This album's subtitle, "Interpretations of the Music of
Allan Holdsworth," goes some way toward explaining the concept of this set, but
Gary Husband more eloquently clarifies his aims in the accompanying booklet, declaring that
The Things I See is not a covers album, but his rather breathtaking musical translation of
Allan Holdsworth's music from guitar to piano. Along the way, the songs undergo "a considerable amount of 'recomposition.'" That itself is a considerable understatement, for in reality the songs are thoroughly transformed, while still remaining true to the spirit -- if not to the melody, harmonic transcription, or even the mood -- of the original.
Husband, of course, is best known as a drummer, and it's his strong rhythmic sense that drives these pieces. Boldly blending both classical and jazz-inspired elements, his instrumentals range from lushly romantic numbers to sparse, highly sophisticated pieces that hone in on
Holdsworth's own idiosyncratic music.
Husband brings in some startlingly idiosyncratic elements of his own, most provocatively on "Temporary Fault," where he abandons the piano keys to attack the instrument's strings, and proceeds to pluck complex rhythms from them. Piano purists may find such excursions into the realm of percussion unseemly if not outright alarming, but it is surely a fitting tribute for such a creative and innovative artist as
Holdsworth. The guitarist was highly impressed and moved by this set, believing it was "absolutely true to the spirit of the music." And what better recommendation than that could be made? ~ Jo-Ann Greene