Kronomyth 13.0: SOME NEW TUNES. This is an album of mostly jazz covers (plus two new songs from Gordon Beck), the impetus for which was a version of “Michelle” recorded in 1993 with the same quartet on Come Together: Guitar Tribute To The Beatles. Although the mathematical fusion of his last album is still in evidence (“Countdown,” “How Deep Is The Ocean”), None Too Soon also showcases the guitarist’s softer side (“Nuages,” “Very Early”) and allows Holdsworth to indulge some of his tenor saxophone fantasies (via the guitar and Synthaxe) on material from John Coltrane and Joe Henderson. Beck plays the role of collaborator, composer and co-arranger, and the album might just as easily have been credited to the pair. Although a previous familiarity with some of these songs provides a reference point for the listener, Holdsworth admittedly made few concessions in his approach to the music, preferring to interpret them in his own familiar idiom. Beck (and not Holdsworth) selected many of the songs to cover, and the guitarist approached them as original works. Holdsworth has always followed his own muse, even when he’s playing other people’s music. Not surprisingly, the interpretations are often highly original; you’ve probably heard The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood” and Coltrane’s “Countdown” before, but not like this. That said, hearing Holdsworth put his unique stamp on songs like Joe Henderson’s “Isotope” and “Inner Urge” might be lost on all but jazz aficionados. Gary Willis and Kirk Covington (both of Tribal Tech) provide excellent support, and show the wisdom of bringing in a prefab rhythm section. As the last collaboration between Beck and Holdsworth, None Too Soon is a fitting way to say goodbye, by leaving their imprint on the music that came before them.
The Songs
1. Countdown (John Coltrane) 3:09
2. Nuages (Django Reinhardt) 5:40
3. How Deep Is The Ocean (Irving Berlin) 5:29
4. Isotope (Joe Henderson) 5:41
5. None Too Soon Pt. One/Interlude/None Too Soon Pt. Two (Gordon Beck) 7:42
6. Norwegian Wood (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) 5:55
7. Very Early (Bill Evans) 7:40
8. San Marcos (Gordon Beck) 3:22
9. Inner Urge (Joe Henderson) 6:15
The Players
Allan Holdsworth (guitar & Synthaxe), Gordon Beck (digital piano, keyboards), Kirk Covington (drums), Gary Willis (bass guitar). Produced, recorded and mixed by Allan Holdsworth with engineering assistance from Gordon Davis. Re-issue executive producer: Leonardo Pavkovic.
The Pictures
Photos by Rick Gould, Glen Laferman, David Coralnick and Dave Flores.
The Plastic
Released on CD on September 24, 1996 in the UK (JMS/Cream), the US (Restless) and Japan (Polydor).
- Re-issued on compact disc in 2012 in the US (Moonjune, MJR043).
