Prog was a towering figure in the world of progressive music. With his trademark legato style, he influenced a generation of musicians who would follow in his wake. And like many innovators, he watched as many of his admirers achieved greater commercial success than he would find.
But those kinds of considerations were never central to Holdsworth’s approach to music. The early days of the Bradford, England-born guitarist’s career saw him working in the Canterbury scene, as well as taking part in some work (sadly undocumented) with percussionist Jamie Muir, later a key member of -era . Holdsworth stayed busy and honed his craft playing guitar for Pierre Moerlen’s Gong, Tony Williams’ Lifetime, , and others who explored the previously uncharted spaces in which jazz and rock intersected.
Once his solo career got underway, he left England and settled in California. There he spent less time lending his talents to outside projects, though he found time to play on albums by , Chad Wackerman, and take part in nearly a half dozen collaborative album projects. He also wrote three books on guitar technique.
The notoriously fastidious Holdsworth didn’t consider the unauthorised 1976 LP part of his catalogue, and preferred not to discuss it with us. But between 1982 and 2002, Holdsworth did record and release 12 solo albums (though 1983’s is technically an EP) for nearly as many labels. Though he continued to tour, 2001’s was his most recent collection of material intended a.