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Dave Holland Quintet: Critical Mass
by Joel Roberts
Bassist extraordinaire Dave Holland believes that like fine wine, music shouldn't be unbottled before its time. Holland and his highly regarded quintet spent a year and a half honing and retooling the music on their new album until it reached the point he calls “critical mass, where “it has become what it's going to be. That patience, care and commitment to getting things right is evident throughout Critical Mass. This is the work of a working band, ...
Continue ReadingChris Potter: Underground
by Martin Gladu
Evidently, rhythm is at the core center of this contemporary and urban-sounding album. Throughout these hard-driving selections, Chris Potter and his 55 Bar cohorts deliver rock-solid performances, both individually and collectively. In fact, one cannot not mention Potter's producing and A&R work--it firmly positions this album as jazz/fusion album of the year (if one can overlook the weird splice in the first track). More, it provides him an exciting live unit.Indeed, Nate Smith is a powerhouse. His energetic ...
Continue ReadingDave Holland Quintet: Critical Mass
by Nic Jones
This particular lineup of Dave Holland's longstanding quintet had apparently been working for eighteen months prior to recording this disc, and that simple fact oozes out of every note played. There is a level of cohesion and empathy here that arguably can come only from such longstanding associations.
Holland is anything but despotic in his leadership responsibilities, and every member of the group gets a composer's credit here. The result is a diversity of approaches that makes for rewarding listening, ...
Continue ReadingDave Holland Quintet: Critical Mass
by John Kelman
It's been five years since the last studio record by Dave Holland's quintet. But between touring on its own and as the core of Holland's big band, which was responsible for the outstanding Overtime (Dare2, 2005), the unit shows no sign of slowing down. Critical Mass proves that when the chemistry is right, even longstanding bands can continue to improve by introducing new elements, without forgetting what made them great in the first place. The quintet has been ...
Continue ReadingChris Potter: Underground and Hands
by Riel Lazarus
Chris PotterUndergroundSunnyside2006 Kasper VillaumeHandsStunt2006 Acclaimed saxophonist Chris Potter has already earned two recording credits for 2006, though on remarkably different releases. The first--a Potter-led session entitled Underground--finds him in the electrifying company of guitarists Wayne Krantz and Adam Rogers, keyboardist Craig Taborn and drummer Nate Smith. The second album--Danish pianist Kasper Villaume's Hands--sees ...
Continue ReadingChris Potter: Underground
by AAJ Italy Staff
La prima cosa che salta all’occhio ascoltando questo ottimo Underground del saxofonista americano Chris Potter è la presenza di una sottile anomalia che rende questo lavoro utile per capire da che parte sta andando il jazz contemporaneo. Molto semplicemente si tratta di una anomalia nella strumentazione: manca infatti il basso, acustico o elettrico che sia. E la sua funzione è divisa non troppo equamente fra il chitarrista Wayne Krantz e il tastierista Craig Taborn. In realtà è soprattutto quest’ultimo, con ...
Continue ReadingChris Potter: Raising the Bar
by Mike Brannon
Like the ripples in a still lake, emanating in every direction across its surface, sometimes certain realizations strike you repeatedly within a short period—like becoming aware of something or someone for the first time, and then referencing it again and again from different sources as your awareness catches up to your first perception. At that point you're involved and, of course, want to know more.Such was my experience of first encountering tenor saxophonist Chris Potter's music. Having heard ...
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