“The Things I See” - my well-received piano work of 2000 - is here!
This was the first in a series of two “interpretational” endeavours to creatively explore and investigate ways the imagination of a chosen artist meet can meet my own. For this album, the music of my brother and musical partner Allan Holdsworth is represented, redeveloped in entirety from a mere melody line or motif in varying degrees and significantly added to with supplementary original composition. It’s an album born of the mutual closeness I shared with Allan over a 37 year affiliation, and one which I hope will always serve as a loving tribute to my late, extraordinary friend.
I will add that the ambitious nature to these representations and arrangements were completely in line with how Allan always wished any “cover” of his music to be realised - with fresh imagination, and corresponding with a very personal creativity unique to (and within) the artist embarking on such a quest.
The CD version of this old recording appears to be no longer! I wasn’t even informed! To my dismay I discovered it can only be purchased for a somewhat extravagant sum in the form of a used copy on eBay or some such location. Great shame. Therefore, I will claim, here is the definitive version, in the medium we seem to have available to us - lovingly optimised and remastered by the great Markus Reuter.
It is my wholehearted wish you enjoy it.
Gary Husband - 21/05/21
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1/ The Sixteen Men Of Tain (Allan Holdsworth)
2/ Shadows Of (Allan Holdsworth)
3/ A Temporary Fault (Allan Holdsworth/Gary Husband)
4/ An Out From Under (Allan Holdsworth/Steve Robinson/Gary Husband)
5/ Mr Berwell (Allan Holdsworth)
6/ The Things I See (Allan Holdsworth/Gary Husband)
7/ Wish (Allan Holdsworth)
8/ Devil Take The Hindmost (Allan Holdsworth)
9/ Kinder (Allan Holdsworth)
10/ Looking Glass (Allan Holdsworth)
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Reviews:
“Gary Husband is a true friend and has been for over twenty years.
Since we met, I have always thought of him as a musical and spiritual brother. He is one of the most talented and original musicians I have ever had the pleasure of making music with.
When I heard Gary was going to make a recording of some of my music, I was, of course extremely flattered. But upon hearing it, I was moved to tears. This recording is beautiful, magic. Absolutely true to the spirit of the music
Not only does he showcase the compositions in a very beautiful and classical way, but more so and without a doubt, showcases his truly amazing talent. Thank you Gary Husband so very, very much.”
Allan Holdsworth - October 2001
“It has been a considerable time since I heard a truly new kind of recording. This is one of those, and in addition it is from a musician whom I have known and admired for many years, not for his wizardry at the piano, but for his artistry at the drums! As a musician for the great majority of my life, I can inform you that this is no small accomplishment. In this recording we hear him playing the music of another innovator, guitarist Allan Holdsworth, whom he has accompanied at the drums for many years and is intimately acquainted with his music. I recall a concert of Allan in London some years ago, and after the performance I went to see him backstage only to tell him that if I knew what he was doing, I'd steal it! The guitaristic prowess of Allan is well known amongst the musical, and particularly, the guitar community of the world. Along with his mastery, his musical conceptions and compositions are equally well known and admired. It is perhaps the marvellous combination of Gary's immense musical talent as a pianist, and his knowledge of Allan's strange and beautiful music from the point of view as a drummer who knows so well the rhythmic intricacies of his compositions that make this recording so appealing to me. Thanks Gary!”
John McLaughlin - February 2001
“The best interpreters of standards are able to go directly to the essence of the material and, with a combination of stream-of-consciousness thinking and careful consideration, turn it into something new every time it is played. Husband accomplishes the same thing with Holdsworth's compositions, proving that Holdsworth's writing, while it may never elevate to the level of “standard,” is clearly worth visiting in a more open and expansive way. Maybe it's because Holdsworth is so careful at crafting his tunes that people can't see past the detailed arrangements to the broader potential of the material, but Husband clearly does, and hopefully The Things I See will encourage others to do the same.”
John Kelman, All About Jazz
“This sharply focused album is made entirely from "Interpretations of the Music of Allan Holdsworth", 10 tracks of solo piano played by a musician at the height of his powers... The result is a terrific album, full of flights of virtuosity, clever references to the jazz and classical repertoires and plenty of sonic surprises... Husband has taken possession of [Holdsworth's] music, but in the friendliest possible way.”
John L. Walters, The Guardian Newspaper "CD Of The Week", September 7th, 2001
“You don't have to watch Gary Husband at work for long to realise that he's the kind of artist who pours every personal resource he can tap into his intense and passionate music... Husband is now widely credited for the brilliant pianist he is, and brings out the best of Holdsworth's composer's imagination... Remarkable virtuosity allied with sensitivity.”
John Fordham, JAZZ UK, September/October 2001
“A quantum leap for the drummer/pianist. The originality of the melodic and harmonic content is remarkable... establishing a parallel version that stands up in its own right. This is not only a brilliant piece of creative piano work but an excellent example of a tribute project that adds to the subject-matter.” Brian Priestley, Jazzwise Magazine, September 2001
“Husband, quirky and totally open to the inspiration of the moment, is an original... The results here are absorbing and impressive.”
Jack Masserik, Evening Standard Hot Tickets Magazine, UK
“[Husband's] considerable dexterity and fluency, his pianistic elegance and sureness of touch make this album such a memorable exposition of Holdsworth's celebrated approach.”
Chris Parker, Jazzreview Magazine, UK, September 2001
“Multi-instrumentalist, multi-genre-busting musician Husband takes a plaintive piano stance on some interesting music composed by an able purveyor of electric fusion. The result is music as ethereal as Keith Jarrett's and grounded as Geoff Keezer's.”
C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz Magazine, US (Online), August 2001
released May 23, 2021
Album cover photography: Gary Husband
All arrangements and performance: Gary Husband - Piano, “in piano” percussion, bells and vocals.
Produced by Gary Husband
Recorded by Rob Jenkins at Niles Smiles Studio, London, October 2000.
Mixed by Rob Jenkins & Gary Husband at Niles Smiles Studio, London, October 2000.
Optimised and remastered by Markus Reuter, 05/2021
My thanks to Souvik Dutta, Chris Hoard, Art Of Life Records, Angel Air Records, Richard Niles, Todd Collins, Paul Kohler, Markus Reuter and Leonardo Pavkovic.
