Allan Holdsworth
| Allan Holdsworth | |
|---|---|
Holdsworth in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Born |
6 August 1946 Bradford, England |
| Genres | Jazz fusion, jazz, instrumental rock, progressive rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, producer |
| Instruments | Guitar, SynthAxe |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Labels | Eidolon Efformation |
| Associated acts | 'Igginbottom, Tempest, Bill Bruford, U.K., The New Tony Williams Lifetime, Gordon Beck, Chad Wackerman, HoBoLeMa, Soft Machine, Gong, Gary Husband, Nucleus, Jean-Luc Ponty, John Stevens, Planet X |
| Website | therealallanholdsworth.com |
| Notable instruments | |
| SynthAxe | |
Allan Holdsworth (born 6 August 1946) is a British guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played a variety of musical styles spanning a period of more than four decades, but is best known for his work in jazz fusion.
Holdsworth is noted for his advanced knowledge of music, through which he incorporates a vast array of complex chord progressions and intricate solos; the latter comprising myriad scale forms often derived from those such as the diminished, augmented, whole tone, chromatic and altered scales, among others, resulting in an unpredictable and "outside" sound. His unique legato soloing technique stems from his desire to originally play the saxophone, but having been unable to afford one he thus intentionally utilised the guitar in order to make it sound like a different instrument. He has also become associated with playing an early form of guitar synthesizer called the SynthAxe, a company which he endorsed in the 1980s.
Holdsworth has been cited as an influence by such renowned rock, metal and jazz guitarists as Eddie Van Halen,Joe Satriani,Greg Howe,Shawn Lane,Richie Kotzen,John Petrucci,Alex Lifeson,Kurt Rosenwinkel,Yngwie Malmsteen,Michael Romeo, and Tom Morello.Frank Zappa once lauded him as "one of the most interesting guys on guitar on the planet", while Robben Ford has said: "I think Allan Holdsworth is the John Coltrane of the guitar. I don't think anyone can do as much with the guitar as Allan Holdsworth can."
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Wikipedia