Jazz Articles about Dave Holland

Dave Holland Quintet: Critical Mass

by Nic Jones
September 4, 2006

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, ...

Dave Holland Quintet: Critical Mass

by John Kelman
August 23, 2006

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 ...

Wayne Shorter and Dave Holland at Carnegie Hall

by Chad Kushins
July 6, 2005

When Wayne Shorter put a new working acoustic jazz band together in 2001, there were two possible outcomes that his fans and listeners could have expected: 1) “Nice! Wayne Shorter is going to finally bring back is innovative style of playing and band-leading with new, original compositions that just might rival his composing power demonstrated during his tenures with the Miles Davis band in the mid-1960s, the Weather Report and the V.S.O.P. reunion quartet of the 1970s," or 2) “Ah, ...

Dave Holland Big Band: Overtime

by Russ Musto
May 12, 2005

Overtime, the second release from the Dave Holland Big Band, is another impressive work by the Grammy-winning large ensemble. Assembled around the legendary bassist's working quintet, the thirteen-piece unit explores the greater harmonic implications of the leader's creative compositions, without sacrificing the special rhythmic character the smaller group possesses. Built from the bottom up upon the rock solid foundation of Holland's great big bass sound with Billy Kilson's atypical drumming and Steve Nelson's vibraphone and marimba (in lieu of piano) ...

2005 Cape Town International Jazz Festival: Africa's Grandest Gathering

by AAJ Staff
March 30, 2005

Day 1 | Day 2 | The Aftermath Two days after my arrival in South Africa, things are still a blur. I planned this trip months ago and I did plenty of homework in advance, but nothing can adequately prepare you for the explosive cultural and human landscape of South Africa. Home to over 45 million people speaking eleven official languages, South Africa overflows with color. It's also a decade-old democracy, which still feels pretty young---people seem genuinely ...

Dave Holland Big Band: Overtime

by John Kelman
February 19, 2005

Dave Holland Big Band Overtime Dare2 Records 2005

These days it's a challenge to keep any group together for the long haul. Few groups last more than one or two records before dissolving, and while there have been many outstanding records by such short-lived collaborations, one is always left feeling regret for what might have been; the kind of personal voice that might really have emerged had they managed to stay together longer. While ...

The Dave Holland Big Band: Overtime

by Jack Bowers
February 18, 2005

What does one do when his initial album as a big-band leader sweeps up almost every award in sight and rockets straight to the top of the best-seller list? If he's bassist Dave Holland, he goes back to the drawing board and works Overtime to make sure his second one is not only as good as but in some ways even better than the first. Having listened closely, this reviewer's candid appraisal is “mission accomplished."

More than fifty minutes of ...