodding
around phrases it would matter more, I think. What counts is that he always
has fresh ideas, and doesn't often repeat himself, and plays out on a limb.
Sometimes it breaks, but it's *interesting* what he plays. I would rather
hear "sloppy but interesting" than "inhumanly precise but boring".
"Sloppy" is relative, I try not to be so hyper-sensitive to technique.
He'll play himself into a corner sometimes, but it's worth it to hear
something novel now and then.
On the subject of David Gilmour; his whammy playing is extreamly reminiscent
of some of Holdsworths'. Listen to "Marooned" from _the Division Bell_ -
it's almost fusion, an instrumental, brilliant Beck-like playing. It
shouldn't matter that he doesn't play alot of notes; to me, all of the
superlatives given to Clapton make me think of Gilmour instead.
$.10. Thank you, drive through.
]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] Chip McDonald - chip@csra.net [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
]]]]]]]]] "Try to be reasonable whenever possible" [[[[[[[[[[[
]]I have a web page @: www.csra.net/chip/default.htm[[
]]] NEW on my page.. Mp3 sound files of woolly improv guitar [[[
]]]HoldsworthFloydKatek.d.SarahninEnyaQueenHendrixMcCartney[[[
NivenWGibsonChomskyLarsonRandPythonCleeseR.ScottKubrickGMarx
]]]]] Musician, voracious reader, overly contemplative thinker. [[[[[[[[
]]]] Hep hep! I'm in Purgatory! / Severly, painfully single [[[[[[
----------
From: Chibass@ix.netcom.com
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 1997 04:20:48 +0000
Subject: Fuze,etc
> Dave Fiuczynski: what about this dude?
The best Fuze stuff I heard was the Lost Tribe stuff. Kind of hard to
find disc, but great writing and playing.
> Speaking of Shannon Jackson guitarists... Vernon Reid I love.
Is anyone hip to Jef Lee Johnson? He plays with R. Shannon Jackson
occasionally. He's from Philly and is an incredible, creative
guitarist. He has a solo record called "Blue". Also hard to find.
Needless to say, Holdsworth is in a league all his own. There are only
a handful of players who are total originals. Jaco, Anthony Jackson( I
play bass :-)) What strikes me is the incredible emotional content of
Holdworths playing. Sounds corny, but there it is. This is my first
post. Enjoying reading all the comments.
----------
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 1997 09:18:07 -0800
From: Francisco Pablo Espinoza Estrada
Subject: ALLAN DOES WHATEVER A SPIDER CAN !
Fellow spiderweb-caught people:
> Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 18:01:05 -0800 (PST)
> From: David D Djernaes
> Subject: Josquin De Prez
> Can anybody help me? On page 42 of the current catalog, toward the bottom
> of the page is a box of famous Carvin bass users. In the first column a
> few names down is Josquin De Prez. Now correct me if I'm wrong but he has
> been sort of dead for quite some time. In fact most of his music is close
> to 5 hundred years old.
> Anyway, does anyone know who he is? I'm curious as to his sound, any
> knowledge on discography would be helpful. Is he the foremost
> proponent of that new music movement the
> "neo-rennaissance-sacred/secular-dance-hall-disco-funk-fusion," or
> what?
This is a horrible shock to me. Please don't tell me somebody has
already done neo-rennaissance-sacred/secular-dance-hall-disco-funk-fusion !
I have devoted the last five years of my life to creating this thrilling new
musical trend, in the hope of revolutionizing the musical world and hopefully
influencing Holdsworth's output.... Oh, God !
> Date: Thu, 06 Mar 1997 10:40:17 -0700
> From: Chris Manuel
> Subject: With A Heart In My Song
>
> Can anyone offer comments on the Holdsworth/Beck collaboration: "With A
> Heart In My Song"? I'm really enjoying "None Too Soon" and wondered if
> "... Heart" is at all similar.
Dear Chris, all I can tell you is that 'With A Heart In My Song' is a
must-have ! It's not similar to NTS but it's wonderful. It's a duo recording of
Allan on Synthaxe (mainly, except on a duo version of '54, Duncan Terrace',
where he plays some rhythm guitar) and Beck on keyboards. The tunes are all
Beck's, except for '54, DT' and a marvelous Synthaxe solo piece by Allan called
'Sundays'. This record is about the beautiful interplay that can happen between
these two giants. The rhythm and linear playing are incredible, very emotional
and intense, as we've come to expect from Gordon and Allan. Talk about synergy
! And there's this tune called 'Ain't No Grief (on the Southwest Chief), that
puts a bigger-than-Tony-Williams'-sound lump in my throat every time I hear it.
Go get it ASAP !
> Mainly, I want to avoid buying another "Velvet Darkness" as the Master's
> tone sucks big time on that one. No wonder he hates it.
A friend of mine nicknamed that record 'Allan Sabbath'. :o)
WAHIMS is 1988 Holdsworth on Synthaxe, so don't be afraid !
> Date: Sat, 08 Mar 1997 16:10:40 -0500
> From: Gary Davis
> Subject: Notes from the Keneally Chat
>
> Hi, folks:
>
> The Artist Shop had a chat with Mike Keneally (soloist and guitarist for
> Frank Zappa and Steve Vai) recently and here are a couple questions and
> answers I thought would be of interest to this list.
No wonder dear Gary! Both questions were asked by yours truly, a proud
member of this great loving family we call Atavachron ! :o)
> from "Culo" If you had John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth on the
> edge of a cliff... and you HAD to push one of them, who would you, and why?:)
I nicknamed myself 'culo' (ass, in spanish) for that one, because only
an asshole would ask such a stupid one. But please, don't kill me, it's just a
game I used to play with my ex-girlfriend. It's a fast, easy way of telling who
you love the most ! My answer to that question is clear to me, but I wasn't
prepared for Mike's extremely melodramatic one ! :
> I would push both of them away from the edge of the cliff. If
> it was pre-ordained that someone needed to die at that moment, I'd sacrifice
> myself.
Isn't he cute, huh? :o)
I wanna thank Jeff for the new photo of Allan at the Catalina ! Some
days ago I showed Gongzilla and Heavy Machinery to a hard rockin' friend of
mine and he was obviously floored by Spider's blowing. He didn't know Allan so
he asked me for a picture. Guess which one I showed him ! My friend couldn't
believe this mature British gentleman with the strange potion in his hand had
played like that ! ;o)
Greetings
Francisco Espinoza
P.S.: Can anybody tell me what the hell is Allan drinking in that pic?????
[ Moderator's note: Beer. :) --JP ]
----------
From: RLeddy4462@aol.com
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 09:34:47 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: No Subject
The first time i saw Tony Williams was at the Bottom Line in NY in
support of The Joy of Flying. What an amazing show ! Tony was so on
and as I sat at the first row of tables in the club, Tony could see how
much my friends and I were digging the show.
Before Tony and his band walked off the stage he walked up to the
front of the stage and handed me his stick. What a thrill for a then
18 year old kid. I always remembered him for it and still proudly have
his stick ( a 5b i believe ). His passing deeply saddened me and I'm
glad that i found out about it here before the media released it.
As I asked my co-workers if they knew about the passing of Tony,
I received the typical blank looks of who? No mind, what can you
expect from an existing musical culture that no longer equates Beck
with Jeff. That is why it is great that we have lists like this so that a
common
bond exists. Thanks for the list and RIP Tony WE'LL MISS YOU.
----------
From: Robert Lynch
Subject: RE:
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 08:25:14 -0700
>
>>...the chambered out body adds
>>resonance that you just can't get out of a solidbody.
>
>Have you found that the chambering make the guitar more susceptible to
>feedback in high-volume situations? I used to play an American Standard
>Strat that had a rather largish pickup cavity (not unlike the AH Ibanez
>cavity) and found that it was far more likely to feed back than any other
>solid-bodies I've played.
Yes, it is more likely to feedback when you are close to your speakers
at higher volumes. I occasionally get a low oooooooooooo-type rumble,
but nothing too vulgar.
>
>>The pickups are a tad anemic, but they have tremendous
>>clarity.
>
>Anemic?? This is interesting and implies that Allan's pickup design
>approach has changed (perhaps due to availability of high-quality,
>high-gain amps?). His namesake Ibanez apparently incorporated a
>super-high output pickup.
The pickups are slightly weaker, and the bridge pickup particularly
doesn't have a lot of high end, which I love. I've had an Ibanez AH-10
for about 6 years now, and the pickup is NOT a high output design. I
think Allan's approach is that high gain pickups tend to muddy the
sound, and he relies a lot on power amp distortion for his tone. I have
tried many of Allan's equipment configs, including a Dual Rectifier head
into a load box (Groove Tubes Speaker Emulator II), and have found that
high output pickups definitely make it harder to get a smooth tone. I am
currently using the Carvin with an old Sundown 100 watt head, and a
Fulltone Fulldrive II. Great tone! In between AH and Eric Johnson, if I
had to label it.
The Carvin Holdsworth model is, for me, the most comfortable guitar I
have ever owned. It only weighs 6 pounds, and the thicker neck brings
out some nice sustain that I have not heard in other guitars, including
my two Steinbergers (GL and GM models). As I said in my last post, I
only hope Allan receives some compensation for each model sold. If
anyone wants more feedback on the Carvin, give me an e-mail.
--Bob
rlynch@genuity.net
----------
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 1997 13:12:49 -0800
From: Joseph Barbarotta
Subject: Catalina show
I was at the early show on Sat. March 2. Amazing!! AH did offer a
tribute to Tony Williams in the form of two Lifetime tunes from the
first album(I need to find my copy so I can remember the titles). Also,
he did two cuts from Road Games as well as a smattering of tunes from
other albums including None Too Soon. We sat right up against the
"stage" in front of the drums. Gary Novak may even be one of the best I
have ever seen and that includes Wackerman, Husband, Williams, Erskine
et al, no disrespect intended.
----------
From: Jeff Preston
Subject: Catching up on some questions posed
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 19:16:33 -0600
>Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 22:48:15 +0100 (MET)
>From: mark van schaick
>Subject: hello & some questions
[...]
>I'd like to ask some questions I have had on my mind for some time now.
>Howcome nobody, including you, knows for sure what group Allan is taking on
>tour? I know about the Dutch dates since they've been published in several
>music magazines and club leaflets, but names of band members aren't
>mentioned. I expect Dave Carpenter on bass, but is Gary Novak confirmed by
>now?
Yes; the band is Dave Carpenter on bass, and Gary Novak on drums.
I put this up on the Web site about the time this mail hit Atavachron,
but it was not entirely certain until then. In fact, the lineup is still not
confirmed for Japan (May).
>And what about Alan Pasqua? Is that just a rumour?
He sat in with the band for a couple of nights at the Catalina, in
Hollywood, CA, but will not be touring with the band.
> Doesn't Holdsworth
>or his manager (I guess that's him as well, right?) issue a press release
>about his forthcoming tour? What better place for it than the site or the
>mailing list?
Allan's manager, Akira Yada, has not been in contact with me this
year, even though he does (or used to) have e-mail connectivity.
The information I *did* get came from Claire Holdsworth, Allan's
wife... this is typically where I get this kind of information. She was
most apologetic about the timing... it seems she has had
difficulties in getting a connection from her ISP, which is becoming
a commonplace occurence everywhere, as more users sign up
for service, and ISP modem pools have fewer free inbound lines.
I really appreciate Claire's efforts in providing the info -- she always
comes through for us. As for a press release, if there was one, I did
not receive it. Akira has my phone, fax and e-mail...
>Then: I have a I.O.U. LP with a red sleeve, that's the Enigma version. Was
>that just a European release?
No, that's commonly found on this side of the pond, as well. I
daresay that's what most people own here, albeit with either the
Enigma or Restless label.
>I thought Alex Masi's album 'Attack Of The Neon Shark' (Metal Blade '89) had
>some interesting playing on it. It's got Allan on Synthaxe on the
>'classical-avantgarde-metal' track 'Toccata', but since his playing is
>barely audible, it's only fair that I have never seen it mentioned in the
>postings.
Actually, I believe the tune Allan appears on is "Cold Sun."
>After that album Masi recorded the at points outrageous 'Vertical
>Invader' (Metal Blade '90). Does anyone know what he did afterwards? Is he
>still playing in California or did he return to his native Italy?
I believe he is still in the U.S.... he and I were exchanging e-mail
correspondence several months ago, after he ran across the
Web site. He said he would try to write up some anecdotes about
Allan and himself, but warned that he might be too busy. It seems
he *was*. :)
[...]
>Most contributors to the mailing list seem to come from the jazz end of
>music. Anyway, nobody elaborates much on Allan's influences on the players
>in hardrock and metal, although there are some obvious Holdsworth-fans in
>these genres. I know through his postings that at least James Murphy (isn't
>that an interesting version of 'Red Alert' he plays on his album,
>'Convergence'?) is a fan of Swedish band Meshuggah and their guitarist,
>Frederik Thorendahl.
I have in the past made note of Allan's considerable influence on
metal guitar, but it seems no one wants to really, truly believe it.
I, myself, am no metal fan -- but I think it's undeniable that Allan's
influence has been felt in this genre as in no other. There are few
stunt guitarists who do NOT list Allan as a major influence. I don't
know if these folks ever "get past" the speed-aspect of Allan's
playing... do they see beyond this, into the exquisite chordal
constructions, and the incomparable melodic compositions? I
dunno. It's tough to generalize about Allan's fans, since they
obviously span the gamut of music listeners.
I *do* have to mention that it is my *personal* belief that Allan
*loves* playing against hard-driving rock -- witness the highly-
inspired solos he turns in on Jeff Watson's cover of "Play That
Funky Music," and "Forest of Feeling" (the latter being what I
would consider a truly pedestrian metal tune, were it not for
Allan's solos), and the entire Tony Williams New Lifetime album,
_Believe It_. This guy can *smoke* in a rock setting.
Jeff
----------
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 08:53:44 -0800 (PST)
From: Roger Billerey
Subject: Gilmour and Des Pres
Hi everyone,
A little note... There seems to be a big quid pro quo over who's playing
on Trilok Gurtu's live album (a great album IMHO).
The guitar player on there is David GILMORE, who plays in fusion band Lost
Tribe (not Last tribe, LOST tribe) who has 2 albums out (pretty good
stuff, actually, with a great bass player whose name I forgot). He played
guitar on a Black Rock Coalition album too.
Nothing to do with Pink Floyd's David GILMOUR (whose name was misspelled
as "Gilmore" on some old PF album, to add to the confusion) whose playing,
outstanding as it is (I love it), is not even remotely linked to fusion.
What would Gilmour do on a Trilok Gurtu album, I wonder?!!?!
Another thing. Josquin DezPres (the first one) was a composer who lived in
the 16th or 17th century. He *is* dead. But Josquin Des Pres is a French
bass player who's lived in LA for about 20 years I believe, is a major
session bassist - producer and has written loads of instructional books
(including the great Bass Fitness). He *is* alive and well. He was
featured in a past issue of Bass Player earlier this year.
Funny name, though. But then again, what about Sebastian Bach, lead singer
for the metal band Skid Row (not Gary Moore's Skid Row, another one)?
Oh well...
I also would like to say that, just like everyone else, I'll be mourning
Tony Williams' passing for a long time. He was definitely one of the cats.
Rog the frog
----------
From: WDCKdarin@aol.com
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 12:44:05 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Tony Williams
Chronicles has just released a 2-cd compilation of Tony Williams 4 early
Lifetime albums, 3 of which have never been on cd. The 4 albums are:
Emergency, Ego, Turn It Over, and The Old Bums Rush. They span the years
'69-'73 and come with a booklet including some rare pics. Its nicely
packaged, although a bit expensive. All tracks were remastered from the
original tapes (the sound quality is very good overall). It's called
Spectrum: The Anthology (Tony Williams Lifetime).
We miss you Tony.
----------
End of Atavachron Digest
Send postings to: atavachron@webster.com
Send administrative requests to: atavachron-request@addimension.com
Web page: http://www.addimension.com/holdsworth/
Sponsored in part by Carvin
http://www.carvin.com/hldswrth.html
The New Atavachron Digest 97/03/13
----------
From: Joerg Langefeld
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 08:08:04 +0100
Subject: TW: The Joy Of Flying
Hi,
Dick Heath asked:
"But why it has never been remastered and re-released on CD"
There is a CD version of this record (Sony A 26500)
- but it's not remastered I think.
Pete
Joerg Peter Langefeld
joerg.langefeld@fernuni-hagen.de
----------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 04:17:13 -0500
From: guillaume
Subject: paris concert, saturday march 8
I'm just coming back from Paris...I saw a great show of AH. He really has a
new sound,clear and fine. This was the fourth concert I saw in 11 years but
the best sound (for the guitar). Perhaps without keys it is easier to have a
best sound for the guitar, on stage... I remember the last parisian concert
(2 years ago) the keyboards was higher than guitar.
I prefer the trio (like the first I saw him in 1987 with Chad Wackerman and
his brother on the bass, in Marseille), it sounds more percussive, Allan's
work on chords is more expressive than what we can hear with keyboard...AND
THE SOUND ON STAGE IS BETTER. I like AH's keyboardists...but if we can see
AH only once every four years.... I want to hear him :-)
No verbal hommage to TW, but they played "Looking Glass". Two complete
improvisations, the first initiated by Dave Carpenter, and the second by
Gary Novak. I'm happy to see Allan playing with this drummer who sounds
"more jazz" ....in fact he swings... (did you remember the grand discussion
about AH music and swing...perhaps it can begin again with this band... :-)
He is very expressive on soli and he found this "madness" which caracterizes
allan's drummers (did you see GH with Allan and with Level 42...it isn't the
same intensity... :-)
The great surprise came from Dave Carpenter... Did you know him before ???
I didn't... In fact this bassist on his six strings bass plays the bass line
and make chords, as a guitarist. I very appreciated him. His soli too.
Perhaps Allan makes his tour without keyboardist for this (He makes
chords)??? I prefered this. Really.
They play Tokyo dreams, and an another piece from raod games...or a
"Believe it" piece...just the time to listen again these records to verifie.
He plays two or three unrealesed tunes... and, I think, no tune of NTS.
After the concert I asked Him if he will wait 4 years or more to come back
in Europ :-), and allan answered me they will come back in a short time to
play the last album...If it is true and if I don't misunderstand allan, it's
a new and important information... (Allan's english speaking is very
difficult to understand for a French, who speaks english like me !!!)
I wore the Atavachron T-Shirt, Allan said me "I've got the same"...I asked
him why he don't participate at the forum...He answered it's our forum, not
his...but if necessary or important he can answer....but he said he hasn't
time to read every digest every times...He appreciate and he is interesting
by it.
The concert was during 90 minutes,as every AH's concert i saw. It's short.
Does he play more in US concert ???
**************see you later, Allan...!!!*******guillaume***********
guillaume.paton@lcc.u-3mrs.fr
----------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 04:50:07 -0500
From: "B.B.M.van de Broek"
Subject: Message from Internet
Hi Folks!
What a surprise! Allan Holdsworth on tour in Europe!
But I was very dissapointed with this cheap small band.
No, Allan, I'm sorry but I hate this kind of line-ups with only
3 persons without any other instrument or keyboard.
Also I didn't like the album "None too soon", because I'm not
a standard-consumer.
Please Allan, make your OWN compositions and for me please play
with Kei Akagi, or Allan Pasqua.
I don't like the "old-father-playing" from Gordon Beck!
Anybody searching for Andrea Marcelli-Silent Will ???
----------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 12:30:04 +0100
From: Rene Janssen
Subject: Report from the MilkyWay , Amsterdam
Hello,
I visited the gig in a crowded "MelkWeg", Amsterdam last night. It was my
first time I saw AH playing live. It was a fantastic experience. I had a
birds-eye view from the second floor rigth above the stage.. They opened
with Looking Glass followed by a beautiful solo by Allan which reminded me
a little bit of another great gitarist : Bill Frisell, due to his clean
sound and frequent use of the volume pedal. I further can only confirm what
Henry Boyle said about the Catalina gigs , alot of old tunes beautifully
restyled in the trio jazz format. Gary burned occasionally and his 20"
Sonor bassdrum punched really. Oh yes , they had to give a second extra
gift due to the chearing and roaring crowd, Allans comment : we have run
out of tunes ! So they improvised a bit.
On my way to The Hague...
Rene Janssen.
-----------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 08:48:22 -0800 (PST)
From: Roger Billerey
Subject: Gilmour again
Hi everyone
I was happy to read the (finally) nice comments about David Gilmour (of
Pink Floyd). At last someone not dissing a "rock" guitar player. I do
agree about the little thing about Clapton. I don't understand how such a
bland guitarist as Clapton can have received such praise over the years
while Gilmour remains so underrated in comparison. His whammy playing does
sound close to Allan's on some cuts but if I remember well he's been
abusing fulcrums for a LONG time (and at that time Allan was playing a
hardtail guitar, wasn't he?).
This list is a lotta fun. Keep it up ;)
Rog the frog
----------
From: RIPPO6@aol.com
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 12:17:17 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: No Subject
Just a bit of info for quite a few letters I've seen in regards to a
gentleman named David Gilmore.The guy you're writing about on the Steve
Coleman (incredibly amazing music) ,Trilok Gurtu and Wayne Shorter recordings
is NOT the gent from Pink Floyd.He's a fairly well known guitarist from
N.Y.C. worth checking out( needless to say the guy has all of most killing
gigs).Another point of interest , if you are in the New York area and are in
need of some very serious music(mostly pretty heavy fusion and world music)
and want to check out some of N.Y's finest,you should definately attend the
March 20th show at CB's Gallery(313 Bowery 212677-0455)featuring 4 fusion
bands starting at 8pm.You will definately enjoy the entire evening(especially
if you are into Holdsworth).Hope to see you there.
For info on other upcoming fusion shows in NYC email me @: RIPPO6@aol.com
----------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 13:50:38 -0800
From: Christopher Hoard
Subject: Subject: Smokin' At Catalinas
Thought I'd weigh in a brief report from witnessing three sets
at Catalinas... (sorry this posted so late -- we had some mail
server problems, and this kept bouncing back...)
Thursday night:
Carpenter, Novak, and AH in trio. I think this was the most
megawarp set I've ever heard AH play. They did an improvisation
piece which AH calls the "e tune" -- but it was completely
different than anything I've heard done on this tune previously
-- kind of had a North African drone vibe to it with a big
crunching bass note repeating -- very Led Zep meets King
Crimson, with Morroccan themes -- AH laid down one of the most
stellar, perfect solos I've ever heard. Afterwards we joked --
"that's why I keep telling you start recording your live album
now -- because that will never happen again!!!" Overall the set
consisted of about half new material, and half familiar from
year's previous (Water On The Brain Pt. 2, Shallow Sea, Funnels,
Looking Glass, Letters of Marque)... There was a very
interesting new piece in which AH switched in a nanosecond
between chords and lead about 3-4 times. Later Dave C. told me
they'd been rehearsing tunes from HHA as well, but AH wasn't
comfortable yet with working them into the set. Anyway, my
prediction: nobody will be disappointed with this power trio.
Dave Carpenter on "WOTB Pt. 2" absolutely blew everybody out of
the room! I'd brought about six first time Holdworth initiates
-- and they were just as impressed with Gary and Dave -- "how
come we've never heard of THAT GUY before?" Gary's speed and
agility was simply incredible -- and for the most part his
playing was tight. He seemed to have the softer dynamics much
more under control, and could play quietly very convincingly.
Jimmy Johnson came out to see the band, and had a great time --
AH as always, apologized for his performance...
Friday night, second set.
This featured Alan Pasqua on acoustic grand for all the tunes,
except for AH's new ballade, "Above and Below." Two Believe It
Tracks were offered as a tribute to Tony, "Proto Cosmos," and
"Wildlife," -- the later being especially beautiful, opened with
a stunning 8 minute solo improv by Pasqua. The band took on a
very different different, more restrained dynamic with Pasqua,
who soloed brilliantly on about half the tunes. There had been
minimal rehearsals -- it was a great pleasure to hear Pasqua
with Holdsworth -- Pasqua's abilities seem to be sharper and
more focused than ever -- it seems after the Europe tour AH is
hoping to work AP into the band as a full-time member. I spoke
with AP after the set, and he's working on recording a new solo
trio album, and indicated that at long last the time seemed to
be right for him to continue working with AH both in the studio
and live. We'll see what transpires -- AH will be touring Japan
after Europe, but it's not certain that Pasqua will be on that
tour. AP also played on Sat. Night -- I didn't get to go
(alas!).
Walking out onto Hollywood Blvd. with AP, DC, and Clare, and
Mark Gleed at 1:30AM was a surreal experience. A homeless
brother kept motioning to Allan. When we left Catalina's he was
waiting. He had to talk to Allan, who was too polite not to
listen, while the rest of stood there shivering in the cold.
"Man -- like I remember when you did that Crimson shit," the guy
said -- he then proceeded to hum out the bass line from "In the
Dead of Night." Before Allan could break away it was, "Man and
Tempest! Tempest!!! Dat shit was baaaaaad!!" The guy
proceeded to rattle off a long list of just about everything AH
recorded. It was both sad, and amazing at the same time.
Needless to say, by the time this band gets around to the rest
of the US -- you'll be in for a severe thrashing...
CH
----------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 02:54:12 -0800
From: Bertrand Deprez
Subject: Re: Gary Novak
Greetings everybody,
I have to agree with Joseph Barbarotta when he says Gary Novak is one of
the best drummers ever. The first time I saw him, I was so impressed
with his speed and style. He also stole the show from Chick Corea that
night and I thought that this guy would fit perfectly in AH's band. The
second time I saw him confirmed that thought. Therefore, I wasn't
surprised to hear that GN is part of AH band. In fact I am very excited
about it and I can't wait to see them live(I couldn't make it to
Catalina). Does GN play other instruments? I noticed on Dave Weckl's CD
GN was listed on one track for Bass and Keybords. Speaking of
Weckl, I saw him and Mike Stern at Yoshi's last week and he is revamping
his style; much more power! Having seen most of the best drummers around
GN will no doubt be one of the best in the future.
I also was sad to hear about Tony Williams's passing.
That's it for today, talk to you next time...Bertrand Deprez
----------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 07:10:59 -0500
From: guillaume
Subject: strange advance
Salut
If you want to find "distance between" by Strange Advance in France it is
possible with the fnac import service. They find me it in GB (label :
president, ref. lcom1094). They didn't find it in germany, and there aren't
any references in US and Holland (what they said). So 2 month later i
received the cd for 140f ($28, it is a normal price in France).
Version fran=E7aise : une petite raret=E9 de la discographie de AH : strange
advance, commandable =E0 prix abordable par le service import de la fnac.
Ce disque n'est pas d'ailleurs le meilleur auquel il a particip=E9...On=
dirait
du Mr mister tr=E8s vari=E9t=E9...
Are there any comments about this record in mail-list archives
(dates??)...because I feel this record...isn't...a "chef d'oeuvre".
a plus , salut***************guillaume*****************************
guillaume.paton@lcc.u-3mrs.fr
----------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 09:45:35 -0600
From: "Daniel J. Reilly"
Subject: Flattery
It's nice to see more discussion on the Holdsworth-like playing of other
musicians. Truth be told, I thought mere mention of AH imitators would send
everyone into a frenzy. Personally, I can't get enough of it. For example, I
enjoy Bill Connors and IMHO believe the direction he went with "Double Up",
"Step It" and "Assembler" was the direction AH was headed with "IOU", but AH
progressed so much more and in various directions. The musicians on those
three are Tom Kennedy on bass and Dave Weckl on drums (Saint Louis natives,
like me) although Weckl gives way to Kim Plainfield on "Double Up". Connors'
music on those three CDs is so blatantly AH copy, it's humorous at times
(Kind of like the first time I heard Eddie Van Halen use the "Road Games"
lick on "Hot for Teacher"). Once you get past the righteousness of dignity
and rip-offs, it is extremely enjoyable. As they say, imitation is the most
sincere form of flattery.
----------
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 13:30:29 -0400
From: "Mark F. Duerr"
Subject: Re:
owner-atavachron@jabular.webster.com wrote:
> On the subject of David Gilmour; his whammy playing is extreamly reminiscent
> of some of Holdsworths'. Listen to "Marooned" from _the Division Bell_ -
> it's almost fusion, an instrumental, brilliant Beck-like playing. It
> shouldn't matter that he doesn't play alot of notes; to me, all of the
> superlatives given to Clapton make me think of Gilmour instead.
I have noticed AH influence in Gilmores playing also. The solo on
"Learning How to Fly" has one whammy part that tipped me off that
Gilmore digs or at least is influenced by AH. I must check out
marooned.
----------
From: Paolo Valladolid
Subject: The Fuze
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 14:52:29 -0800 (PST)
The Fuze sounds perfectly fine to me on the two CDs by Meshell NgedeOcello.
His phrasing is well matched to each song he plays on.
BTW, Meshell is currently my favorite funk bassist. Her grooves are
unreal.
Paolo Valladolid
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----------
From: Steve_Vaughan@ilink.demon.co.uk
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 97 10:14:48 GMT
Subject: STOP PRESS! Gary Husband Trio featuring STEVE TOPPING!
Hello all - boy do I feel like an oaf.
Here's the details. The Gary Husband Trio have been appearing in
London. Steve Topping on guitar and the great Mike Mondesir on bass.
The only forthcoming date I have found is Saturday 15th March at the
Chicken Shed, Chase Side, Southgate, London N14. Phone no. 0181 449
1155 Admission œ6. Opens 7:30, music 8:30-11pm.
Why do I feel like an oaf? I remember Allan's quote from somewhere
about "Gary Husband sitting on his arse in somewhere in London", and I
though at the time, well, actually he's not sitting on his arse 'cos
I've seen his name advertised.
I didn't get excited about Gary Husband gigs because he's actually not
one of my faves. But last night, I went to see British jazz act Paz at
the Bull's Head in Barnes (who were great) and I picked up a leaflet,
noticed the Gary Husband gig, and I could physically feel the donkey's
ears growing out of my head ....
Fact is, I'd LOVE to see Steve Topping (again), and I've seen Mike
Mondesir playing alongside Gary in Billy Cobham's band, and he's
pretty good. I reckon it'd be a fine gig. But I'm not going to be able
to make it. Saturday is England-Wales rugby international day. In the
afternoon I'll be in Cardiff and in the evening I'll be
incomrehensible, so I'll miss it.
I hope someone can get along to the gig and tell us about it - sorry
about the short notice though. If I see any more dates posted I'll let
you know.
Regards,
Steve Vaughan
----------
From: "Martijn"
Subject: Concert in Holland
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 12:58:18 +0100
Hi all,
Wauw!!! I went to Allan monday 10 march. It was great!!! no better than
that.
I never saw him live before and he is really one of the best guitarist in
the world.
15 minutes before the show the place was half full. But a few moment when
Allan went on stage the place was almost sold out. No i'm a big fan of
allan en jazz, but not that much of jazz concerts. I mean they are not very
entertaining. And when someone does a solo, everybody has to clap. But he
it's not a rock act right.
There was no opening act.
But what mostly fasinate me was the fact that allan is a living legiond,
best guitarist and the most shy guy I ever saw. I mean when he was playing
the first song his hands were shaking. Can you believe it!!! he was
nervouse.
He was asking the bassplayer (Dave Carpenter?) which song was next.
I was standing right in front of the podium and Allan was saying"okee, the
tricky one".
Heee, he made the songs, can you believe it. He is also a great human
being.
Can someone tell me why Dave Carpenter is a great bassplayer.
He had to read the music from a sheat, even his solo's!!!!!!
Allan played with his Carvin guitar. He has 4!!! Rocktron Intiliflex. 3
volume pedals and a VG8 roland. And I read that he tought it was a toy!!
He played a mesa/boogie amp and 2 roland speakers.
The sound was masterly!! What a sound control.
See ya,
martijn
----------
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 23:28:24 +0000
From: David Milnes
Subject: from a non guitar-playing Yorkshireman
Having read with great interest the various dialogues going on in this
forum, I reckon it's about time I offered a little something in return.
I've been a fan of Allan's ever since I happily discovered him playing on
Bill Bruford's first two solo albums ("One of a kind" and "Feels Good to
Me") I couldn't believe what I was hearing right from the first track
"Beelzebub"; I can't remember what else I was listening to at that time
(1978-ish) but I felt that I was hearing the electric guitar being played
for the first time- what a sound and what expression! In fact those two
albums featured what I have come to regard as a "dream line-up"- I'm a big
fan of Bruford, Berlin and especially Dave Stewart. In fact, a few months
ago I found myself taking tea with Robin Lumley, who co-produced those two
albums; I got the impression that he found Allan to be the consummate
professional as well as a damn fine player.
Being a resident of Yorkshire, a matter of eighteen miles or so from where
Allan comes from, I always found it frustrating that his local gigs -few
that they are-were so poorly publicised; I usually got to hear of them
after they had been and gone. So imagine the excitement when I actually got
to hear (in good time) about the 1994 "Hard Hat Area" tour. The nearest he
came was a place called Stockton-on-Tees (even further North), so off I
went.
The show was wonderful; the tiny hall was packed, and straight off they
launched into "Protocosmos" (from "Believe It"); Husband was stunning -
dressed only in trainers and shorts he looked as though he meant business.
The rest of the set was just like food and drink to me, superb ensemble
playing, and ample opportunities for Hunt, Husband and Sverrison
(spelling?) to stretch out.
After the gig I managed to get hold of a poster; down at the bottom it said
"Allan Holdsworth Forum Very Active on the Internet". That fact alone
decided me to get online.
So it's disappointing to hear that he is not touring the UK this time (or
is he?), especially as he's taking Gary Novak out with him; I saw him for
the first time playing with Chick Corea in Leeds a couple of years ago -
what a player, and such a small kit...
This is a great forum, paying great respect to a great musician. Nice One!
(By the way, is Road Games available on CD ? Only kidding!!!)
One last thing- does anyone remember Mitch Stein playing with 'New York Jazz' ?
Best wishes from the Land of Wensleydale Cheese,
Dave Milnes
----------
End of Atavachron Digest
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The New Atavachron Digest 97/03/14
----------
From: BobbyZZZ@aol.com
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 01:06:02 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: No Subject
In a message dated 3/14/97 12:55:20 AM, you wrote:
>
>They play Tokyo dreams, and an another piece from raod games...or a
>"Believe it" piece...just the time to listen again these records to verifie.
>He plays two or three unrealesed tunes... and, I think, no tune of NTS.
hi all!
i usually just lurk, but i had to ask........will there EVER be a CD release
of "Road Games" ??? it's my fave album...but my old vinyl copy has been used
up :-)...i just had the pleasure of playing at the Florida Guitar Show, and
Jeff Berlin was there, i asked him about this record....he said he didn't
remember much of the recording, it went by real fast. i'm hoping that it may
actually be released again one day.
also---does anyone know if Allan ever plays or still owns the old Charvel
guitars he used then?
thanks :-)
bobby devito/lvx nova
http://www.sar.usf.edu/~devito
[ Moderator's note: The question about _Road Games_ is answered in the
Frequently Asked Questions file on the Atavachron Web site. As for the
Charvel(s), I doubt he has any now. I know one fellow in Maryland who
has the famed red Charvel... I don't know if Allan had any other than
this one. --JP ]
----------
From: BobbyZZZ@aol.com
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 01:09:06 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: No Subject
In a message dated 3/14/97 12:55:20 AM, you wrote:
>Hi everyone
>I was happy to read the (finally) nice comments about David Gilmour (of
>Pink Floyd). At last someone not dissing a "rock" guitar player
david gilmour is one of the most expressive guitarists to ever pick up the
instrument. he is the yin to holdsworth's yang. the two express a quite
different, yet equally beautiful approach to guitar :-)
bobby devito/lvx nova
----------
From: BobbyZZZ@aol.com
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 01:12:45 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: No Subject
In a message dated 3/14/97 12:55:20 AM, you wrote:
>
>I have noticed AH influence in Gilmores playing also. The solo on
>"Learning How to Fly" has one whammy part that tipped me off that
>Gilmore digs or at least is influenced by AH. I must check out
>marooned.
another guitarist that sounds like he may have influenced gilmour is Terje
Rypdal....if you're not aware of him, he's well worth searching out, most of
his stuff is on ECM. .....sorry to be so verbose after lurking for so long
:-)
bobby devito/lvx nova
http://www.sar.usf.edu/~devito
----------
Date: 14 Mar 97 02:05:40 EST
From: Steve Klein <71162.1656@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Re: Various
I saw Alan in Oklahoma City shortly after the Metal Fatigue sessions were
completed. Lineup consisted of AH, Husband, J. Johnson, and Paul Williams.
I must say that I would prefer to see Alan in a trio setting, I think that keys
tend to occupy too much of the tonal and melodic aspects of a performance which
would otherwise be put to use by Alan.
Death to the Synthaxe, the thing irritated me... Alan extracted some of the
most lush, beautiful string passages from little more than a volume pedal and 3
racks of harmonizers when I saw him, but the sound was somehow more suited to
his playing (analogue vs. digital? heck, I don't know).
I get the impression that they'll be selling ice cream in Hell before AH ever
does a gig in my area (Dallas) again, or before Road Games is available on CD.
I recently went hunting for a used copy and stumbled across a copy of IOU (mine
is black with gold lettering and the label is beige with the catalog number
"AH-100" on it), paid $25 for it.
And, to assure myself of a REALLY good flaming, as long as we have the right to
mention great guitarists who are not Alan Holdsworth I will humbly submit the
name Steve Khan. I love this guy, check out "Casa Loco."
OK let me have it.
Back into Lurk Mode
Steve Klein
----------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 08:23:54 -0800
From: kg_walker@pnl.gov (Kevin G. Walker)
Subject: Portland/Seattle gigs
Hi all,
I already asked this question once and got no reply. Is AH planning to play
anywhere in the north west like Portland or Seattle during his current tour?
--
Kevin G. Walker
EMAIL: kg_walker@pnl.gov
VOICE: (509) 375-6864
FAX: (509) 375-3641
"Whatever it does, it's doing it now"
- Marge Simpson
[ Moderator's note: The reason there was no reply is because we have formed
a secret cabal, whose aim is to conspire to keep Kevin G. Walker from
seeing Allan Holdsworth perform. But seriously... Claire Holdsworth
has given me all the dates which are confirmed. All of those are on the
Web site. All future dates will be on the Web site as they are confirmed.
Please, *everyone*: restraint! :) --JP ]
----------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 08:33:02 -0600
From: Tony Hubert
Subject: Bill Connors, IOU
>For example, I
>enjoy Bill Connors and IMHO believe the direction he went with "Double Up",
>"Step It" and "Assembler" was the direction AH was headed with "IOU", but AH
>progressed so much more and in various directions.
I think this is backwards. Actually Allan was doing IOU in the early
eighties, whereas Connor's Double Up was released, I believe, around
1985-86. In fact when I first listened to Double Up in 1986, I thought at
first it to be a "poor man's IOU." It definitely reflected Holdsworth's
influence on Connors. However, Double Up is a tasty album on it's own, and I
like Connors alot.
Before I first saw Holdsworth live in 1982, all I'd heard is his work with
Jean Luc Ponty and Tony Williams. I hadn't heard ANY of the IOU stuff.
Needless to say, the IOU sound and material simply blew me away. The use of
space, haunting chords and rythmic dynamism, wicked solos...Man... After
hearing him, all I wanted to do in my own playing was swelling chords and
fluid solos--the style is very compelling.
----------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 10:36:17 -0600
From: "Mark C. Wood"
Subject:
>Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 04:17:13 -0500
>From: guillaume
>Subject: paris concert, saturday march 8
>I'm happy to see Allan playing with this drummer who
>sounds "more jazz" ....in fact he swings... (did you remember the grand
>discussion about AH music and swing...perhaps it can begin again
>with this band... :-)
Please, no. Some of us didn't find this discussion so "grand". I liked your
comments about the show you saw in Paris.
----------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 15:13:17 -0500
From: Vince_Leonberger@mail.sel.sony.com (Vince Leonberger)
Subject: The Man and HIS Playing
All
I have been an avid AH fan for some 21 years now. Ever since the
Tony Williams Liftetime Believe It album. What I have learned is that
it takes a long time to digest a new Allan Holdsworth recording.
There is so much going on that you would be foolish to make an
assessment of one of his recordings after just a few listenings. I
have finally got to a point where I fully appreciate the Hard Hat Area
album. It is truly an amazing piece of work. I have been listening
to None Too Soon now continously since its release and I am thinking
that this is Allans finest hour. For all of you listeners who gripe
about Allans playing not being at a par with Metal Fatigue, IOU etc..
his playing is definitely at that level again. The music is not the
same, but Allans playing is stunning. I just can't listen to it
enough. I am glad that he is working with new musicians now because I
beleive that that is a natural progression for Allan. Maybe they can
push him even farther with his music. There is no guitarist out there
today that can match Allan Holdsworth. He is a legend within our
time. I am so pleased to have been aware of Allans playing for over
20 years. Beleive me when I say that the name Allan Holdsworth will be
around long after we all are dead and gone. I realize that we are all
a special breed that recognize the genius which is Allan Holdsworth.
It is hard to understand the person that can not appreciate his music
( yet there are many out there). I hope that Allan has all the riches
his heart desires. Most likely Allan doesn't understand how great he
is. Most of the Great artist of the world are not interested in
accolades. They rise above all of that. But Let it be known that we
will carry his torch for him. We will not let his brilliant playing
go without notice. YOU WILL LISTEN WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT. YOU
WILL SHOW RESPECT FOR THIS TALENT ..........Keep on Pushing....
VL
----------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 15:26:33 -0500
From: Vince_Leonberger@mail.sel.sony.com (Vince Leonberger)
Subject: Brew Pub
Allan,
The next time you tour the Washington DC area you have got to check
out the Old Dominion Brew Pub in Ashland Va. Its 25 mile outside of
Washington DC off of route 28 ( next to Redskin park). They have got
Cask conditioned ale that you would most likely enjoy. They also have
a variety of ales and stouts ( try the black and tan, they also have a
mellinium ale which is 11 %). Its the best Virginia has to offer. Old
Dominion is a Micro brewery which has a brewpub attached to it. I know
that this post is not music oriented, but hey, it is Holdsworth
oriented.
VL
----------
From: "Marc Simons"
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 23:58:47 +0100
Hi folks,
Of course I went to AH's concerts in Amsterdam and The Hague. Actually this
was my first chance to see him after listening to his music for over 10
years. He really never is boring to me! My overal opinion is that I enjoyed
the shows a lot! Very exiting, and very much energy sucking away from
yourself while watching these 3 incredible band members make that music!
Yep, it is like working like a horse to understand where all these melodic
and rithm gigs lead to, very exiting. Also, atmosphere on stage was
perfect! the 3 were in good harmony, even when some small mistakes were
made, there was fun. OK, here I give my opinion how I experianced these
musicians during the 2 concerts:
AH: Of course his sound was fantastic. He has a very good dynamic control!
I liked to see his 'serious' face staring to someone in the audience while
doing the greatest melodic structure where I would have to practice humming
it for a year on 1/2 of the speed or so! Incredible! The contact with the
audience is 'good enough' since most of them are focused on him, and there
is not much communication needed to understand what he thinks, wants, etc.
What I hated were these photographers that were flashing in his face whole
the time! Please guys, there are very good films available, with all this
light you do NOT NEED TO flash! I find this very selfish thinking, you
bring people out of concentration this way! The melodic patterns were so
powerful, I wonder when I can see him again.......not another 10 years! I
also agree with Martijn's opinion:
>
>best guitarist and the most shy guy I ever saw. I mean when he was playing
>the first song his hands were shaking. Can you believe it!!! he was
>kindda nervous.
>
Yeah! I also had this idea in Amsterdam. In The Hague he seemed to be more
relaxed. I really like you Allan!
DC: Yeah, this is something special. The first time I saw his bass
(6-string) standing on the stage I thought this is going to be something
very technical without one glimp of feeling. Most bass players with surch a
thick piece of wood are that way (Pattituchi, etc) , I am sorry to say
this, but I have to refer to Rufus Reid: "Have a 'ff' reason for every note
you play!". Overall I loved his playing, exept for the numerous chords he
did. Note that this can also be a missing link in the mixage of the band, I
hope that Gary mean not to let these chords come out too loud, but as a
melodic support for Allan and Gary. Sometimes I experianced as disturbing,
and I had to think of the Jimmy Johnson type of playing that I LOVE: The
finger picking stuff, warmth and best note choice as in the Pastorius era.
The newer songs where much more in balance with DC playing very nice
combinations around Allans soloing.
GN: Oh my...What to say about him...His left arm! It was like it was
flexible! Also I loved his kit, Sonor, very basic -I believe- 6-piece kit
with 20 inch bass drum sounding as dry as I love it. All opinions until now
I can confirm to be right: He really is the one to go along with Allan for
a long time, he is the 'choosen one' born to play with Allan until
eternety. I recognized a lot of Gary Husband style of drumming, but not
that of Vinnie Colaiuta, nor from Tony Williams. I think that GN is
developing his own style along in the coming years, and I am expecting much
of it!
To end my writing I would advice all you atavachroniasts to go to listen to
Tony Williams album "Wilderness" that I found in my local store recently.
It has the '70's feeling! Who is playing you might ask? Of course Tony,
Stanley Clarke (!) Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock and Michael Brecker. When
you're in the record store, listen to track no. 2 'China Town' and track
no.12 'Gambia' I am sure you'll buy it! Yeah, has that loud playing drummer
made something incredible again! (Sticks 5A or so, quite heavy for 'our
kind of music' don't you think?) We all love you Tony, and we will,
forever!!!!
Marcus
**************************************************************
Jabba the Hut says: Oh Shouda!!!!! msimons@IAEhv.nl
----------
From: Jeff Preston
Subject: Tour updates and possibilities / updated archives
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 18:51:09 -0600
Claire Holdsworth has written a couple of times over the
past few days (hopefully not because of my apparent
frustration with Akira's silence regarding the tour a couple
of digests back -- if so, my apologies -- Claire has always
been great about sharing information with us). Here's what
she had to report:
[...]
>Apparently Alan Pasqua is unable to do the dates in Japan, Akira told me
>yesterday. The dates are firm, but it will just be the trios.
[...]
>There is the possibility of a festival in Frankfurt on June 6th, and
>Australia during the summer. Then a return to Europe in the fall. As these
>dates are confirmed I'll let you know.
So, keep watching the "tour dates" page on the Web site for
confirmations, etc. The URL is:
http://www.addimension.com/atav/docs/dates.html
Also noteworthy: I am in the process of updating the archive
section of the Web site (at last!). I'm somewhat hampered by
the fact that some of the digests reside on a hard drive
sitting on a shelf at ADdimension HQ -- independent of a
computer, mind you -- and others are lost altogether (the
sporadic post-Morehead-pre-Webster digests). However,
most of last year and all of this year are now available for
your browsing pleasure. I have it in my head to add search
capabilities to the archives (and perhaps to the entire site)
sometime this year, as I'm entertaining the notion of
moving part of the site to one of ADdimension's NT servers.
This would allow me to take advantage of some of the
nifty features found in Microsoft's IIS 3.0 Web server software
(and it should be noted that I am no fan of Mr. Gates... it's
just that this s/w does some truly incredible things).
And, for those of you who are not reading this... :) I have
also started posting the userIDs of those who have been
recently removed from the digest list, due to bounced mail.
The URL for that page is:
http://www.addimension.com/atav/docs/awol.html
The good news for those who end up removed is that the
archives are now being updated in near-real-time (typically
no more than an hour or so after the mail version is sent
out), so the latest archive file will always be "fresh." :) No
more waiting until the end of the month (or year, as the case
has more-closely been) before the files are updated.
That's all I have for now. See you in the funny papers.
Jeff
----------
End of Atavachron Digest
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The New Atavachron Digest 97/03/16
----------
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 21:58:38 -0800 (PST)
From: Brad Hay
Subject: AH tour in NW USA or Western Canada?
It was some time ago that I had the pleasure of seeing AH perform two sold
out shows in a local downtown pub (The Town Pump), here in Vancouver, BC. I
believe Chad Wackerman, Jimmy Johnson & Billy Childs were backing him up.
That was during the times he was using the Ibanez AH-10 and SynthAxe. What
an incredible experience seeing him and the band live. Like a previous
poster, we were also treated to a totally awesome encore piece that was
completely improv...cool!
Several years before that Allan & band performed 1 or 2 shows at the Soft
Rock Cafe in Vancouver (no longer here). Even though I got in fairly late I
somehow managed to get a seat right next to 'mission control'.
Again, it was Chad on drums (boy did he look young back then), someone I
can't remember on bass and some guy singing (AH will probably hate me for
forgetting who it was). Actually, I think his name was Paul (last name?).
Anyway, that was an incredible lineup. Road Games has just been released so
I rushed out and got a copy.
A bunch of us were ogling his rig and chatting about how one goes about
playing so expressively, all over the neck, at breakneck speed and is able
to play from the heart. At that point, Allan came out from behind and
starting chatting, what a rush.
Anyway, what I really want to know... Is there any possibility that I can
stop "living in the past" and actually look forward to a tour date up here
in Vancouver or Seattle (Seattle is only 2 hours away)? It would sure be
wonderful to see and hear some of the new pieces, his new tone, etc...
Cheers,
Brad (hoping) ;-)
Vancouver, BC
Canada
P.S. Maybe this will interest Allan and company in visting Vancouver again.
There are some excellent small brewers here that are starting to make a name
for themselves (e.g. Granville Island Brewing). Plus the biking is
absolutely the best in Vancouver (e.g. Stanley Park and Blackcomb/Whistler
area). Blackcomb/Whistler Village, the mega ski resort 90 minutes north of
Vancouver, has some of the most scenic (and toughest) biking that I know of.
----------
From: efreedm@hzsbg01.nl.lucent.com
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 97 10:22:26 +0100
Subject: AH in NL (tunes/gear/players)
With the four AH shows in Holland still fresh in my memory... Please pardon
the long post. I'll start w/ that most easily described -- the toys -- and
then talk about the tunes & the band.
Elliot Freedman
-=-
A separate rig for Harness'd Boogie lead guitar:
* Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier amp head
* AH Harness
* TC Electronics ParamEQ/PreAmp
* volume pedal (mono)
* ADA STD-1
* Rocktron Intellifex (probably just 8-vox delays)
* Rocktron Intellifex (probably 2-vox delay + verb)
* Carvin solid state power amp
* 2 Carvin 2-12 cabs
A separate rig for clean-guitar or VG-8:
* 2 Roland 4-10 guitar amps
* volume pedal (stereo), post efx
* Intellifex Ltd Edition (probably for 8-vox delays w/ LFO for chorusing)
* Intellifex (probably for 8-vox longer delays)
* volume pedal (mono), pre efx
* Symmetrics Compressor/Limiter
* VG-8 (mono output used)
* TC Electronics Line Booster pedal
(to bring pickup output up cleanly, perhaps -- when off --
to effectively shut the clean guitar out from the clean
rig's Intellifexs) (the TC booster had a definitely not
std, but nevertheless this time unused XLR output)
Misc gear:
* home-built isolation box (on the floor)
* A/B switch box (on the floor)
* Rocktron Powerstation
* Carvin guitar pre-amp (unless this had inputs on the back for use w/
the clean gtr, I don't think it was used, the front jack wasn't
plugged in in 3 of the shows in NL.)
* Jim Dunlop black nylon (regular shape) picks
(I didn't want to get into gear w/ AH when I spoke to him but he
needed picks in A'dam and so I came to discover what he favours)
Notably absent:
* Mr. Spock doll (though this didn't affect the sound,
at least as far as I could tell)
-=-
* AH Harness vs. Rocktron Juice Extractor
The difference, specifically, according to AH is the load; that his design
has a reactive load (inductance, such as a speaker coil would have) and
Rocktron's is simply a set of power resistors.
-=-
* About composite VG-8/Harness'd Boogie lead sounds
AH often used the VG-8 & Harness'd Boogie in unison for a composite
solo sound and was trying to rig things up so that he could control
the mix of VG-8 & Boogie given to the house instead of being at the
mercy of the sound man for the composite. Currently the Harness'd
Boogie lead sound comes out of the 2 Carvin 2-12 cabs and the VG-8
(along with the clean sound) out of the Roland 4-10 guitar amps.
He mentioned that next time he'd look into using just one rig of
speakers for both set of sounds so as to give the house just 1 stereo
pair to have to mic up (and thus keeping ctrl of the mix himself).
I like the sound of the VG-8 tones for lower on the neck and could have
used less VG-8 when he played up high. There was indeed a big difference
between the composite tone between the stage sound and that coming through
the house mains. Especially in A'dam & The Hague, I found the house mains
often too loud and escaped them to better sound & better sights by moving
right up next to the stage.
-=-
* Tunes
House Of Mirrors
Looking Glass
Funnels
Letters Of Marque
Shallow Seas
Tokyo Dream (GN talked about not having heard this for years and having
simply tried out a groove, a sort of relaxed shuffle)
Material Dream (outro)
Water On The Brain, Part II
improv (over various versions of DC-initiated heavy, heavy bass riffs)
improv (certainly a different "Zone" that w/ other bands)
Proto-Cosmos
Sixteen Men Of Tain (new)
?? (Texas) (new)
?? (07042) (new)
??? (new) (final encore)
* About older tunes
I was allowed to take in a few of the sound checks and, in Groningen, heard
an incredibly delicate version of "Low Level, High Stakes". It sounded to
my ears tight enough -- especially through the solo section where AH just
soared over a sparse & excellently carved accompaniment (sp?) by DC & GN --
to do in concert. However, AH said that it would perhaps be played later
in the tour. He said furthermore -- and I could certainly appreciate it --
that he'd rather do new tunes. Ultimately, for me, the thrill of new AH
tune-age outweighs the nostalgia of older material; though it was great,
just great to hear "Letters Of Marque" even again this tour.
* About the new AH tunes
The new (and sometimes opening) tune "The Sixteen Men of Tain" used the VG-8
to add hex-pitch-shifted notes to each string. Specifically, octaves were
added to the two low strings, and fifths to the higher strings.
Another new tune (working title "Texas"?)... perhaps the workin title comes
from the almost-longing-country-ballad-torch-song harmonies & mood provided
by some surprisingly standardly voiced F#7add4 chords. If so, it was very
cool to hear AH make these harmonies his own.
Another new tune (1st encore and working title "(07042)?"... When I heard
it the first night I had to think of Bill Connors compositions -- in the
tune's use in the verse of percussive chordal shots, a stronger backbeat,
some chordal movements within a single scale, and solo-voice blasts that
then return to the verse. However, when the solo kicked in, and when AH
harmonies, progressions, & forms really start happening the tune really took
off for me. It seems that out of the new tunes he's been playing this one
the longest and as a result is incredibly fluent playing through the changes.
* About the group
Dave Carpenter, for me, did his coolest chordal comping in "Tokyo Dream"
(in The Hague, he did his own lovely version of that Jeff Berlin descending
chordal riff) and "Looking Glass". His sense of adventure thru the tunes was
great; for example, digging in w/ GN to turn the E-pedal section of "Letters
Of Marque" from atmostpheric to 16-note bass staccato(?) groove and in
"Shallow Seas" sometimes doing power chord versions of the main theme.
Ultimately making the tunes his own -- in real-time, on the fly, and
fearlessly!
Gary Novak did one of the new tunes w/ brushes -- fantastic! I could hear
a whole set of AH tunes played more delicately w/ brushes. Despite having
done but ~10 gigs he didn't use charts and played over the phrases AH designs
instead of playing the tunes bar-for-bar. For me, as a result, he achieved
the sort of highly-integrated-with-the-tunes playing that Gary Husband has
when he plays w/ Allan and that I sometimes miss with Wackerman (despite CW's
kinetic energy!).
-=-
Elliot Freedman
Regentesselaan 160i
2562 EG The Hague
The Netherlands
email efg@vcn.bc.ca
tel +31 70 3656263
-=-
----------
Date: 15 Mar 97 10:51:06 EST
From: Douglas Kent <73567.1414@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Message from Internet
"I get the impression that they'll be selling ice cream in Hell before AH ever
does a gig in my area (Dallas) again, or before Road Games is available on CD.
I recently went hunting for a used copy and stumbled across a copy of IOU
(mine is black with gold lettering and the label is beige with the catalog
number "AH-100" on it), paid $25 for it."
You can say that again - I saw AH back at the Bottom Line with Jeff Berlin,
Chad Wackerman and Paul Williams before Road Games was relesed...now that I'm
stuck here in Dallas I doubt I'll ever see him play again.
That IOU is the LP version, right? That's the old independent one - my
brother and I bought it (I think an imported version) as soon as we saw it
all those years ago.
----------
From: "Leslie Miller"
Subject: Allan "Hooey "
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 14:15:56 -0600
Hello All Holdsworthians!
My! The digest have been becoming more frequent! I like it :)! Jeff,
keep up the great work! I have been sick and not able to do much or sit up
for long, so the letters were welcomed!
I would like to paticulary comment to Jeff's remark of some people not
getting past the "speed" of Allan Holdsworth.It bought a comment that was
made to me once. I decided to pass the music of Allan
Holdsworth to someone who had not heard him before. The guy sat there,
listened for awhile then said "there is more to music than speed..." and
left it at that. He was one who definatly could not get past the speed
factor. Yes, Allan has speed, but there are few who can do that and have
such a definate direction. Some speed players "throw" speed in their songs
and it comes off as a "ta-da! Look what I did!" thing. (So What!) Allan has
speed but each note played is clear and has a purpose and is used with
restraint to complement the melody and chord sequences. Very few can pull
speed off that effectivly and eliquently.It also takes a certain ear to
hear that. (Which most here seem to have or they would not be writing to
this site!) But they say people do hear and see differently (Sigh!)
Also the comment to what Allan was drinking in the new photo on the
site...Yes it's beer...Still Coors?...
I also read about the story of Allan stopping to hear what a homeless
man was saying about him after insisting he wanted to speak to him. I got
to thinking that Allan did this not only because he seems to be that kind
of person, but he probably could relate to him in a way. From what I read
about him, there was a period in the 1970's (early) when Allan was in
America without any money. He probably knows what it is like to be down and
out also.Plus what do you bet the homless man had been standing outside
listening to Allan play.
Sounds like all of the concerts are going great. Say Jeff...Have you
been able to see any of them? If so how about you giving your first hand
review! Wish I could of seen Allan in Rome,having lived there for three
years.Well, I must go before this gets way too long. But before I leave I
have one last thing to say... HEY ALLAN WHEN YOU DO A COMPLETE U. S.
TOUR PLEASE COME SOMEWHERE CLOSETO TEXAS SOMETIME! (How's that
for being obnoxious!) Oh, speaking of Texas...any Texas fans out there?
Speak up
and be counted!
Leslie
----------
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 20:44:46 -0800
From: Francisco Pablo Espinoza Estrada
Subject: GO SPIDER, GO !!
Fellow tarantuloids:
> Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 04:50:07 -0500
> From: "B.B.M.van de Broek"
> Subject: Message from Internet
>
> But I was very dissapointed with this cheap small band.
> No, Allan, I'm sorry but I hate this kind of line-ups with only
> 3 persons without any other instrument or keyboard.
Well, I guess Allan will have to get Letterman's Band ! Those guys are
expensive !
Perhaps then he could work 'Layla' into the set...
> Also I didn't like the album "None too soon", because I'm not
> a standard-consumer.
I'm not a standard consumer either, and I loved it ! So what ?
> Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 12:30:04 +0100
> From: Rene Janssen
> Subject: Report from the MilkyWay , Amsterdam
>
> They opened
> with Looking Glass followed by a beautiful solo by Allan which reminded me
> a little bit of another great gitarist : Bill Frisell, due to his clean
> sound and frequent use of the volume pedal.
Holdsworth, Frisell and Sco ! That's the holy trinity ! I think that no
musician approaches the greatness of Monk's spirit as closely as Bill. It's
amazing how emotional and interesting he can be. He doesn't waste a single note !
His tone is unique ! I would ADORE to hear a collaboration between Allan and Bill
!
> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 09:45:35 -0600
> From: "Daniel J. Reilly"
> Subject: Flattery
>
> Connors'
> music on those three CDs is so blatantly AH copy, it's humorous at times
> (Kind of like the first time I heard Eddie Van Halen use the "Road Games"
> lick on "Hot for Teacher").
Eddie's old playing is full of references to Allan's. My favorite EVH
Holdsworth impersonation is the outro solo in 1984's 'Drop Dead Legs'. That one
is hot ! I also read an old interview where Eddie said that Dave Lee Roth told
him 'Pretend You're Allan Holdsworth', when recording the solo to 'On Fire' (Van
Halen I). Ol' Dave gives some good advice when it comes to improvising !
> From: Steve_Vaughan@ilink.demon.co.uk
> Date: Thu, 13 Mar 97 10:14:48 GMT
> Subject: STOP PRESS! Gary Husband Trio featuring STEVE TOPPING!
>
> Here's the details. The Gary Husband Trio have been appearing in
> London. Steve Topping on guitar and the great Mike Mondesir on bass.
Gary and Steve together ! You bloody lucky English bastards ! :o)
Does anybody own Nucleus' 'Belladonna' here? I'm really curious about
that one ! I would love a description of this record ! Is it worth searching for
? Same with 'Soma'.
Saludos
Francisco Espinoza (franaesp@entelchile.net)
----------
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 21:12:04 -0500 (EST)
From: WMP273@aol.com
Subject: Guitarists who are not Holdsworth
I have only been receiving this newsletter for a few months. In the
"guitarisits who are not AH" category, has anyone seen, heard or cares to
comment on Nguyen Le? I saw him in Paris two summers ago and was blown away.
He is definitely AH influenced, but also brings in some Hendrix, funky Miles
and his native southeast asian overtones, plus cassis and berry notes with a
strong oak finish.
His catalog is not widely available in the States.
----------
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 97 15:45:39 EST
From: "Mark Jordan"
Subject: Digest stuff.
Hi all
This is my first submission to the digest.
Just a little about Road Games. Maybe if everybody sends an Email to
Warner Brothers they might get the idea. I sent them an email (address
can be obtained off their page) to ask about the release of Road Games
on CD and they said that they have a policy of releasing older
material on CD and that they will get around to this album eventually.
I don't know if that is believable but maybe if all the Holdsworth
fans on the Net send them, mail they may realise that they will
actually be able to make some money (and that is really the only thing
that Rec Comp's are into).
Re Bill Connors. I bought Step It because I'd heard that he sounded a
lot like Allan. I'd have to say "Yep he does" BUT, the things that is
missing is the emotional content, fire and tunes. So imho it's sort of
like Carob versus Chocolate. Sort of the same but I know where I'll
spend my pocket money.
Re Tour Dates. If Allan, Clare or even Chris as you seem to be
connected read this then maybe you could attach some Australian dates
to the end of your tour. It's been a while since you've been here now
and this new band seems to be really good from what I'm reading on
Atavachron.
Re Guitarists. I assume there are a lot of fellow guitarists out
there. Well I found a great package to help with working out those
impossible AH solos. Its called CoolEdit. It's shareware and can
easily found downloaded from the net. It allows you to make wav files
from CD and the manipulat the files. One of the many manipulations you
can do is slow the speed of the WAV whilst still maintaining pitch.
Also does anybody out there have any AH midi files? I'd be really
interested.
Regards
Mark Jordan
MJORDAN@AWB.COM.AU
----------
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From: Ola Strandberg
Subject: Fasching gig...
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 08:25:56 +0100
Man...
I flew home to Uppsala from San Fransisco and arrived around lunch on =
the day of the Fasching gig and was just too tired to make it... I even =
had tickets...
I'll regret it for the rest of my life, but hearing some stories about =
it would maybe make it better (or worse)
--
Ola Strandberg, M.Sc. Product Manager Workflow
PharmaSoft AB, Box 1237, S-754 51 Uppsala, Sweden
http://www.pharmasoft.se/
Tel: +46 18 185459 Fax: +46 18 109200
----------
Subject: Yay!
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 09:59:04 +0200 (EET)
From: Atro.Tossavainen@Helsinki.FI
I'd like to thank all who gave pointers for the Fasching Jazzclub in
Stockholm, where AH played on Saturday, 3/15, particularly Olof
Strandberg and Henrik Lundberg. The gig was a blast! Where have these
guys Dave Carpenter and Gary Novak played before? And I even got my
newbought NTS signed :-) by an ever-so-embarrassed AH... there were
at least five other 20-or-something guitarists queuing up to get their
CD leaflets signed. It's a terrible life. :-) Now I'm just hoping
there will come a time when AH's ventures extend to the other shore
of the Baltic Sea so I won't have to bankrupt myself again...
--
Atro Tossavainen E-mail: Atro.Tossavainen@helsinki.fi
http://www.helsinki.fi/~atossava/
----------
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 08:54:29 -0800
From: tduggan@ttsd.k12.or.us (Tom Duggan)
Subject: AH Tour to NW
This is my first posting after "lurking" for several weeks. I just thought
I'd commiserate with others who are tour-deprived. I was fortunate enough
to see AH twice here in Portland (7-10-86 at Key Largo and 2-12-92 at
Melody Ballroom).
The first show was in support of Atavachron--what a blast. AH did two
shows that night (with Childs, Johnson, Wackerman). I caught the second
one, and wasn't disappointed. It was a great evening, and sleep was not an
option even though the show got over at about 2 AM.
The second show was tough to watch because it was obvious AH was completely
frustrated with his rack and the sound mix in general. I went backstage
after his last song (pretty weird no one stopped me) to see him being
congratulated by some of the local people. AH had a pained look on his
face as he muttered, "thank you," of course always the humble one. Knowing
he hates to hear stuff like that, I asked as I shook his hand and
introduced myself, "What the hell is wrong with your rack?"
I guess he appreciated the fact that I noticed, because he said "It's the
worst--it's like it's got a dead battery or something." He was upset with
the mix as well. He seemed to take solace after I told him that the mix
evened out toward the back of the hall. Someone asked if he was going to
do an encore (people were cheering quite loudly), and AH cracked me up when
he rolled his eyes and said, "What's the point, really?." Dutifully, he
took out his frustrations by ripping out some really ferocious playing on
two encores.
I went backstage again after the show (being careful not to say anything
remotely complimentary, of course), and stood around as he was talking with
some people about his equipment failures, still obviously upset. As he
left, I thanked him for coming and said, "Hey Allan, no worries, OK?
People were happy just to see you here again. Please don't wait five years
to come back to town." Allan gave me a nod (I think I was the only person
who didn't agitate him with comments like "brilliant,Allan" etc.), then
said, "After a gig like that, I'd better never come back."
Then he went out into the rainy night. I thought he might be kidding, but
after five years....maybe he was serious. I hope not. I hope that the
idiot who kept yelling "UK,UK, In the Dead of Night" in between tunes (like
AH would really play any of those songs) didn't poison him on Portland. AH
did melt that fool with a pretty sour face after one of the outbursts, and
I hope he realizes that most everyone else there was a little smarter than
that.
Sorry to be so lengthy. Just want to see the man play again sometime.
----------
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 09:45:49 -0700
From: Chris Manuel
Subject: Dave Carpenter
wrote:
"Can someone tell me why Dave Carpenter is a great bassplayer.
He had to read the music from a sheat, even his solo's!!!!!!"
Listen with your ears, not your eyes next time.
----------
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 14:56:10 -0800
From: Scott Steele
Subject: Quid pro quo
From: Chibass@ix.netcom.com
>Jaco, Anthony Jackson( I play bass :-))
My favorite Anthony Jackson record is Steve Khan's Eyewitness. I'd like to know
who else on the Holdsworth list likes AJ and on which CDs.
From: RLeddy4462@aol.com
>The first time i saw Tony Williams was at the Bottom Line in NY in
support of The Joy of Flying. What an amazing show !
You probably saw Tom Grant on keyboards and Todd Carver on guitar, both from
Portland OR. They have regaled us with Tony stories for the last 20 years. We
keep asking for the same stories over and over again, and they always oblige.
Jeff Preston (thanks for all your hard work sir) sez:
>I *do* have to mention that it is my *personal* belief that Allan
*loves* playing against hard-driving rock -- witness the highly-
inspired solos he turns in on Jeff Watson's cover of "Play That
Funky Music," and "Forest of Feeling" (the latter being what I
would consider a truly pedestrian metal tune, were it not for
Allan's solos), and the entire Tony Williams New Lifetime album,
_Believe It_. This guy can *smoke* in a rock setting.
I loved None Too Soon, then I heard the Johansson brothers CD, aptly named
"Heavy Machinery". I am glad we have both, because it's great to hear Allan
from both sides of the spectrum.
From: Roger Billerey
>Hi everyone, A little note... There seems to be a big quid pro quo over who's
playing on Trilok Gurtu's live album (a great album IMHO).
Quid pro quo, ha ha ho ho and hee hee. - S.
scottst@ohsu.edu
----------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 15:47:31 +0000
From: alejandro martin
Subject: Miscellaneous
ok, a quick post on a couple of things while the boss is not around :)
1- The amsterdam gig, Dave Carpenter, etc.
I agree on most of the views people have aired in this forum. Dave Carpenter
is, no doubt, a first-class bass player and a perfect complement for Allan in
this trio setting. My only complaint about the gig: I wish the guy at the
mixing board had tweaked things to give him more gain at mid-range
frequencies: at some points -judging solely from my eyes- there were
obviously very interesting things going on between Dave and Allan which I was
unable to pick up.
On the other hand -and maybe this is fuel for the flames- FOR ME, Gary Novak
didn't do it. I mean, I felt him kind of 'flat' (i.e., narrow dynamics); he
didn't stood out the way DC did -mind you, without getting in the way of the
music. I've seen drummers in Cuba JUST supporting a soloist, doing so with
such a taste and on the same time, such a fire...Jose Luis Barreto (Gonzalo
Rubalcaba's ensemble) comes right up to my mind. Then again, probably this
isn't a fair asessment -I was unable to get my eyes off Allan and Dave
throughout the night!! :-P
>Can someone tell me why Dave Carpenter is a great bassplayer.He had to
>read the music from a sheat, even his solo's!!!!!!
He definitely wasn't reading it note by note! (being 3 feet away from the
sheets, on a dimmed stage...?Nyaah!) Did you ever see him turning a page?
A lot of people use it just as a rough guide so as not to step out of
what they intend to 'say'...which means maybe he wasn't totally familiar
with the music...hmmm...which also leads you to conclude that maybe he's
even more skilled as a musician than you might think of first!:))
2-Not having any technical knowledge of the way this kind of music is
recorded, there's something that has bothered me for quite some time and I
suspect this is the place to ask: In several of Allan's recorded pieces
(e.g., Devil take the Hindmost) there is a very tight interplay between the
rythm section and the soloist -Chad fires up in the right spots, JJ answers a
phrase AH just finished, you get the ominous feeling that SOMETHING is going
to happen and right away, Allan bursts in one of his incredible runs...etc.
That kind of stuff. This strikes me as something very difficult to achieve
if each player was to record separately his part, given the improvisational
-does this word exist?- nature of what they sometimes do.
SO, do they record this things on a 'live studio' kind of setting or do they
previously agree on a more or less defined structure over which each one
'paints' a layer...? of course, not only Allan makes me wonder about this!
Cheers,
alejandro
(the only cuban subscriber to Atavachron?)
Alejandro Martin
Dept. Biochemistry,
Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands
alejandro.martin@fad.bc.wau.nl
----------
Subject: Harness/Juice Extractor
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 97 12:49:22 -0000
From: Jonathan Donald
I thought it might be fun to try building such a unit.
Has anyone on the list done this?
Does anyone know of any plans/schematics?
Any tips or suggestions would be most welcome.
Thanks,
Jonathan
----------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 09:57:32 -0800
From: kg_walker@pnl.gov (Kevin G. Walker)
On Mar 14, 9:19pm, owner-atavachron@jabular.webster.com wrote:
> Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 08:23:54 -0800
> From: kg_walker@pnl.gov (Kevin G. Walker)
> Subject: Portland/Seattle gigs
>
> Hi all,
> I already asked this question once and got no reply. Is AH planning to play
> anywhere in the north west like Portland or Seattle during his current tour?
>
> Kevin G. Walker
>
> [ Moderator's note: The reason there was no reply is because we have formed
> a secret cabal, whose aim is to conspire to keep Kevin G. Walker from
> seeing Allan Holdsworth perform. But seriously... Claire Holdsworth
> has given me all the dates which are confirmed. All of those are on the
> Web site. All future dates will be on the Web site as they are confirmed.
> Please, *everyone*: restraint! :) --JP ]
>
A conspirasy huh? Actually I've seen AH twice in San Diego, CA and once in
Boston, MA. It's been about 10 years. I live in Richland, WA (~3 hours from
Portland and Seattle). It's a rather small town. Out here they go Allan who?
When I asked a local record store about None Too Soon, they replied "maybe
it's out of print." Anyway, what should I expect from a record store that
thinks Kenny G is jazz (or even music)?
--
Kevin G. Walker
EMAIL: kg_walker@pnl.gov
VOICE: (509) 375-6864
FAX: (509) 375-3641
"Whatever it does, it's doing it now"
- Marge Simpson
----------
From: esills@finsun.mis.semi.harris.com (Eric Sills)
Subject: Just For The Curious
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 13:38:20 -0500 (EST)
I picked up the book/CD companion package to the AH instructional video last
weekend in a local music store. As a drummer, it was great to see some of
the time signatures and rhythms written out.
On the CD are complete versions of the tunes "Proto-Cosmos", "Looking
Glass", "The Things You See", and "Zone". There is also a solo guitar version
of "House Of Mirrors". I'm not sure if these are the same versions as the
video, which I don't yet own, but the players are AH, SH, CW, and SS, so I
imagine they are. IMHO, the version of "Looking Glass" on the CD is
particularly outstanding - CW's DW's (does that rhyme?) sound FEROCIOUS!
Sort of a mini-live-Allan you can listen to in the car.
----------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 14:13:31 -0500
From: Vince_Leonberger@mail.sel.sony.com (Vince Leonberger)
Subject: 6 string Bass playing
In response to the statement below.
The first time I saw his bass (6-string) standing on the stage I
thought this is going to be something very technical without one glimp
of feeling. Most bass players with surch a thick piece of wood are
that way (Pattituchi, etc)
Pattituchi, no feeling? you should be ashamed of yourself!
VL
----------
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 21:36:50 +0400
From: Bert Wilmaers
Subject: Holdsworth and legato technique
Hello Holdsworth fans,
I've read several interviews in which AH talks about his legato
technique. It appears he uses "hammer-ons" instead of "pull-offs"
when moving down on a string. Brett Garsed said the same thing on his
instructional video "Rock Fusion".
Is there anybody out there who uses the same technique or has any
comments on this subject?
Exercises and practice routines on the "AH legato technique" or legato
playing in general are always welcome.
Greetings,
Bert Wilmaers (bert.wilmaers@skynet.be)
----------
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 19:54:52 +0100
From: Rene Janssen
Subject: AH win95 theme
Ive made a win95 desktop Allan Holdsworth theme to make windows a bit more
bareable as a true linux-geek ;) Its basically a ripped Startrek theme
(original) with a changed soundscheme and new wallpaper. When you empty the
recycle-bin you will hear the jazzfan from wardenclyffe. If you start a new
program you will hear the bottle of Coors being opened.. and if win95
begins to beg you will hear Claire knocking on a door "hello ?". Some other
sampled AH sounds in audiophile quality are included too.
YOu will have to tweak the paths settings in the theme file otherwise it
wont work. I did it the fast and dirty way..
You can obtain it from http://www.via.nl/users/rene/ahtheme.zip , thou
shall be warned that its 1.9Mb! Rip it , change it , have fun with it.
Rene.
----------
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 14:04:07 -0500
From: chip@csra.net (Chip the Extreamly Single of Known Space)
Subject: Most Unjaded Man in the Biz
>A bunch of us were ogling his rig and chatting about how one goes about
>playing so expressively, all over the neck, at breakneck speed and is able
>to play from the heart. At that point, Allan came out from behind and
>starting chatting, what a rush.
I would like to note that every time I've seen him perform, I'm ALWAYS
struck at how unaffected he is about the "performance", in that he doesn't
apparently give a rip about paying attention to the "show biz" aspect of the
"show". For instance: the first time I saw him play, he went on very late -
about an hour and a half late. Everyone by this time had started gabbing to
each other about one music thing or another (quite interesting, actually...
people that find themselves at a Holdsworth show probably all have alot in
common, in more ways than just Holdsworth)....
Anyhow, the little group I brought with me, plus a few others, were talking
about something silly... and I look up at the stage and say "hey... isn't
that Holdsworth????"
He was just standing on the stage with a beer, kind of looking around...
Everyone looked sort of befuddled..... after all - it couldn't be him,
you're not supposed to just walk out on stage before you play! But it
was... he sort of checked his gear out for a bit, said hello to some people,
finally walked back....
Which was VERY interesting - I thought "he obviously cares NOTHING for the
"pomp and circumstance" of playing music live - this is a good thing.
The next time I saw him, same thing... came out, walked around a bit... said
hello to people... during that show, something happend to the Roland volume
pedal he uses, and casually made a comment about it over the mic to everyone
- kind of like "I know most of you are musicians....". Totally unpretentious.
Another time, I'm standing there, doing the standard "what's he playing
through tonight "check"", and I notice people scrambling around... must
have been something wrong with a monitor... then I notice he's fooling with
one, checking it out, maybe fixing it.
Looked like he had the horn pulled out, maybe checking the leads to the driver.
He later did the usual walk around...... in fact, one guy goes "that's not
him...", probably not beleiving "Allan Holdsworth, International music
artist", would just walk around in front of the audience like that.
Which brings me to the subject of hands shaking... I distinctly noticed
this at that show, at the beginning. My guess is that he does have a bit of
stage fright, but his desire to do music forces him to overcome it .
Perhaps he likes just walking around before the show to "defuse" the
tenseness of the situation; it's certainly more tense when you have to walk
out from backstage, having not seen the crowd than to have to walk through
it to get to the stage, for instance. It's quite ironic, he has nothing to
worry about, certainly.
Either way, it's refreshing to see someone not worry about coming across in
the "standard" way, and..
I just thought of something... I wonder if the guys in Phish would let him
open for them, or if he could get on the HORDE tour, maybe get some exposure
he wouldn't normally get? Hmm... A stray thought.
Anyhow.... it's neat to see someone make the *musical* performance the
focus, and not the "show".
>Dave Carpenter, for me, did his coolest chordal comping in "Tokyo Dream"
Am I to understand that he is not only just comping, but doubling Allan
using the same voicings on six-string bass, on the set parts?
>"Shallow Seas" sometimes doing power chord versions of the main theme.
>Ultimately making the tunes his own -- in real-time, on the fly, and
>fearlessly!
This sounds great..... wish they would come around the South East U.S.... :-(
>Gary Novak did one of the new tunes w/ brushes -- fantastic! I could hear
>a whole set of AH tunes played more delicately w/ brushes. Despite having
>done but ~10 gigs he didn't use charts and played over the phrases AH designs
Man, this sounds too cool! Brushes.. neat.... When I saw him wih Coliauta,
he pretty much seemlessly followed the pulse AND syncopated with
Holdsworth's part. I think this is where the "jazz" part comes in for the
drummers in Holdsworth's ensembles - having that fluid, almost freetime
groove, trading accents with the guitar parts - which can also be mutable.
It's something you hear in *some* modern jazz groups, but I think
Holdsworth's set ups do it best.
>the sort of highly-integrated-with-the-tunes playing that Gary Husband has
>when he plays w/ Allan and that I sometimes miss with Wackerman (despite CW's
I think Coliauta on _Secrets_ does it the best, albeit more "conventional"
than Husband. The drumming on _Secrets_ is just... man... Trying to get
that sort of thing to happen is so tricky, walking the line of *trying* to
be "free/across the bar" and keeping things coherent, while also trying to
maintain a musically thematic "curve"...(if any of that makes sense...)...
Then trying to get a bass player to understand that as well.. so that things
don't get too messy, but are still going places, while not becoming
extravagant, and (I'll shut up now, my personal musically frustrated
situation is showing).
Yeah. Sounds like an interesting ensemble.... Too bad it looks like
Holdsworth will never get my way again.... I can only hope he gets a wild
notion to release a live cd, I'm sure it would be killing (if he could get
over it's lack of perfection..)
]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] Chip McDonald - chip@csra.net [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[
]]]]]]]]] "Try to be reasonable whenever possible" [[[[[[[[[[[
]]I have a web page @: www.csra.net/chip/default.htm[[
]]] NEW on my page.. Mp3 sound files of woolly improv guitar [[[
]]]HoldsworthFloydKatek.d.SarahninEnyaQueenHendrixMcCartney[[[
NivenWGibsonChomskyLarsonRandPythonCleeseR.ScottKubrickGMarx
]]]]] Musician, voracious reader, overly contemplative thinker. [[[[[[[[
]]]] Hep hep! I'm in Purgatory! / Severly, painfully single [[[[[[
----------
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Web page: http://www.addimension.com/holdsworth/
Sponsored in part by Alchemy Records
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The New Atavachron Digest 97/03/23
----------
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 09:00:02 -0800
From: kg_walker@pnl.gov (Kevin G. Walker)
> Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 14:56:10 -0800
> From: Scott Steele
> Subject: Quid pro quo
>
> From: Chibass@ix.netcom.com
>
> >Jaco, Anthony Jackson( I play bass :-))
>
> My favorite Anthony Jackson record is Steve Khan's Eyewitness. I'd like to
know
> who else on the Holdsworth list likes AJ and on which CDs.
Anthony Jackson is one of my favorite bass players. I saw him a long time ago
with Al DiMeola's band. The only recordings I have with him are the Steve Khan
Eyewitness stuff. He does a lot of very subtle cool stuff. His style is hard
to describe. It would be interesting to hear him with AH, and maybe Jack
Dejonette on drums???
--
Kevin G. Walker
EMAIL: kg_walker@pnl.gov
VOICE: (509) 375-6864
FAX: (509) 375-3641
"Whatever it does, it's doing it now"
- Marge Simpson
----------
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 19:28:14 -0800
From: Joseph Barbarotta
Subject: RLeddy4462
Check out Anthony Jackson on the first Metro record. I'm a bass player
and he always amazes me with his choice of notes- they are totally
unconventional and always right on! Also he is great on Protocol's
"Force Majeure" and Al Dimeola's "Tiramisu".
Re: Dave Carpenter
I've seen him twice now with AH and when I can hear him I like what
he's doing. But both at the NAMM show and the Catalina gigs his midrange
was way lost.
----------
From: Paolo Valladolid
Subject: Pulloffs Vs. Hammer-on
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 20:19:13 -0800 (PST)
In response to how Allan does downward hammer-ons, would you mind reading
a humble reply from a part-time Stick player?
Think of your hammering fingers as little mallets. Practice downward
hammer-ons with a metronome using this "mallets" idea. It's a basic
technique for Stick players.
Paolo Valladolid
---------------------------------------------------------------
|Moderator of Digital Guitar Digest, an Internet mailing list |\
|for Music Technology and Stringed Instruments | \
---------------------------------------------------------------- |
\ finger pvallado@waynesworld.ucsd.edu for more info \ |
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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From: "Mark Long"
Subject: Dave Carpenter
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 23:37:45 -0500
Not to point the discussion away from AH but does anyone know Dave's
background?
I went to high school with a Dave Carpenter who was a monster bass player.
The last I heard he was playing with Maynard Ferguson(quite a few years
ago). Just curious. He would be about 37 years old and was tall, thin and
wore glasses.
Mark
[ Moderator's note: New pictures on the Web site (courtesy of
Amir Akhavan -- thanks, Amir!) might be of help. There's one
photo of Dave at http://www.addimension.com/atav/docs/gigant3.html
... let us know if this is your old school chum, eh? --JP ]
-----------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 01:50:04 -0600 (CST)
From: kessel@ix.netcom.com (Kenny Kessel)
Subject: Re: 6 string Bass playing
Somebody wrote:
>The first time I saw his bass (6-string) standing on the stage I
>thought this is going to be something very technical without one
>glimp of feeling. Most bass players with surch a thick piece of
>wood are that way (Pattituchi, etc)
I wouldn't say this about Patitucci. I might say it about Skuli
Sverrisson [although I wouldn't use the word "glimp" :-) ]. Skuli is
an amazing player technically, but I feel he never integrated himself
that well into Holdsworth's music, at least compared to my hero, Jimmy
Johnson (or Jeff Berlin, my other hero, for that matter). I'm anxious
to hear Carpenter in AH's band (I saw him with Billy Cobham and was
quite impressed).
Kenny K.
----------
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 10:46:23 -0500
From: guillaume
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 10:36:17 -0600
From: "Mark C. Wood"
Subject:
>Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 04:17:13 -0500
>From: guillaume
>Subject: paris concert, saturday march 8
>>I'm happy to see Allan playing with this drummer who
>>sounds "more jazz" ....in fact he swings... (did you remember the grand
>>discussion about AH music and swing...perhaps it can begin again
>>with this band... :-)
>Please, no. Some of us didn't find this discussion so "grand". I liked your
>comments about the show you saw in Paris.
Of course. It was a joke. I never find this discussion interesting and never
participate to it.
In Paris I heard someone saying NTS is going to be nomminated for the Grammy
Awards (best jazz record). Someone has information about it ???
----------
From: WDCKdarin@aol.com
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 13:21:34 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: HORDE tour
Someone wrote:
<< I just thought of something... I wonder if the guys in Phish would let him
open for them, or if he could get on the HORDE tour, maybe get some exposure
he wouldn't normally get? Hmm... A stray thought. >>
I had the same idea last year when King Crimson was part of that. Sounds like
a good idea for exposure.
DG
----------
From: ToddM@LaserMaster.Com
Date: 21 Mar 1997 12:29:45CST6CDT
Subject: Holdsworth Legato Technique
Bert Said:
> I've read several interviews in which AH talks about his legato
> technique. It appears he uses "hammer-ons" instead of "pull-offs"
> when moving down on a string. Brett Garsed said the same thing on his
> instructional video "Rock Fusion".
Well, a combination of hammering the note on, and then LIFTing off (not
pulling). If you PULL instead of LIFT, the note bends slightly, giving an
obnoxious "MEOWING" sound (which I believe Holdsworth notated that
he was annoyed with somewhere).
The idea is to make PICKED, HAMMERED, and LIFTED notes sound equal
in their attack, volume, and decay, so they are as even and smooth as
ice.
I've worked on this technique for about eight years after stumbling
on it accidentally when I was in the middle of a solo and dropped my pick
and since I was in the middle of recording with a band at the time I kept
fretting with my left hand. At the time I thought it was a disaster but
the playback revealed a curious, pseudo-holdsworthian smoothness..
So when I do fast legato runs, I concentrate on the following:
-efficiency of motion [no frantic, panic striken fingers, smooth/controlled].
-hammer onto the note I want to strike, smoothly, lightly, evenly then:
-LIFT OFF [paying close attention to not causing the note to go sharp or flat]
during the LIFT (not pull, pull bends the string).
-and move the adjacent finger to the next note I want to play
-and hammer it.
And so on.
> Is there anybody out there who uses the same technique or has any
> comments on this subject?
There was an excellent article about Holdsworth's technique that Wolf Marshall
wrote for Guitar for the Practicing Musician magazine (the same one with the
Road Games transcription). It gave me all sorts of ideas on how the technique
was done by Allan. I'd been doing it completely differently, although they sounded
(superficially at least) similar. I think this issue dated from 1983 or 1984.
Sad to say, it's out of print but I've kept it because it was really illuminating.
Great picture of Allan with his red charvel too.
> Exercises and practice routines on the "AH legato technique" or legato
> playing in general are always welcome.
Anyone else?
Todd.
Todd Madson
PressMate Product Specialist
LaserMaster Big Color Technical Support
Corporate Web Site: http://www.lasermaster.com/
LaserMaster BBS: (612) TEK-LINE
OTIS Faxback Service: (612) 943-3737
----------
Subject: Vinyl (Road Games!!!!) FS
From: glen.luczko@medspec.com (GLEN LUCZKO)
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 97 16:31:00 -0500
I'm a fan and longtime lurker. In a bid to raise money for an
upcoming move I have sold my turntable and thus I have one copy each of
the following items for sale:
Road Games Vinyl LP -- Very, very good condition -- $15.00
I.O.U. Vinyl LP -- (AH-100 serial #) -- Very, very good cond. -- $10.00
Book: Reaching for the Uncommon Chord -- Very, very good cond. -- $12.00
Am accepting offers for the following vinyl albums:
---------------------------------------------------
Pierre Moerlen's Gong -- Expresso II (Allan on 4 tracks of 6)
UK -- UK (you all know this one)
Allan Holdsworth -- Atavachron
Allan Holdsworth -- Metal Fatigue
Jean-Luc Ponty -- Enigmatic Ocean (with Allan)
Jean-Luc Ponty -- Individual Choice (Allan on 2 tracks)
Bill Connors -- Of Mist And Melting (No Allan, but what the heck!)
All vinyl is in pristine condition. I'm a fan, not a collector, so all
serious offers welcome. Indicated prices are in US funds, shipping not
included. Please e-mail to glen.luczko@medspec.com
later,
Glen Luczko
glen.luczko@medspec.com
----------
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 22:17:52 -0500 (EST)
From: Scott Miller
Subject: Re: your mail
Hey there everyone, I would love to hear some reviews of the AH shows in
Europe. How was Novak and Carpenter? I actually am not that familiar with
Carpenter, how is he and who has he played with? And how was Novak, did he
fit with the somewhat avant-garde situation?
Well I'm at school in New Joisy at William Paterson College and
I'm majoring in jazz performance. I'm looking to become a session musician
(along with a million other people!!). If anyone would like to discuss
music and especially fusion even though it is somewhat out of vogue. I'm
into; Michel Camilo, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Steve Khan, AH, Chick Corea,
Micheal Brecker, French Toast, Bunny Brunel, Patitucci, Weckl, Colaiuta,
Tom Brectlein, Cliff Almond, Tommy Igoe, The New York Voices, Frank Zappa
and others that are more main stream such as Scofield and early bop with
Coltrane, Mingus, Parker and Powell.
I would love to talk to someone along these lines and possibly get
ahold of some interesting info. I hope to hear from someone.
Talk to you soon.
Sincerely,
Scott Miller
----------
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 14:17:50 -0800 (PST)
From: Roger Billerey
Subject: Question...
Hi there
Some time ago, someone talked about a rock-like project featuring Allan,
called Neverwas, which was supposedly in the works. What gives? Please let
me know.
Rog the frog
[ Moderator's note: The last info I have is on the Web site, under
"new and upcoming releases..."; Chris, anything to add...? --JP ]
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Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 00:11:00 -0800
From: Francisco Pablo Espinoza Estrada
Subject: DONOVAN'S FRIED BRAIN
Fellow Spiderheads,
Yesterday, I got February's Guitar Player in the mailbox. The issue
was dedicated to psychedelia, and to my surprise (and disgust), a little list,
compiled by James Rotondi, named 'Jimmy Page and Allan Holdsworth- Donovan's
"Hurdy Gurdy Man", 1968' as one of 'Ten Classic Psychedelic Solos'. But the
lie didn't end there... Because some pages later, Rotondi tells us the full
story:
'Upon his return from India with the Beatles, Donovan set to work on 'Hurdy
Gurdy Man' a song he envisioned with Hendrixian lead work around a solid
acoustic core. He even told his producer Mickie Most, that the song was
written for Hendrix, but Most insisted it be Donovan's own next single. When
Hendrix himself was unavailable for the session, Most brought in session aces
Jimmy Page and Allan Holdsworth to play guitar, John Paul Jones to arrange and
play bass, and on drums, the young skin-pummeler for the band of Joy, John
Bonham. "There were three members of the future Led Zeppelin, which we didn't
know was coming" grins Donovan. "But maybe there was some indication of what
you could do by combining acoustic guitar and power guitar". '
This leads to various conclusions:
- It takes both Jimmy Page and Allan Holdsworth to equal the psychedelic
effect of Jimi.
- Allan was a session ace, just like Tommy Tedesco.
- Allan is the lost member of Led Zeppelin and was replaced by the much sexier
Robert Plant.
- Mickey Most had the best contacts in the music biz. He was the shit !
- Acid can fry your brain. Just ask Donovan.
[ Moderator's note: You are a hoot! :) I like your sense of humor.
But be careful what you say about acid, maaaan... --JP ]
And some questions:
- Is Donovan a member of Atavachron ?
- Was Hendrix jammin' with Ian Carr at the time of the session ?
- Would the Mighty Zep have achieved that level of success with Allan instead
of Plant ?
- Did Allan inhale ?
- Was Allan a secret member of The Three Dog Night too ?
- What the f#$k is a 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' anyway ??
I just sent GP a rectifying letter. I hope they print it !
[ Moderator's note: Let's hope so. This ugly rumor just started up
again on 'rec.music.gdead,' of all places. Folks, it ain't true.
Allan says he wasn't there. He guesses it may have been the late
Ollie Halsell, of Tempest and Patto fame. Page also disavows this
as being his work. If only Guitar Player would read a few FAQ
files before spouting... --JP ]
I was also wondering if Matt Resnicoff is a member of Atavachron.....
He has always showed a lot of praise for Allan's music. In fact, in the
mentioned magazine he recommends 'Heavy Machinery' to the readers, as one of
1996 top guitar albums...
[ Moderator's note: I've actually spoken to Matt on the phone on
at least one occasion... seemed like a nice guy, but definitely
into music on a deeper level than I! I'm not sure if Matt lurks
here or not. Hey Matt, ya out there? :) --JP ]
> Subject: Yay!
> Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 09:59:04 +0200 (EET)
> From: Atro.Tossavainen@Helsinki.FI
>
> --
> Atro Tossavainen E-mail: Atro.Tossavainen@helsinki.fi
> http://www.helsinki.fi/~atossava/
Cool, I'm not the only Slayer fan in Atavachron ! Let your twisted
soul rot in hell, Atro !! AAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH !!!
> From: esills@finsun.mis.semi.harris.com (Eric Sills)
> Subject: Just For The Curious
> Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 13:38:20 -0500 (EST)
>
> I picked up the book/CD companion package to the AH instructional video last
> weekend in a local music store.
> CW's DW's (does that rhyme?) sound FEROCIOUS!
That video and book should have Chad's name on the cover. He's the
only one that got a decent sound. In fact it's more than decent, it's awesome
! I think that Allan's playing in that gig wasn't the best, but Chad was
definitely ON FIRE !!
[ Moderator's note: I hope Claire doesn't show this to Allan,
because he would have a cow -- whole, unboned. Have you guys
*read* the Chris Hoard interview on the Web site? Unless I'm
mistaken, the CD for that book was made from the same multitrack
master as the REH video, and man, did he EVER hate THAT! --JP ]
Saludos !!
Francisco 'Hurdy Gurdy' Espinoza
PS- Great new photos Jeff !!! :O)
[ Moderator's note: You should thank Amir Akhavan and Lee Cohen
for those -- I only slapped 'em on the server. Btw, check out
Lee's great Jazznet site, too... incredible site design (though
you will want a fast connection... whoa!). I don't have the URL
handy, but there's a link off the page with Allan's photo at the
Catalina. --JP ]
----------
End of Atavachron Digest
Send postings to: atavachron@webster.com
Send administrative requests to: atavachron-request@addimension.com
Web page: http://www.addimension.com/holdsworth/
Sponsored in part by Riff Technology, Inc.
http://www.gbase.com/rifftech/
The New Atavachron Digest 97/03/26
----------
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 08:48:08 +0100
From: "Bas van der Heijden"
Subject: Concerts, connors,suggestions
ABOUT THE CONCERTS:
B.B.M. van de /Broek wrote:
>But, Iwas very disappointed with his cheap small band.
>No Allan, I'm sorry but I hate this kind of line-ups with only
>3 persons without any other instrument or keyboard.
If it isn't a matter of taste I disagree. The whole Road Games
and IOU albums were made in a trio format (except for vocals)!
For me the trio format is great, and especially this trio with
DaveC and GNovak. I am a big fan of Gary Husband, but I must say
the other Gary (Novak) is a good surrogate, I prefer Novak above
Chad and Vinnie (in the AH context). As was said more times in this
digest Novak integrates with AHs playing as does Husband.
I saw 3 concerts, Amsterdam, Apeldoorn and The Hague. I had
the impression the trio was growing every evening and that Allan and
'the chaps' got more relaxed throughout the week. During the first concert
(Amsterdam) it seemed that Allan was struggling with soloing. Every time
he did a solo he looked tensed, and after a solo when he was playing
the theme of the tune again he apparently was reluctant that he was past the
the chorus. I didn't see this 'phenomenon' at the other concerts.
I did not miss any keyboards, I think Allan has enough possibilities to
perform music, dynamics, beautiful chordal swells, emotional soloing,
odd themes etc. Digests ago (1 year or so ?) people argued that his concerts
bored them after a while. Because to much (mindboggling?) solos.
The concerts I saw were the first live performances of AH since
almost 11 years. And I think the sequence of new and older tunes
was good, and not boring at all (on the contrary). Those new tunes
made me curious for the next album (is there one coming up ?). I
agree with Elliot Freedman that
>the thrill of new AH tune-age outweighs the nostalgia of older material
Yes those new tunes were fabulous. '16 men of Tain' the first tune was
like jazz, the tune with GNovak on brushes ('Texas??') which was played
third was beautiful, and was something real new to me. It looked the
making of None too soon revealed a more Jazz feeling in AHs own new tunes.
The first encore tune (07042) as Elliot Freedman describes:
>percussive chordal shots, a stronger backbeat, some chordal movements
>within a single scale, and solo voice blasts that then return to
>the verse
Is the one I will be awaiting for on the next album, the tune changed
in mood very quickly that I liked very much.
OTHER IMPRESSIONS:
My girlfriend did not attend the concerts with me. She dislikes Allan's
music. She promissed to go with me next time, but when will that be, Allan ?
So, I went with a friend, not really an AH fan, he has Tribal Tech records.
He thought this music of Allan was really different from other fusion
he had heard. He would not buy Allans records but the music sounded OK
to him. Another friend whom I invited to another concert and who is
largely involved in Miles Davis and owns 'Secrets', thought the first
set was OK, but the second a bit too much.
The girl who did sell records of Allan at all the 4 dutch concerts,
said she saw the same faces now and then. And she could not believe
people would go 3 or 4 times to the same concert. Although
she sold AHs records she did not like the music, 'I do not know anything
about him and the cds' she said :).
RE:Bill Connors
I bought 'double up'. It has some Holdsworthian things.
Mark Jordan wrote:
>BUT, the thing that is missing is the emotional content.
Yes that is true, the compositions differ from AHs and I think
there is still some old Connors on it, but hard to find.
SOME SUGGESTIONS
Apart from the suggestion that YOU should see Allan perform if you can
(and I know I was lucky to see him, but like others I had to wait for
a very long time), some other suggestions:
I did listen a lot to National Health, an UK band with the Bruford
keyboardist Dave Stewart (ex-EGG,ex-Hatfield+North), Phil Miller (gt),
Pip Pyle (ds), J. Greaves (bs) Alan Gowen (keys, writer of
HellsBells) and the 'angel' vocalist Amanda Parsons. The music is a
different kind of Hatfield and the North, with very melodic songs
(NOT 'cheap' melodies) and strange meters. It is progressive
rock music, if that explains something. What I like is the unpredictability
of the music.
The 2CD 'Complete' contains all the 3 original albums and is a bargain
at CDNOW ($16). There is also a cd called 'Missing Pieces'
with older not previously released material, with some tunes
with eg. Bruford on drums and Mont Campbell on bass (ex-EGG).
I also did listen a lot to altosaxofonist Lee Konitz, recordings of
the late 40ties begin 50ties, with Lenny Tristano, Warne Marsh&Billy Bauer,
this is COOL stuff, and quite progressive/impressive for that time.
A record on Prestige with Miles Davis, Stan Getz, called 'Conception'
is also a favorite of mine. They play a kind of free jazz, before Ornette
Coleman did. Konitz blows real fluent, he is also on the Birth of the
cool recordings of Miles Davis and on some Stan Kenton big band recs.
such as 'New concepts of artistry in Rhythm' (1952).
Someone mentioned the string4tets of the Late Beethoven and
Shostakovich, yes that is great music. Even the Late Haydn 4tets are great,
and the Debussy Ravel 4tets. And in the first 4tet of Bartok you hear he
is the successor of Beethoven in the string4tet genre. Well it's almost
Eastern time, so why not listen to Bach's Matheus Passion ? This is serious.
In classical music I like singing a lot, but with Allans
music I don't, uh.. but one exception is Jack Bruce .
Bach seems a long way from Allan, and probably he is. But Beethoven,
Debussy, Ravel and Bartok are not. You can hear Allans chords in another
context with the latter composers I should say.
Last night I listened to 'Crescent' of Coltrane (1963), I had not heard
it for a long time, and I was moved again, especially Crescent and Wise one.
Question: How would Allan sound if Coltrane had not been ?
Coltrane is everywhere, he is such an influence on many people.
It is hard to imagine what music would be like without Coltrane.
Maybe Charlie Parker would be the major musician ? I don't think
Sonny Rollins has/would have such an impact, although he is a
saxophone colossos. What I like about Rollins is his humour
and those crazy long choruses.
Well I think I'll stop here.
----------
From: JCMAILDROP@aol.com
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 04:07:24 -0500 (EST)
Subject: First Time
JP,
I just found the website and man was I happy to do so. It may be
redundant to most of your readers but Allan Holdsworth is the greatest guitar
player that I have ever heard in my life. My old guitar teacher described it
as - Allan is number 1 on the list, then there is a huge gap, then number 2
and the rest follow. I usually don't like to rate or categorize music but he
is in a class by himself with a language all his own.
My first experience was in hearing him on Individual Choice (JLP) and
ever since then it has been a quest for me to find anything Holdsworth. Each
new acquisition is a joy. I was thrilled to find a place where people could
appreciate the magnitude of what this man does and share in everything
Holdsworth. I love the wealth of information your site provides and the
personal dialogue that takes place in it.
I have been lucky enough to see Allan a few times in my life and also
lucky to catch him with different supporting players. Chad & Bob Wackerman,
Skuli, Gary Husband, Steve Hunt, etc..,. All incredible musicians in my
opinion. Like everyone else I am starved for his live performances but
through reading some of your postings I can see that I am luckier than most.
I live in NY & I'm patiently waiting for the next Northeast Tour. Now I know
where to look for tour dates. THANK YOU.
I have not picked up the latest CD yet but I will soon. I read a few
semi-negative comments on it but it does not deter me in the least. To those
who may complain, I usually find that I need time to digest Allan's music. I
live with his pieces for an indefinite amount of time at first, in which
repetition abounds, and I am constantly discovering new nuances in his
playing that I simply could not grasp until the music has sunk into a deeper
part of my conciousness over time. I am also a fan of traditional jazz as
well as fusion so I am looking forward to this new one.
I think that it is one of the great tragedies of the times in which we
live that Allan does not recieve the monetary or artistic rewards that other
"popular" musicians recieve. Such is life. It is nice to find a community of
people who are intelligent enough to appreciate what he does, show their
appreciation to him and share their collective information and opinions with
others. I also enjoyed reading the comments on the passing of Tony Williams,
truly one of the greats. It's tough when you try to talk to people about it
and they say "Tony who?". I felt better after listening to some Lifetime and
reading past postings.
I enjoyed reading some of the top 10 lists from people. I would love to
see more of that kind of stuff, maybe a section dedicated to what your
reader's enjoy listening to. Any possibility of this happening? I like jazz
standards, fusion, heavy metal, classical, etc.,.. To anyone with a closed
mind - open it. If someone else is in here talking about players you don't
hold in high regard, tell them who you like but how off could someone be if
they are in here to start with. Everyone should be heard. I love diversity. I
also like the idea of collectively contacting Warner Bros. in order to
expedite a release of Road Games. Is anything happening on this subject?
[ Moderator's note: I seem to remember trying to spearhead such
an effort a few years back... gee, that search capability would
sure come in handy about now! :) I don't think there were
enought letter-writers to have made an impact. We have ~675
subscribers on Atavachron now. If I could get 100 of you to
commit to writing one letter a month for the next year, I think
we could pull it off. But it would take *at least* that level
of commitment. I'll even draft a short, to-the-point boilerplate
letter, and get the best address at Warner for the campaign.
Who's with me? --JP ]
I hope you post this entry just so people read it and remember what a
great place you have here. Maybe I'm a little too excited about finding this
place but it's not every day you come across more than a handfull of people
who even know who Allan Holdsworth is. Thanks again....
jcmaildrop@aol.com
----------
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 13:08:24 -0500 (EST)
From: Scott Miller
Subject: Re: your mail
I've seen Anthony live on a few occassions, they have all been with Michel
Camilo. I have always found Anthony's work to be inspiring and hell he was
one of the top session player's in the '80's. Remember when there was such
a thing as a 'studio-musician', oh well they went out with Regan.
What can be said about Mr. Jackson next to the fact he is one of
the true innovators of the contra-bass and one of the kings of chops. Does
anyone know what he's up to these days.
Talk to you later,
Scott Miller
----------
From: Marzzz@aol.com
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 15:09:19 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: No Subject
In a message dated 3/24/97 12:56:01 AM, Kenny K wrote:
>Skuli is
>an amazing player technically, but I feel he never integrated himself
>that well into Holdsworth's music, at least compared to my hero, Jimmy
>Johnson (or Jeff Berlin, my other hero, for that matter).
I have only been able to see Skuli from the video, and I agree with you, he's
quite amazing. HOWEVER, I would really like to see AH work with a less "busy"
bassist, someone more along the lines of a Tony Levin, Mick Karn, etc. I
can't help feeling that a lot of bassists, especially in a trio setting, tend
to overplay considerably, IMHO.
----------
From: Chibass@ix.netcom.com
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 21:40:04 +0000
Subject:
I saw Anthony Jackson play in Philly with Michel Camilo and Dave
Weckl. My mind was blown. Like Alan H., Jackson stays true to his
vision. Theres a live Eyewitness record called "Blades" thats got
probably the only recorded example of an Anthony Jackson bass solo! He
also does some great playing on Wayne Krantzes "Signals".
I agree I would be incredible to hear Jackson and Holdsworth play
together.
> Skuli is
> an amazing player technically, but I feel he never integrated himself
> that well into Holdsworth's music, at least compared to my hero, Jimmy
> Johnson (or Jeff Berlin, my other hero, for that matter).
I kind of felt the same way. I dug his soloing, but thought that J.J.
brought unique character to each tune.
Chico
----------
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 00:03:03 -0800
From: Francisco Pablo Espinoza Estrada
Subject: AL, DAVE, SKULI, JEFF AND THE UNBONED BOVINE ENTITY
Dear Tarantulloids,
> Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 19:28:14 -0800
> From: Joseph Barbarotta
> Subject: RLeddy4462
>
> Check out Anthony Jackson on the first Metro record. I'm a bass player
> and he always amazes me with his choice of notes- they are totally
> unconventional and always right on! Also he is great on Protocol's
> "Force Majeure" and Al Dimeola's "Tiramisu".
It's funny that you mention 'Tiramisu' because when I heard it, years
ago, I noticed that some pieces were very Holdsworth sounding (the delay and
volume pedal sound with some obvious chordal reference to Allan). Years later,
yesterday to be precise, I heard a new DiMeola tune on the radio. I thought it
was Metheny, until I heard some alternate picked Dorian triplets. Go figure..
> From: "Mark Long"
> Subject: Dave Carpenter
> Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 23:37:45 -0500
>
> Not to point the discussion away from AH but does anyone know Dave's
> background?
I don't know his background, but he's recorded with Peter Erskine for his
Fuzzy Music label. Check Peter's own webpage for info:
http://petererskine.com/ErskineFuzzyMusic.html
> I went to high school with a Dave Carpenter who was a monster bass player.
The same happened to me. A classmate played the bass in a hardcore band
and he was uglier than a gargoyle !
> Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 01:50:04 -0600 (CST)
> From: kessel@ix.netcom.com (Kenny Kessel)
> Subject: Re: 6 string Bass playing
>
> Skuli is
> an amazing player technically, but I feel he never integrated himself
> that well into Holdsworth's music, at least compared to my hero, Jimmy
> Johnson (or Jeff Berlin, my other hero, for that matter).
Flim was born to play with Allan. He's one of the most musical bass
players in jazz ! He always plays what's the best for the tune and his solos are
beautiful and memorable, you can sing all of them ! Plus, he has a great, stylish
sound, great control and a good stage presence too. I'd love to hear him with
Allan again.
Skuli is good, but totally different. I've got a very good Wayne Krantz
CD (Long To Be Loose) where he thanks Skuli. Does anybody know why ?
Jeff Berlin is something else. He's an excellent 'pocket' player, like
few on earth. He's got the fonk. Astounding technique. A lot of Power ! And one
of the most ridiculous improvisers on bass I've ever heard ! I saw him with
Cobham and T Lavitz in 1989. Somebody handed him a chart of the Chilean national
anthem and he proceeded to play the most beautiful version of it, comping and
soloing beautifully.... And after the show, while Cobham left with a very good
looking lady, Jeff stayed about half an hour to chat with us (me and some
friends). He's the kindest monster I've ever met ! I don't know why he hasn't
recorded more though ... If you can get 'Players' with Jeff, Scott Henderson,
Steve Smith and Lavitz, do it ASAP ! That band was caliente !!
> Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 00:11:00 -0800
> From: Francisco Pablo Espinoza Estrada
> Subject: JUST FOR THE CURIOUS
>
> That video and book should have Chad's name on the cover. He's the
> only one that got a decent sound. In fact it's more than decent, it's awesome
> ! I think that Allan's playing in that gig wasn't the best, but Chad was
> definitely ON FIRE !!
>
> [ Moderator's note: I hope Claire doesn't show this to Allan,
> because he would have a cow -- whole, unboned.
This is the most disgusting thing I've read in a long time. I don't
quite understand it though... Would he give birth to the cow, would he eat it or
would he just acquire a cow and keep her as a pet. The first thing seems quite
impossible. The third event isn't feasible given the cost of feeding such a beast
(remember we're talking about a musician here). The second choice sounds more
likely. Even though Allan looks quite well fed in that Catalina photo !
> Have you guys
> *read* the Chris Hoard interview on the Web site? Unless I'm
> mistaken, the CD for that book was made from the same multitrack
> master as the REH video, and man, did he EVER hate THAT! --JP ]
I wonder if that cow mixed the whole thing ??
Well, enough of this bovine crap ! I found some interesting things while
doing a search for 'Spider' in Altavista:
A 'Modern Drummer' interview with Gary 'Slammin'' Husband:
http://kumo.swcp.com/synth/level42/articles/91-gary1.html
A French mini-Allan page with some interesting things I (personally) didn't know:
http://www.alpes-net.fr/~bigbang/allanholdsworth.html
Please Jeff, feel free to delete any of this links if there's a
possibility of them causing Allan to start devouring entire cows.(unboned)
Yours Truly,
Francisco 'LSD' Espinoza
----------
From: "Niko Paech"
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 11:39:00 +100
Subject: AH in Europe
Dear Holdsworth fans
I've been lurking since some months. I didn't add any comments to
this wonderful discussion list because my inglaesh is not that good.
Also, I'm not a guitar player and I'm not that used to all the
technical aspects of guitar playing, the equipment etc.
Anyway, on the 12th of March I saw AH on stage for the first
time in my life. The gig took place at the Gigant in Apeldoorn (NL).
Even if my english was OK, I would not be able to find the right
words to describe my impressions. How can a human beeing play guitar
like that? If his skin was green I would say OK, he is a kind of
alien with a high capability to operate string instruments. However,
watching him on stage, he turns out to be a very nice guy from planet
earth who likes to joke with band members, showing a sense of
humor, even apologizing... Anyway, his solos sound like a direct
tranformation of his thinking process into guitar notes. No matter
how complex or fast his ideas are, they are transmitted without any
delay or obstacle. I think he is the perfect virtuoso.
Although I've been listening to great deal of AH's records this
concert offered a lot of new perspectives. It's a completely
different feeling to see Allan live on stage. As for me, I liked many
of the live versions better than the original CD versions, especially
tunes from the period since crica '89. Some of the songs seemed to be
completely new.
Concerning Gary Novak and Dave Carpenter... What these guys did was
breathtaking. Dave's playing is as good as any of all the great bass
heroes beeing discussed in this list and beyond. His solos made a
strong impression on me. Gary Novak was a great surprise as well.
Instead of the well known main-stream-fusion-power-play-posing his
style is very subtle and jazzy. Although he is different from his
predecessors, his playing fits well into Allan's approach. I think
it's due to him that some of the tunes really DID SWING! If I ever
had the chance to see Allan live on stage again, I would prefer this
particular trio.
BTW, the place was crowded! I think some 300 or perhaps even more
persons attended the concert. In particular, I didn't expect to see
so much VERY YOUNG people. Some of them carried along there guitar to
get a autograph from their hero after the show. Very funny.
All in all, it was an evening I will never forget. It was more than
*only* good music. During certain moments it was pure fascination.
Thank you Allan!
Also I would like to thank the moderator for organizing this
wonderful forum. Jeff, without your informations about the tour I
wouldn't have been able to attend this concert.
Excuse me for my by english. Bye, Niko Paech (Osnabrueck, Germany)
----------
From: "Blum, Marc"
Subject: Hi - I'm new
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 15:41:21 +0100
Hi everyone
this is (nearly) the first time I'll contribute to the atavachron
discussion forum.
The first time I listened to Allan's music was in 1985. After reding his
name again and again in interviews with world's best guitarist I went
buying the now famous ROAD GAMES (when on CD?....please don't beat me..
)
After then I got every new release from his and my favorites are (in
arbitrary order):
- Road Games, with the ultimate AH-track "Three Sheets..."
- Secrets
-None too soon (it's time to be and to bop)
I don't like:
-Sand
-The vocals, whereever they appear...sorry P.W.
Favorite guitarists:
-Pat Martino
-Scott Henderson
-Mike Stern
-and the whole usual staff...
I'm very interested in harmonic analysis of Allan solos...so, if someone
knows where to get informations...
hope to contribute at times to the discussion
so long
----------
From: "Leslie Miller"
Subject: not exactally Tokyo Dreaming
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 21:39:20 -0600
Hello all,
I have been enjoying all the Allan Holdsworth concert reports. I am nowhere
near to attend one.I usually check my mail before I get ready to call it a
day. I have always heard that things seen or read can affect what a person
will dream. Well here is an odd story. I read through one of the recent
digest and I guess some of the concert descriptions must of stuck in my
mind.That night I dreamed I was attending an Allan Holdsworth concert. It
was vivid and in color. I can even describe what the small concert hall
looked like and what Allan was wearing (I have lots of vivid dreams) Anyway
Allan and his band walked out on stage and were performing. I could see and
hear each song. Allan had launched into Ruhkukah (from Hard Hat Area) when
my alarm woke me up. The dream was so real that I actually had the
sensation of being there. I jumped up in my bed, not knowing where I was
and slapped my alarm clock off the dresser beside my bed.The action was so
quick it scared me . I guess I was mad because I wanted to go back to the
concert! Not get up and go to work! Talk about starting your day off to a
strange start!
Loved the great photos! This was just a quick note this time.Just found the
dream and what happened unusual and wanted to share the story.Keep up the
great work!
Leslie
[ Moderator's note: I would like to apologize to Leslie for
neglecting to mention something she sent me recently. After many
technical difficulties on both ends, Leslie sent a digitized
reproduction of a portrait of Allan she did in oils. I intend to
get this on the Web site in the next day or two, so be looking for
it. --JP ]
----------
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 14:55:29 -0800
From: Christopher Hoard
Subject: Yes, It's *That* Dave Carpenter
>Not to point the discussion away from AH but does anyone know Dave's
background? I went to high school with a Dave Carpenter who was a
monster bass player.
>The last I heard he was playing with Maynard Ferguson(quite a few years
>ago). Just curious. He would be about 37 years old and was tall, thin >and wore glasses.
You went to high school with Allan's current bass player -- Dave is
probably the #1 call session/jazz bassist in So. California (or was
until he ran off to Europe with AH...)
I've seen Dave play various live gigs in the past three years or so
with:
Kenny Kirkland/Branford Marsalis
Andrea Marcelli/Doug Web
Mose Allison...
He's also played a number of gigs with Peter Erskine, and probably just
about every one of note. I believe he did at least one tour in Mike
Stern's band too.
(the only time I've seen him not play standup is with AH)... and he
told
me he was planning on playing standup at some point in the AH set as it
evolved, but I don't think he lugged it overseas...)
Dave is also leading a trio project in the planning phases with Erskine,
and Bob Sheppard (sax player with Billy Childs, Steely Dan, many
others...) Like myself and apparently you, we're all of the
afforementioned age! Cheers/Chris.
----------
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 15:51:38 -0800
From: Christopher Hoard
Subject: neverwasneverwillbe update
>Some time ago, someone talked about a rock-like project featuring Allan,
>called Neverwas, which was supposedly in the works. What gives? Please >let me know. Rog the frog
>[ Moderator's note: The last info I have is on the Web site, under
"new and upcoming releases..."; Chris, anything to add...? --JP ]
Not much to beyond the web page; I'll reiterate a little. We have ten
amazing tracks with AH playing some very extended solos (by rock
standards anyway), they also feature a few incredible chordal/rhythm
parts that can only be described as unmistakably Holdsworthian.
Drums/guitar/basic keyboard tracks are finished. Two or three
additional basic tracks are planned. With the exception of a couple
tracks with keyboard bass, no bass has been recorded yet. We have a
certain great LA bassist (with the initials DC) committed to the project
who will record at some point after he gets back from touring (Late
April/early May with luck). Jerry Goodman will be a guest soloist on
violin on a track or two. We'll probably be doing additional work on
keys and
vocals through the end of this summer--I'm extremely grateful for the
effort/support AH has provided for this project, it should address the
yearnings of those fans that want to hear AH stretching out and being
challenged in a rock setting. -- CH
----------
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 97 12:27:45 EST
From: "Mark Jordan"
Subject: Chad Wackerman Gig
Hi All
For anybody in Melbourne Australia that's interested Chad Wackerman is
playing a gig with his band at the Jazz Lane in Lonsdale St. on
Saturday the 5th April. Be there.
Regards
Mark Jordan
mjordan@awb.com.au
----------
End of Atavachron Digest
Send postings to: atavachron@webster.com
Send administrative requests to: atavachron-request@addimension.com
Web page: http://www.addimension.com/holdsworth/
Sponsored in part by Carvin
http://www.carvin.com/hldswrth.html
The New Atavachron Digest 97/03/29
----------
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 10:41:48 -0800
From: peterg
Subject: Apeldoorn ripped
I'll add to the recent reviews of Tour Holland '97 (quickly):
I saw 3 nights in a row, Amsterdam -> Gronigen -> Apeldoorn.
I had dinner with the band at a Thai restaurant before the
first gig in Amsterdam, and listened to the guys make small
talk as they got used to being together; Allan seemed comfortable
being with these youngsters from California, cracking jokes and
having a good time. Dave seemed to be surprised to see another
Californian there for the show, and stopped to chat for a bit after
dinner. He seems to be a very nice guy and we shook hands; little did
I know at the time what that hand was capable of doing with a six
string bass !!The Milkweg gig was good, since it had been
a few years since I've seen AH play. It was a full house
Gronigen is a beautiful city, and the show started an hour earlier
than the night before, so I missed the first set. Second set
highlight was that new tune that starts with slow bass !! half-full.
Apeldoorn (Club Gigant) - this gig was the best, far and away, of
the 3 I saw; precision looseness was dominant throughout. This was
one of those nights when everything seemed to flow easily, and the
sound mix was great. At one point, it seemed that they started with
a new tune, and then transitioned seemlessly into an old familiar tune,
which I can't remember Allan doing much of in the past. It was great !
I talked with Gary after, and he was really
"jazzed" about playing with Allan, and I told him I thought he should
continue to do so for a long time, unless he had something better
to do. He replied, "are you kidding ? this is the best!". The vibe
at the show (audience/bar/sound) was fantastic, and made this one
night fully worth the trip. Met a few Atavachronists there (hi guys),
and was treated well by the local townfolk before/during/after. I went
up to the stage (after the locals got their guitars signed) to thank
Allan for gigging again, and asked him if he was ever coming back
to play Santa Cruz, CA, USA. He replied, "Yes, we are planning on
coming back to the Kuumbwa". Gary mentioned the same thing: looks
like a USA tour (at least west coast) could be a reality !!!
on trios (live):
loved AH/Berlin/Wackerman (tight)
disliked AH/Johnson/Wackerman (too spacey)
loved AH/Carpenter/Novac (precision looseness)
one note: Allan really loved the new trio, repeating the names
"Dave Carpenter / Gary Novac" after almost every tune;
he seemed to be taken aback when DC stepped up to the
mike at the end of the Apeldoorn show and said "Allan
Holdsworth, folks". I hope to see these guys play for
a while - THE ALLAN HOLDSWORTH GROUP (is this the first
time he's named one of his bands a "group" ?).
----------
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 11:07:11 -0800
From: Scott Steele
[ Moderator's note: I seem to remember trying to spearhead such
an effort a few years back... gee, that search capability would
sure come in handy about now! :) [snip] But it would take *at
least* that level
of commitment. I'll even draft a short, to-the-point boilerplate
letter, and get the best address at Warner for the campaign.
Who's with me? --JP ]
count me in. A reminder in the newsgroups to say "OK, it's time to bug Warner
Bros" would make it very easy for us all to bombard them. They deserve it for
many other reasons, including John McLaughlin's Belo Horizonte and Music Spoken
Here.
Thanks for all our Danish correspondents who reported on the concerts, and
thanks to our friend who reported the great deal on the National Health CDs from
CDNow.
>Theres a live Eyewitness record called "Blades" thats got
probably the only recorded example of an Anthony Jackson bass solo!
Could we have more info on that - I would order it in a hot second.
>If you can get 'Players' with Jeff, Scott Henderson,
Steve Smith and Lavitz, do it ASAP ! That band was caliente !!
I have this one on vinyl and must agree - it is just a slice below Tribal Tech.
> This is the most disgusting thing I've read in a long time. I don't
quite understand it though...
Idiomatic expressions can be hard to translate. Quite the mental image Jeff,
thanks!
Niko, your english is way, way better than my german, and better than a lot of
my co-workers' english. - S.
scottst@ohsu.edu
----------
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 16:14:06 -0500 (EST)
From: "R. Lynn Rardin"
Subject: Re: RG Letter Writing Campaign
jcmaildrop (why do people feel the need to use aliases?) wrote:
>>I also like the idea of collectively contacting Warner Bros. in order to
>>expedite a release of Road Games. Is anything happening on this subject?
Jeff replied:
>I seem to remember trying to spearhead such an effort a few years back...
Yeah, I remember that, too, Jeff. I sent my letter in. :^)
>I don't think there were enough letter-writers to have made an impact.
>We have ~675 subscribers on Atavachron now. If I could get 100 of you
>to commit to writing one letter a month for the next year, I think
>we could pull it off. Who's with me?
I am. But I'm a bit skeptical. Don't mean to rain on the parade. I'd
love to see RG reissued on CD as much as anyone. But I really wonder
if the bitterness between Warner and Allan might prevent a letter-writing
campaign from yielding any positive results. Audiophile Imports made what
sounded like a decent effort to either license the material for CD release
or buy the master outright a couple years ago and came up emtpy. Do you
know any more about that failed venture at this point, Jeff?
-Lynn
[ Moderator's note: Only that they eventually ran into the same
problem that Restless ran into -- the fact that WB wanted too
much for the rights to reissue it. I, too, am somewhat skeptical
of the success of a letter-writing campaign, but perhaps if we
get enough people to commit to a long-term writing campaign,
it may eventually have the desired effect. Btw, for all those
who wrote to show their support for a *petition*, let me say
that is NOT what I had in mind. Many individual letters will
have a greater impact than a petition that has been organized
by a bunch of netizens -- WB is pretty net-saavy, and they
won't be as quick to act on something if they know it was
organized in this manner. That's why it'd be important for
most of the letters to be hand-written (as opposed to typed or
word-processed), and not really following a boilerplate form
(such as I initially suggested). In keeping with the non-organized
appearance, no mention of the Internet forum should be made.
Before we get too carried away, I'd like to see if Allan can
foresee any possible negative impact if WB were to re-release
the album... I don't know if maybe they also have 20 hours of
practice sessions "in the can," and I'd hate to see them pad
a future _Road Games_ CD release with things which Allan would
just as soon keep out of circulation. I'll have more suggestions
coming in the next digest. --JP ]
----------
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 23:23:00 +0000
From: Andrew Lewis
Subject: Re: replies to various snippets
Most of this is a reply to BvdH, as below, with the ROAD GAMES
support thrown in. Sorry to shout, but we all ought to get on that
one...
> Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 08:48:08 +0100
> From: "Bas van der Heijden"
> Subject: Concerts, connors,suggestions
[huge snips, here]
re: trio format--this is how I would most prefer to hear Allan in
concert, for the most part--not to slight the various keyboardists,
but the more room for Allan the better, IMO. Well... I've liked some
keys better than others. I suppose I would love to have heard the
concert with Alan Pasqua sitting in....
>
> I did listen a lot to National Health,[snip]
Haven't listened to them in ages, since the paleo-vinyl age in fact;
they were mostly a spin-off from Henry Cow, the rest of the group
joining The Art Bears, who did an interesting and uneven body of
work. Actually, I think that can be said of all three of these
bands. Phil Miller is a good guitarist, never much liked his tone;
Fred Frith (ex-H.C.) is fascinating, and has too many different tones
to make a blanket statement...
>
> I also did listen a lot to altosaxofonist Lee Konitz, recordings of
> the late 40ties begin 50ties, with Lenny Tristano, Warne Marsh&Billy Bauer,
> this is COOL stuff, and quite progressive/impressive for that time.
Great stuff. Verve reissued a double/live CD of Konitz/Marsh,
essentially the Tristano band on a night when Tristano wasn't around.
Sitting in was none other than Bill Evans. 'Nuff said.
> Someone mentioned the string4tets of the Late Beethoven and
> Shostakovich, yes that is great music.
That was me. I came to this stuff pretty late, but over the last
year have listened and listened and listened... I read somewhere
that Allan turned on to Shosty not too long ago and thought it was
some of hte most incredible stuff he'd heard. I don't know which
piece, whether it was a quartet or symphony or what. Does this ring
any bells out there? I can't for the life of me remember where I
read it and would love to know what he was so moved by.
Even the Late Haydn 4tets are great,
> and the Debussy Ravel 4tets. And in the first 4tet of Bartok you hear he
> is the successor of Beethoven in the string4tet genre.
Yes yes yes. Well, confession: I don't know the Haydn at all.
That's for some future listening/spending. The rest I listen to.
How many people out there have been bitten by the string quartet bug?
This stuff doesn't let me go, and I'm a relatively "naive" classical
listener. It's just incredible stuff.
Well it's almost
> Eastern time, so why not listen to Bach's Matheus Passion ? This is serious.
> In classical music I like singing a lot, but with Allans
> music I don't, uh.. but one exception is Jack Bruce .
Agreed here, too. When Metal Fatigue came out, I remember thinking
how astounding the music was, and yet I didn't listen to it all that
often because of the vocals. Bruce on Road Games is fine--I've liked
Bruce's singing in many contexts (esp. with Kip Hanrahan) much better
than with Cream--the more intimate the style, the better he sounds,
IMO. I'd take him shrieking over anybody else on AH records, though.
I hate saying that, second-guessing Allan's choices, so of course all
the IMO's and YMMV's apply.
> Last night I listened to 'Crescent' of Coltrane (1963), I had not heard
> it for a long time, and I was moved again, especially Crescent and Wise one.
My favorite Coltrane record, possibly. Well, maybe not... but the
one I listen to most often.
>
> Question: How would Allan sound if Coltrane had not been ?
No way to even imagine this...
> Coltrane is everywhere, he is such an influence on many people.
> It is hard to imagine what music would be like without Coltrane.
> Maybe Charlie Parker would be the major musician ? I don't think
> Sonny Rollins has/would have such an impact, although he is a
> saxophone colossos. What I like about Rollins is his humour
> and those crazy long choruses.
Someone would have come along after Parker. I'm not sure, but I
think Rollins did have a huge impact, and it may have been larger...
if not, it's only b/c he was too imaginative both melodically and
rhythmically, often in ways hard to follow intellectually (and
thereby be "influenced"), whereas 'Trane had such an impact largely
with the strength of his tone and his intensity (his spiritual focus,
if you will... I know that's a vague term, but if you listen to
Coltrane, you either "get" that or you don't).
>
> Well I think I'll stop here.
Jeff wrote:
> [ Moderator's note: I seem to remember trying to spearhead such
> an effort a few years back... gee, that search capability would
> sure come in handy about now! :) I don't think there were
> enought letter-writers to have made an impact. We have ~675
> subscribers on Atavachron now. If I could get 100 of you to
> commit to writing one letter a month for the next year, I think
> we could pull it off. But it would take *at least* that level
> of commitment. I'll even draft a short, to-the-point boilerplate
> letter, and get the best address at Warner for the campaign.
> Who's with me? --JP ]
I'm with you Jeff. Write me on e-mail if th is is getting organized
(or I'll check the newslist like everyone else, if that's where it's
happening). Aren't you in Nashvillle? Whereabouts? (I'm here too,
at least for 3 or 4 more mos.)
[ Moderator's note: Yes, I'm in Nashville -- in the airport area,
and I work just blocks from Vandy. E-me sometime and we can grab
some lunch (or an after-work pint at Blackstone) --JP ]
----------
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 97 10:23:28 EST
From: "Mark Jordan"
Subject: ROAD GAMES
Hi all
I recently sent another message to Warner Bros. re road games but they
haven't replied. I sent the messages to wbrepinc@wbr.com which I
obtained from the WB website. Jeff if you get another address let us
know. If all 675 of us sent them a message once a month then maybe we
would get some reaction. I'm up for this as my vynyl copy has been
played so much it now plays both sides at the same time.
Also has anybody played one of the Carvin AH guitars. It would be
great to get someones impression.
For some light relief
How many jazz musicians does it take to change a light bulb?
"Don't worry about the changes. We'll fake it!"
What do you get when you play New Age music backwards?
New Age music.
What happens if you play blues music backwards?
Your wife returns to you, your dog comes back to life, and you get
out of prison.
How many bass players does it take to change a lightbulb?
None. They let the keyboard player do it with his left hand.
Did you hear about the bass player who was so bad that even the lead
singer noticed?
How many drummers does it take to change a lightbulb?
Two. One to hold the bulb, and the other to drink until the room
spins.
How many lead guitarists does it take to change a light bulb?
None--they just steal somebody else's light.
Cheers
Mark Jordan
mjordan@awb.com
----------
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 18:16:31 -0600
From: "Mark C. Wood"
Subject:
>From: "Blum, Marc"
>Subject: Hi - I'm new
>Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 15:41:21 +0100
>I don't like:
>-Sand
I've seen other people on this newsgroup rate 'Sand' poorly, but I think
it's probably my favorite Holdsworth album. I never had a problem with
his use of the SynthAxe, though. It's a very expressive instrument, and
this album in particular has some of his most powerful playing on it.
Also, one of the things I like most about his music is that it's kind of
'spacey' sounding. That may sound funny (Ha, Ha), but I don't care. You
just don't hear this kind of music from anyone else. It's not just about
sound effects either. It's much deeper than that. Give 'Sand' another try!
----------
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 18:06:22 -0700
From: Tony Accurso
Subject: National Health
>>I did listen a lot to National Health, an UK band with the Bruford
keyboardist Dave Stewart (ex-EGG,ex-Hatfield+North), Phil Miller (gt),
Pip Pyle (ds), J. Greaves (bs) Alan Gowen (keys, writer of
HellsBells) and the 'angel' vocalist Amanda Parsons. <<
Good to read this, on the inner sleeve of my DS al Coda album by
National Health, there is a list of members who have ever played with
Alan Gowen, which included Allan Holdsworth, Jamie Muir, Alan Gowen,
Laurie Baker, and Lyn Dobson. What a line up I must say! It is
unfortunate about Alan Gowen having past on, but, hopefully Dave Stewart
will bring back the complex music he was involved in with these
musicians. Somebody beg him to!
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tony Accurso
Digital Artist / Graphic Design
web site -
http://home.earthlink.net/~accurso/
email - mailto:accurso@earthlink.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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From: "Blum, Marc"
Subject: some bla
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 12:43:00 +0100
Francisco Estrada wrote:
>Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 01:14:27 -0800
>From: Francisco Pablo Espinoza Estrada
>Subject: WATCH OUT... HERE COMES THE SPIDERMAAAN !
> This is my top twenty list of all time (SPIDO excluded):
>1. AC/DC "Back in Black"
also one of my favourite rock albums
>2. John Coltrane "Coltrane Plays The Blues"
hu?..what about "Crescent" , "Giant Steps" and "Africa, Brass"
>3. Junior Brown "Guit With It"
>4. Jeff Beck "Guitar Shop"
yeah, real cool...espeacially when he plays ballads
>5. Prince "Batman"
>6. Brecker Brothers "Heavy Metal Be-Bop"
>7. Slayer "Reign in Blood"
>8. Michael Hedges "Live On The Double Planet"
>9. Ozzy Osbourne "No Rest For The Wicked"
>10. Frank Zappa "Roxy & Elsewhere"
and APOSTROPHE!!!!!!!!!!!
and You can't do that on stage anymaore, Pt 2 - The Helsinki Concert
(once I had a band called THE TOWELS OF DESTINY, check out for the
reason)
>11. Pantera "Vulgar Display Of Power"
ah no.. don't like them
>12. John Scofield "Blue Matter"
real, real important album...like a blueprint for a whole musical
school/direction
>13. Johnny Winter "Hey, Where's Your Brother?"
>14. Bill Frisell "Is That You?"
>15. John Coltrane & Julian Adderley "Cannonball & Coltrane"
just say KIND OF BLUE
>16. Scott Henderson & Gary Willis "Tribal Tech"
from album to album they get better...I really love REALITY CHECK
>17. Morbid Angel "Domination"
>18. Albert Collins "Iceman"
cool...
>19. Weather Report "Night Passage"
>20. Judas Priest "Screaming For Vengeance"
comments requested on
- The Who "Live at Leeds"
- Mr Big "Live - Raw like Sushi"
- Simon Philips "don't rememder the name of his album"
bye
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Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 16:00:53 +0100
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?=22Christian?= =?iso-8859-1?Q?R=F8rdam=22?=
Subject: new subscriber
Hi! I found this website a few days ago,and I was highly surprised.
A forum devoted to Allan Holdsworth!!! I knew there were a lot of narrow
topics on the web (or I had heard at least,I just recently started to
check it out,the web that is),but I actually thought A.H. was too special.
Now I know better! What a relief to have people who understand what you're
talking about.
I am only 22 ,and by the time I "discovered" A.H.,
Wardenclyffe Tower was already out.This was,however,not the first record
with A.H. I heard.My first experience with his playing was the song
"a kinder eye" on Level 42's "Guaranteed".The way he played the theme
was a whole new experience for me,and his solo in the fade-out of the song
was astonishing,-a real piece of art.It sounded like something was falling
and falling,like he played over 10 octaves.
I started buying AH's records,and loved every one
of them(Secrets,Wardencl.T.,Sand,Metal Fatigue,Atavachron) until I bougth
I.O.U. and Hard Hat Area.Allright,I admit,I am a big fan of Jimmy Johnson
as an individual bass-player (and I am a bassist myself),but that doesnt
mean I can't accept other bassists on AH's records,as long as they
contribute in a way that fits the atmosphere in AH's music.
The problem is: THEY DON'T!!
Skuli Sverrison is ok (ok,not good),but Paul Carmichael is not.
(I don't have Road Games,who's playing there? (is this a FAQ?) )
I didn't buy None Too Soone yet,so I'm not gonna discuss Gary Willis.
But where did Jimmy Johnson go? I miss him.I totally agree with Kenny Kessel
and Chico.
Does anyone know where I can hear JJ's playing,exept for with
AH,Chad Wackerman and James Taylor ?
Christian.
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Date: Sat, 29 Mar 1997 11:50:24 -0500 (EST)
From: andre
Subject: Re: NEW AH piece, Connors stuff
pardon the longish post... patiently awaiting AH touchdown in New Jersey....
e freedman's review was awesome!! and prompted this thought -
>
>Another new tune (1st encore and working title "(07042)?"...
Though it may have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with zipcodes at ALL !! - I
immediately noticed this as a NJ zipcode (i'm in 07701..) so i grabbed the
phone book - in the back are all the state's codes. Lo and behold - it is
the zipcode for Montclair, NJ. As a fan of coincidences, 6-degrees of sep.,
and esp and that sort of thing - i have to point out the following thoughts
that come to (my sick) mind. I'm really a serious person... but these silly,
humurous things are why we're human, at least to me..
1. Montclair is the home town of Steve Morse's insane drummer Van Romaine -
who also has played for Glenn Alexander, who once got a personal gift of one
of AH's old Ibanez guitars..Steve's bassist Dave LaRue once tried out for
Jean-Luc Ponty, who of course worked with Allan.
2. Montclair is the home of the (now defunct) jazz club "Trumpets" - did AH
ever play there ?? anyone know??
3. Mont-"clair(e)"
4. Montclair is (was?) the home of drummer Chuck Burgi - who was in Brand X
with Percy Jones. I've heard that Brand X is getting set to do some dates
with Pierre Moerlen, who has also recorded with AH in GONG....
5. In Montclair, years ago, at a Bruford / Moraz gig - i met Eddie Jobson,
who lived nearby. Both Bruford and Jobson have played with Holdsworth..
So -there you have it!! Don't bother, i know it's really silly.. yet i'm
sure someone out there got a laugh, and none of it is untrue or disconnected !!
also - some thoughts prompted by:
"Mark Jordan"
Re Bill Connors. I bought Step It because I'd heard that he sounded a
lot like Allan..... imho it's sort of like Carob versus Chocolate. Sort of
the same but I know where I'll spend my pocket money....
ahh.. but just as Carob was never and is not supposed to judged as being
Chocolate, yet there are similarities, so BC can be heard in his own right.
Don't get me wrong - I'm a AH freak (and a chocolate freak) - i've seen him
every tour since 84 and i can't WAIT for the e.coast usa dates !! - i'm
never sick of the TIMELESS music the man has made... i was just marveling at
the tone on the solo in "Fred". (Whew! throw that on if you haven't lately!!
Loudly, please!!) Or "pud wud" or anything on "None too soon" (perfect
tone!!!) yet all from the same guy and you can tell immediately.
but Bill Connors - sounds great on his own (good carob is excellent as....
carob) - yeah - the recent discs are certainly very similar to AH in tone,
instrumentation and mood. But he's got his own style - just swimming (with a
hole...) in nearby water. i prefer (for a more unique BC voice)
1.) some of his 70s-80s ECM stuff or the early return to forever stuff he's
on - hey - a quick poll - who has NOT heard this CD ? (Hymn of the 7th
galaxy) this is a mind-numbing album/disc !!with Chick, Lenny white, "Stan"
Clarke, and Connors. ouch. this is a Phat one to sit and practice with,
also. I think he's sooo much more soulful than DiMeola (the old Dimeola).
Too bad he's only on this one.
2.) For some more smokin' Connors - How about the incredible "Stanley
Clarke" cd from 73-75 or so ?? this is simply, utterly a must have for ANY
jazz or fusion fan. it's that simple. Tony Williams. Jan Hammer. Connors.
Strings. Holy shit. Buy this, young 'uns !!! Note - Allan has played with
all the above except for Jan (i think..)
3) Kim Plainfield and Weckl are killin' drummers !! As with Allan's bands,
sometime i can tune into the drums only and get taken far away !!
so anyway - kinda off topic - but it's in the immediate family (look at how
many co-collaborators they both have!)
music- keep it growing !!
andre'
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