I love Novak with Holdsworth, the music breathes more in the softer passages. For me, sometimes Allan's drummers slammed too hard all the time, as great as they all were. Gary gives new life to Allan's compositions by playing more softly, brilliant ghost notes. I studied piano with Gary's dad (Larry) when Gary was about 12. Larry used to brag about him all the time during our lessons, and I was like yeah right, daddy loves his son, how nice. 10 years later, he was the hottest drummer around. True story

RIP Dave Carpenter. We miss your stellar bass playing!

R.I.P Dave Carpenter (bassist)

From a purely drum oriented perspective Gary Novak just has the most beautiful touch on the snare. Those fluttery ghost notes are sublime... Thanks for posting this concert, it's a gem.

Gary Novak is such an amazing drummer!

i am glad gary novak has played with allan. anyone that played with allan cemented his place in eternity.

We're so fortunate to have such a wealth of videos of Allan's performances. Losing him was a giant loss for us all. RIP Allan and thank you for the decades of fantastic music.

I think Holdsworth could TRULY communicate with aliens. This trio was smokin.

Every improvising musician would kill for the level of performance Allan found so substandard he felt the need to apologize for! What a spectacular genius!

0:00 - The Sixteen Men of Tain 6:14 - Looking Glass 11:54 - Letters Of Marque 21:25 - Above and Below 27:03 - Water On The Brain Pt.2 32:00 - Improvisation / Material Unreal 38:45 - Funnels 44:31 - Texas

Speaking as a guitarist and someone who's been to several Holdsworth concerts, Allan is such a joy to watch and listen to... The whole concert is fantastic, but the show's closing track, "Texas" is mind blowing and Allan runs that fine line between " sax-via-guitar" and "shredder". One also cannot overlook the excellent contributions of the late Dave Carpenter on bass and the amazing Gary Novak on drums. Fantastic post !

You've gotta love the Carpenter and Novak rhythm section. Brings out the best in AH.

Holdsworth's tone in this period is phenomenal. Instead of using the Synthaxe, his soloing tone was aided by the synth pickup he installed in his custom Carvin guitar. Fantastic

Novak on Sixteen Men and Vinnie on Secrets. Incredible!

One of my favorite recordings of Allan Holdsworth. The virtuosity of Dave Carpenter and Gary Novak's playing is so enjoyable to watch.

AH is a genius. The equivalent of Albert Einstein to music. He created his own tonal universe....and invited us

Not of this Planet !!! Allan scares me yet inspires me at the same time ! One of a kind guitarist ! Probably best one of all time ! ...

I was at Berklee when UK came out. When the tour hit Boston, I went with school chums. Had eBay been around then I would have promptly put all my gear up for auction.

Man, Gary Novak is just so good. Monster player. Allan always has the best out there playing with him but, Gary just fits Holdsworth's vibe and essence so well.

To me this era is his prime playing...I’ve loved all the different lineup beyond words and this one holds up to any of them. This music is a force of nature.

Also Gary's ride cymbal sounds beautiful

Gary is on another level here. So inspiring.

I was 14 when i got an AH record for my birthday and a whole new musical universe opened up for me. ❤🙏🙏

just wonderful . Gary Novak...phew !! mind blowing. A H remains the ultimate guitar explorer for me.

Gary Novak is IMHO the only drummer who found a groove to Alan's compositions ... He makes Alan's rhythmic conceptions kinda accessible ... and Dave Carpenter ...

The way he brings back the theme at 10:28 is so beautiful.

Rest In Peace Allan. I was 19 when I saw the Road Games tour at a small jazz club here in Az. On acid. I also saw Metal Fatigue and Sand. These were perspective-shifting experiences for me.

I completely agree with what has been said by a couple other guys here. I have been playing drums for over 40 years. I love Chad Wackerman, I love Gary husband. But the truth is, they definitely are not nearly as dynamic as Gary Novak, as evidenced here in this show. He can be whisper quiet, and still ever present, allowing the other players to be heard really well as he continues a masterful contribution from his set. Then when he needs to jump in, he does…very much so. Drummers… listen specifically where he gets very quiet to let the others be featured, and then listen specifically where he jumps in and throws those rolls at you. Wonderfully done.

severely underrated trio.....as individual players and as a group..possibly allan's best rhythm section...

This is the pinnacle. The best there is. Rest in Peace, Alan, and Dave.

I've been watching this video for years and I can't get enough. It's a masterpiece.

I like his train of thoughts and the technical innovation of Greg Howe.

I watch this whole concert once a week, so all sadly missed

And his first words after all of that were, "Sorry about that!" HAHAHAHA. Some artists are literally never good enough for themselves, hence it even being possible for someone to reach such a unique pinnacle as Holdsworth did

Gary Novak ... such a blaaaaast , smokin! as always ... unreal

Wow, the tracks for sixteen men were composed well before the album's release. The 90's was Holdsworth's decade. Not a whole lot has happened since

Originale musique , j'adore Gary Novak ! Carpenter aussi ! Allan à toujours fait une musique à lui super originale ! rip ...triste....

Such Amazing, beautiful, innovative music!

Yes, Allan Holdsworth is and remains my favorite musician ever! Amazing presentation.

So cool how you can still hear some of Coltrane's scrambled eggs in some of AH's solo figures.

The whole thing is amazing...

mind-blowing drumming ... that's way to good for a human :)

This brings joy to my heart. Rest in eternal peace, Allan.

Love these guys. Drummer is amazing, bassist so light and nimble, and Allan sees the whole fretboard as he plays. When I solo i see a little area around my hand, Allan sees the whole thing even as scales constantly change. Gifted!

There might not be many headbangers here but Gary playing remind me a bit of Sean Reinert in Human era.

the great thing is this was published on my birthday March fuckin third....and Allans first album was Velvet Darkness. on CTI....Great version of Letters of Marque ..Looking Glass and he did Funnels which is one of my favorites ..Gary Novak is a BEAST!!!! ..first I've heard from him...Allan and Jimmy have such great symmetry its some of the best ever

Ethereal music, only for the most demanding listener.

R.I.P. to greatest guitarist ever: Mr. Allan Holdsworth.

RIP Allan.. :( You will be soo dearly missed...

this is spiritual alchemy!

Allan is untouchable. I'm a huge fan of his.

Absolutely stunning virtuosity from Allan, Dave, and Gary. A great rendition of Looking Glass from 'Atavachron' (1986) (second song).

A phenomenal trio. Gary and Dave provide a masterful platform from which Allan can explore the outer limits of improvisation.

Amazing concert big drum game💪🏽

Carpenter's solo on water on the brain ii just keeps on giving and giving

In 1996 yngwie malmsteen did a cover version for a song called in the dead of night of a band named UK which allan holdsworth was the guitar player for that band, yngwie tell in his liner notes about the track the next words: "i never heard guitar playing like that before, the arrangament includes odd time and intricate instrument arrangament, i just love this one." after the words of yngwie malmsteen there's nothing more to say

Carpenter is a great electric pianist here.

Novak is the most musical of the Holdsworth drummers.

That drummer is awsome, and so is the bass player, good combination. thanks

Used to have a 70 minute commute to & from work. Fortunately I had a monster sound system. The “Road Games” EP stayed in the player 3 months straight, then came “Metal Fatigue”! All back roads through the foothills of SC. Best part of my day!

Gary Novak is just ridiculous.

The best guitarist,and the best ''Deep space soulfull,fulltechique,and wonderful,,guitarplayer!❤

The MASTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could listen to the Material Real outro at 36:26 all day on repeat. Such an excellent riff and Novak's soloing is out of this world.

Allan's legato is so liquid and flowing. Awesome performances by all.

This music is... cerebral. It floats in the ether, and just... is.

I can't believe Gary's lug key does not go flying across the stage at 19:20. Power tubs!!!

Nice piece, Chum, "I agree Tennessee.

Listening this, I remember Music can be, not just a product but truly part of the essence of live itself.

Semplicemente meravigliosi.👍👍👍

ハマるぜ!ピーターバラカン😁

MAGNIFICAL CONCERT ! thank you !!!

I miss Allan. Novak is my hero!

Beethoven said to never use anymore energy than is absolutely necessary to get the sound you want, thats what these three people are doing.

Great performance. Everyone does great on these tunes.

...❤

as always GREAT playing by all of you guys!!

mi Dios personal, totalmente inspirador

Allan's best trio, period! (Colaiuta takes 2nd position)

Words fail me...

Stunning music.

GARY NOVAK es Increíble!!!

Sensational,the Best

Thanks for posting

Subtle comping by Allan during the bass solo in Water on the Brain.

Took UTs algorithm about 2 weeks (into following Holdsworth's live sessions) to present me with this vid with Novak on drums. Loved his playing since Chick Corea's Paint the World album. His stick handling is interesting. Lots of wrist action due to holding sticks at their extreme end. An economical technique believe it or not. It transfers the weight of the stick forward to the tip ends, thus allowing a lighter touch to achieve volume and saving on the fatigue factor. Yes I use it myself at times and thats one reason I love watching him play. Intelligent camera work here too.

Allan is an alien, we know. But this trip kicks all the asses...

Dylan William thank you so much!

I have seen many Holdsworth videos and watching this I find myself asking: "Is this Allan Holdsworth, The Master, at his prime?"!

Sorry, I repeat myself after watching each concert, but this is over brilliant : translucid actually.

すげえぜ！ごろたんもビックリ。

r.i.p. allan!

What a Trio!!!!

Oh man.. What a band...Thanks for Vid...Nothing on Sp. Nir... I so wish we could get this stuff digital sound to get more clarity. < Not complaining, Big thanks. Saw A.H. with Wackerman, Husband, and Donati. Pure Joy every time!

Allan holdsworth el mejor del mundo. Muy fino.

"Brilliant "

I'll take that ride novak is playing. this is smoking

this is great..!!

This band swings.

One of the greatest live concerts in fusion jazz music! Such a great musicianship! Where was this live show?