Matt Warnock Reviews Allan Holdsworth Trio Concert

by Staff.

Modern Guitars columnist Dr. Matthew Warnock reviews a concert by the Allan Holdsworth Trio that took place on May 14, 2009. From the review: "It was a warm and windy evening in the quiet little Chicago suburb of Palatine, Illinois. Several hours before the concert started there was already a line of people outside Durty Nellie's Bar and Restaurant who had come to see one of the most respected, and often underexposed, guitarists of the past half-century, Allan Holdsworth. As they waited to enter the club, conversations popped up about their favorite Holdsworth song or album and anecdotes from previous concerts dating all the way back to the early '70s when the young guitarist first stunned jazz-fusion fans all over the globe. While many people in attendance were long-time fans of the British guitarist, there was a surprising number of teenagers and people who were talking to their friends about how excited they were to see Holdsworth perform for the first time. The mixture of fans, old and new, is a testament to Holdsworth's appeal as a composer and guitarist.

As the doors opened and people shuffled into the club, many of them edged towards the stage in an attempt to find the best spot to watch Holdsworth's hand fly across the fretboard, or to check out what settings he used on his effect pedals. The crowd waited with a hushed anticipation for the man they had come to see take the stage. As he launched into the first tune of the night, the crowd was already on their feet cheering him on, where they remained until the last note rang out and the lights came back on."

Full review »

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