Rest in Peace Allan Holdsworth

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/guitar-pioneer-allan-holdsworth-dies/

Natural causes.

Rest in Peace certainly as he was an influential and admired talent, namely on guitar.

His credits while nothing hugely commercial, are quite impressive, from Soft Machine, to Gong, to Jean-Luc Ponty, to Bruford to U.K.

He was one of the 1st guitarists, at least in Jazz and Rock that used the guitar almost like a synthesizer/keyboard.

Now, that being said, my good friend John said about him, that his technical ability is impressive, but he always struggled to be grabbed by his emotion.

And while I can't claim to feel exactly like that about the guy, I can just say I appreciate and maybe respect his influence more than loving his playing specifically.

The Bruford album Feels Good to Me is one I enjoy including his work on it.

And his work on the U.K.debut album I suppose as well.

But I suppose the style of synth-toned guitar I found Pat Metheny's approach and writing to work more for me. I dunno if Metheny and Holdsworth ever played together or at least commented on each other, but it might be interesting to see/hear.

Among the folks paying respects, Eddie Van Halen, Vernon Reid, Mike Portnoy, Neal Schon, Peter Frampton just on that link above.

Jon Anderson band: Jordan Rudess, Jean-Luc Ponty + others

I'm just passing this along, but don't have a ton to write about it at this point. With Jordan and Ponty and that rhythm section, the odds of this sounding jazz-fusiony seem high. An odd mix, with a drummer who played with Michael Jackson even.

I hope this will end up being not so much one of those super groups on paper people salivate over, but doesn't really translate to WRITING GOOD SONGS, JAMS,ETC. But I guess with that in mind, it'll certainly be worth looking forward to. This article says it's being recorded in May, so it may even get released by the end of 2014. We'll see.

This group LIVE might be more intriguing certainly.

http://somethingelsereviews.com/2014/03/23/very-very-funky-slightly-sort-of-cosmic-guys-ex-yes-man-jon-anderson-puts-finishing-touches-on-new-band/

Jon Anderson, who has principally toured as a solo act since leaving Yes in 2004, is building a new band around the former Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. Now, he’s ready to talk about the rest of the lineup.

“We got in touch with [Dream Theater stalwart] Jordan Rudess, who is really a ridiculous piano and keyboard player and a really great rhythm-section players,” Anderson tells Aspen Public Radio. “You’ve got Rayford [Griffin] on drums, and Baron [Browne] on bass. These are very, very funky, slightly sort of cosmic guys. Everybody seems to be on the same sort of planet, which is kind of nice.”

Griffin has worked as a sideman over the years with Ponty, Stanley Clarke and Michael Jackson, among others. Browne has also collaborated with Ponty before, as well as Billy Cobham, Steve Smith’s Vital Information and Brian McKnight.

Anderson says he met Ponty when “he played on a track that I did with a friend of mine, Michael Lewis — who introduced my to Jean-Luc.” Anderson adds that they hope to begin recording in May and June. “We’ll just see what comes,” he says. “We’ve already written some music together via the internet, which is a great modern studio. We’re sort of on the way.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean, however, that he’ll be mounting the kind of globe-trotting tours that his former band became known for over the years. “It’s not something that I miss at all,” Anderson says. “I’m just starting up with a new band this summer, and we’re going to do some recording for next year. If it happens, I will be very happy. But it’s not the reason why you make music.”

Return to Forever + Zappa Plays Zappa Summer 2011 Tour

Return To Forever Introduces New Lineup, Tour with Zappa Plays Zappa

Famed fusion group Return To Forever will formally debut its new lineup for US audiences this summer. In addition to core members Chick Corea (keys), Stanley Clarke (bass) and Lenny White (drums), Return To Forever IV’s lineup will feature Mahavishnu Orchestra alum and violin virtuoso Jean-Luc Ponty as well as guitarist Frank Gambale. The new Return To Forever will join Zappa Plays Zappa for a series of dates in August and September.

“Since all the guys in the band are such good composers, I wanted to have everyone’s compositions add to the new RTF IV vibe. So we all agreed: let’s open it up — which is the way we like it, and I think the way the fans like it too,” says Chick Corea.

The shows will kick off the two groups’ extended summer tour. Return to Forever IV played a few shows in Australia earlier this year. Return To Forever IV’s setlists will mix classics with material written for this lineup.

Return to Forever IV Tour With Zappa Plays Zappa

8/7 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
8/8 – Buffalo, NY – UAB Center for the Arts
8/9 – Baltimore, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
8/10 – Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center
8/11 – Boston, MA – Bank of America Pavilion
8/12 – New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre
8/13 – New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre
8/16 – Columbus, OH – The Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
8/17 – Cleveland, OH – State Theatre
8/18 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
8/19 – Detroit, MI – MeadowBrook Music Festival
8/20 – Chicago, IL – The Venue at the Horseshoe Casino
8/21 – Indianapolis, IN – The Murat
8/22 – Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center
8/24 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
8/25 – St. Louis, MO – Fabulous Fox Theatre
8/26 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland By AMC
8/27 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
8/28 – Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden
9/8 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
9/9 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
9/10 – Boca Raton, FL – Mizner Park Amphitheatre
9/11 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
9/13 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater
9/14 – Grand Prairie, TX – Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
9/15 – Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theater
9/17 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center
9/19 – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s By the Bay
9/20 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
9/21 – Davis, CA – Mondavi Center
9/22 – San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre
9/23 – Eugene, OR – Silva Concert Hall, Hult Center
9/24 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre

Minneapolis on August 24th. I can't see myself not going to that. But I must admit, without Al Di Meola and not even the Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy reunion (with Bill Connors) that was mentioned earlier this year, this lineup of RTF pales in comparison. But that being said, seeing them and ZPZ in 1 night should be one of the bigger concert events of the Summer.

Return to Forever "Seventh Galaxy" Tour in 2011

facebook link

Return to Forever is doing a "7th Galaxy" tour next year with Bill Connors returning and Jean-Luc Ponty joining Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White.

Perth, Riverside Theatre - Wednesday Feb 9
Melbourne, Regent Theatre - Friday Feb 11
Sydney, Opera House - Tuesday Feb 15
Brisbane, Convention Centre - Thursday Feb 17
Auckland, ASB Theatre - Saturday Feb 19

more dates including the US should be coming soon..





I'll fully admit, as much as I LOVE RTF, my experience with the Bill Connors-period is minimal at best. However, I have a friend who used to talk about how vastly superior Connors was to Al Di Meola, and ever since I've always meant to explore that period of music. Why I have yet to? time, opportunity, etc. The same probably I can say about the pre-classic period of Mahavishnu Orchestra and a lot of the Weather Report stuff. I have heard some of it before, but not to the point I know it. But I suppose one goal is from now until a tour date in Minneapolis is announced, I shall start to familiarize myself with it. Especially Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy which some consider as good if not better than Romantic Warrior

It's also cool that they have Jean-Luc Ponty in the lineup. Did the early RTF stuff include violin parts?..see, that shows how little I know right now.