Allan Holdsworth

IMAC presents a concert with jazz and rock guitarist Allan Holdsworth. His band also features the phenomenally talented jazz/rock drummer Chad Wackerman.

Holdsworth is widely regarded by fans and contemporary musicians as one of the 20th century’s most prominent guitarists. He is one of a handful of musicians who has consistently proven himself as an innovator in between and within the worlds of rock and jazz music. Despite the uncompromising nature of Holdsworth’s predominantly genre-defying solo projects, he’s no stranger to all-star jazz festival line-ups or large venue rock audiences. Musician Magazine placed Holdsworth near the top of their “100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time”. An inductee of Guitar Player Magazine’s Hall of Fame, Holdsworth is a five-time winner in their readers’ poll.

Holdsworth has dedicated his energies to develop many different aspects of guitar technology. This has included new “baritone” variations of the instrument, his custom 6-string designs (one most recently manufactured by Carvin), the invention of electronic components for the recording studio, and exploring the possibilities of guitar-based synthesizer controllers.

A phenomenally skilled jazz and rock drummer, Chad Wackerman’s career began in 1978 with the Bill Watrous band. Since then he has amassed a remarkable body of work including a seven year association with Frank Zappa. He has also recorded 6 albums and toured with guitar legend Allan Holdsworth, played on the “One Voice” album with Barbara Streisand, and recorded albums and toured with artists as diverse as Steve Vai, Men at Work, Ed Mann, Albert Lee, Dweezil Zappa, Tom Grant, James Taylor, Joe Sample, John Patitucci and Bill Bruford.