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For Dave by Ernst Reijseger
From the album
Album Title: For Dave
Label: Self Produced
Released: 2026
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About the Album
Ernst Reijseger contributed an improvised composition in honor of Dave Holland, click here to listen to it. Below is a transcripion of the spoken part, which starts around 4:10, followed by some comments and observations that Reijseger shared after the improvisation.
So Dave!
I saw you play when I just turned 17
In Amsterdam with Circle
You played cello and bass in Circle
With Antony
Barry Altschul
Chick Corea
...On top of the building, high, lot of stairs
And I try to use my memory...
You played a lot of….little bit of cello with barree grips, paralell fifths
But you had great rhythm and I loved it
And then I found out, only recently, because I don’t do a lot of research
That you played w o n d e r f u l with Derek Bailey
And of course, when I played with Derek, ten years later, or about 8 years later, he never told me…
That you guys played together
And also, we never played together, which I truly regret
A few notes from the author
I could have congratulated Dave in this message, so it was, once again, a little too much about me and not enough about him. Sorry, Dave!Happy birthday. I hope you keep enjoying playing.
And when my attention gets away from the music, and my focus on the music is “at risk.”
A few corrections and additions: I was actually 16 when I first saw Dave play. It was at the Shaffy Theatre, located inside the Felix Meritis building in Amsterdam, on December 2 or 3, 1970.
I basically shouldn’t talk when I play. My English skills are already limited, and my grammar and diction sometimes get in the way. The “use my memory” line was one of those moments.
And, of course, Dave played both cello and bass in Circle. In retrospect, perhaps I should have said bass and cello.
As for “But you had great rhythm and I loved it”: I realize that this could sound as if I were criticizing Dave for the “forbidden” use of parallel fifths, as though only the rhythmic part of his playing was worth listening to. That was certainly not what I meant!
Language is clearly not my strongest medium. We both prefer the music.
Dear Dave, I hope you like what I play for you.
Ludovico Granvassu picked the track, as I recorded four tracks with respect and admiration for you and your music.
Tracks
For Dave.
Personnel
Ernst Reijseger
celloDate featured
October 1, 2026
This song appears by permission of the contributing artist and/or record company. It is for personal use only; no other rights are granted or implied.
