Jazz Articles about Dave Holland

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Dave Holland Big Band: What Goes Around

by AAJ Staff
September 9, 2002

With a musical force like bassist Dave Holland at the helm, it's hard to imagine a group going wrong. But his new big band has a singular problem: too many players. Thirteen musicians, each more than capable, join forces on What Goes Around, which features seven tunes composed and arranged arranged by the man himself. Unfortunately this increase in scale just doesn't translate into much except redundancy. The core quintet (Potter, Eubanks, Nelson, Holland, and Kilson) has repeatedly proven its ...

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Miles Davis: The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions

by Michael Fortuna
December 1, 2001

Miles Davis was an innovator from the moment he first picked up the trumpet. But for years, the public didn't have a clear enough picture of Davis' journey from jazz into the rock/funk sounds of James Brown and Jimi Hendrix as well as his use of electric instruments.At the time, all the public knew of was the funk groove and electric piano sounds of “Stuff" from Miles in the Sky, followed by more electric sounds on Filles de ...

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Dave Holland Quintet: Not For Nothin'

by David Adler
November 1, 2001

The follow-up to last year’s Prime Directive is another must-hear. Once again, Dave Holland turns to each of his bandmates for writing contributions, considerably expanding the rhythmic and harmonic palette of the quintet. Chris Potter’s irrepressible “Lost and Found" may just be one of the best jazz tracks of our day. Robin Eubanks’s “Global Citizen," the opener, with its riveting grooves, killer unaccompanied bass break, and unexpected tempo shifts, is another candidate for top honors. Billy Kilson’s off-kilter “Billows of ...

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Dave Holland: Not For Nothin'

by C. Andrew Hovan
November 1, 2001

Although it may not quite approach the grandeur and sonority of his ‘80s ensemble with Kenny Wheeler and Marvin “Smitty” Smith, bassist Dave Holland’s current group continues to show promise in the light of their most recent editions for ECM. While drummer Billy Kilson still seems just a tad too busy for this reviewer, Steve Nelson’s vibes add a shimmering quality to the quintet’s work that had been missing previously. And it should go without saying that Chris Potter is ...

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Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones: Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones

by Glenn Astarita
November 1, 2001

The mere fact that legendary drummer, Elvin Jones, and bassist Dave Holland are backing guitarist, Bill Frisell makes for an interesting proposition. However, those familiar with Jones and Holland should be aware of their respective faculties as artists who have performed with the creme de al creme of jazz, as their resumes and legacies are well documented. With this release, the rhythm sections' charter is seemingly fabricated upon delving into the leader's musical mindset, and highly individualistic style.

On the ...

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Dave Holland Quintet: Not For Nothin'

by AAJ Staff
September 1, 2001

Usually, records led by bassists rely on a rock-solid rhythm section. Not For Nothin', Dave Holland's latest quintet effort, certainly presents no exception to this rule. However, the magic behind this disc comes from the fact that every musician plays in the rhythm section at times, and every player also contributes to melody and harmony as well. It's a rare, organic integration of roles. And the pieces fit together very nicely.

Dave Holland has been all the way through the ...

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Dave Holland Quintet: Not For Nothin'

by Mark Corroto
September 1, 2001

Drawing a musical map clarifies the lineage of bands and places them in history. Dave Holland’s Quintet can be traced directly to Miles Davis’ ‘second great quintet’ of Davis/Shorter/Carter/Hancock/Williams. In 1968, Holland, then a young bassist of 21 years, was playing with former Miles Davis pianist Bill Evans and future Davis drummer Jack DeJohnette. Miles asked him to replace the departing Ron Carter. Holland’s tenure with Miles (and Evans) bridged both post-bop modal music and jazz-fusion. He later left Miles ...