Allan Holdsworth - Live at Yoshi’s (Friday 29-09-2006) / 2CD & Blu-ray set

Allan Holdsworth was a British fusion/prog rock guitarist who in his almost six decades long career released numerous solo studio and live albums, and contributed to bands including Soft Machine, The New Tony Williams Lifetime, and Level 42. Through his use of highly advanced harmonic and melodic concepts, he truly stretched the limits of the instrument, inspiring many of the world’s greatest players such as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, John Frusciante, and Tom Morello. Zappa once called him “one of the most interesting guys on guitar on the planet”, so it’s safe to say Holdsworth is in fact your favourite guitarist’s favourite guitarist.

In 2006 and 2007 Holdsworth embarked on a tour through U.S. and Europe with keyboardist Alan Pasqua (his colleague in The New Tony Williams Lifetime), Jimmy Haslip (founding member of Robben Ford’s band Yellowjackets), and Chad Wackerman (Zappa’s drummer and percussionist from 1981 to 1988). On September 29 and 30, 2006 they played four concerts (two shows on Friday and two on Saturday) at Yoshi’s in Oakland, California and the full performance was captured by independent film maker Eric Dorris on HD video, resulting in a 2008 DVD release compiling a selection taken from the four concerts. The rest of the footage as well as the multitrack digital audio was shelved, until now…

On what would be Allan’s 80th birthday, the Music On CD company is releasing the definitive versions of the shows performed at Yoshi’s, across multiple formats. For the fans wishing the full experience, there are two packages each containing one Blu-ray disc and two CDs each: one for the shows on Friday and the other for the Saturday shows, unabridged and including interviews.

CD1: Live at Yoshi’s – Friday Set 1 (29-09-2006)
1. The Fifth
2. It Must Be Jazz
3. Fred
4. Looking Glass
5. San Michele
6. Pud Wud
7. Proto-Cosmos
8. Red Alert

CD2: Live at Yoshi’s – Friday Set 2 (29-09-2006)
1. The Fifth
2. Looking Glass
3. Fred
4. Blues For Tony
5. San Michele
6. Pud Wud
7. Proto-Cosmos
8. Red Alert

Blu Ray
Live at Yoshi’s – Friday Set 1 (29-09-2006)
1. The Fifth
2. It Must Be Jazz
3. Fred
4. Looking Glass
5. San Michele
6. Pud Wud
7. Proto-Cosmos
8. Red Alert

Live at Yoshi’s – Friday Set 2 (29-09-2006)
1. The Fifth
2. Looking Glass
3. Fred
4. Blues For Tony
5. San Michele
6. Pud Wud
7. Proto-Cosmos
8. Red Alert