Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dave Holland Quintet: Not For Nothin'

Dave Holland Quintet: Not For Nothin'

By David Adler
November 1, 2001
View read count

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 Rhythm" and Steve Nelson’s haunting "Go Fly a Kite" are at opposite ends of the band’s compositional spectrum — the former embodying tight, polyrhythmic execution, the latter a bittersweet lyricism. And Holland’s five charts are characteristically wily and well-crafted, from the slow waltz "For All You Are" to the closing up-tempo burner "Cosmosis." Things really come to a boil during his 13-minute-long "What Goes Around"; Potter tears it up on alto, Eubanks gets to growling through his mouthpiece, and Kilson finally solos over the alternating 6/4-5/4 bass line.

This incarnation of the Dave Holland Quintet is a thing of utmost rarity: a cutting-edge ensemble that is brainy and complex yet downright entertaining. May its book and discography continue to grow.

Track Listing

Global Citizen; For All You Are; Lost And Found; Shifting Sands; Billows Of Rhythm; What Goes Around; Go Fly A Kite; Not For Nothin

Personnel

Dave Holland

bass

Dave Holland

Album information

Title: Not For Nothin' | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: ECM Records

About Dave Holland

PREVIOUS / NEXT

When Cooler Heads Prevail
< Previous

A Fireside Chat With Jason Moran
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.