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Without a doubt, Dave Holland is one of the finest bassists – not to mention jazz artists – around. A gifted and versatile performer, he's as likely to cite Mingus as an influence as he is the classical composer Bela Bartok. Holland began his career playing popular music with some chums in his hometown outside London, then went on to study classical music with the principal bassist of the London Philharmonic Orchestra before moving into the more experimental realm of the London jazz scene. But the incident that really kick-started his career is the stuff that legends are made of...
In 1968, this British bloke was “discovered” by Miles Davis at a London club. Miles invited the 22-year-old Holland to join his band, and the young lad subsequently hauled off to New York City, toured with Miles’ for two years and appeared on a number of recordings, including the seminal albums In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew.
with
Miles Davis and Jack DeJohnette, 1969
(photo by Doug Watkins) |
However, his stint with Miles is just one facet in a long and distinguished career. This bassist extraordinaire has played with such eminent artists as John McLaughlin, Coleman Hawkins, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, Stan Getz, Thelonious Monk, Jack DeJohnette, Sam Rivers, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Pat Metheny, to name a few. (Check out his full bio on DaveHolland.com). He’s also a renowned educator who has taught at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and the Banff School in Alberta Canada, and he also received an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee School of Music.
In 1997 he formed the Dave Holland Quintet, a powerhouse ensemble that has since earned immense critical acclaim and popularity among all types of jazz lovers. Last year, I saw this quintet (Robin Eubanks – trombone; Steve Nelson – vibes; Billy Kilson – drums; and Chris Potter - alto/soprano sax) perform at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago, and these guys were tight. (For more info on these first-rate musicans, visit DaveHolland.com.) The Jazz Showcase brings in the heavy hitters from all over the world, but even among this illustrious roster of jazz artists, the Dave Holland Quintet really stood out for its originality and superb musicianship.
with
Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, 1991
(photo by Jackie LePage) |
Holland also performs with an octet and big band that feature these fine players and more. The Dave Holland Big Band is currently touring Europe and the U.S., with its first State-side stop at Yoshi’s (in Oakland, CA) from September 24-29. This run comprises a good portion of the band's too-few U.S. dates, then they take off to Europe once again. (L.A., NYC and Boston residents: take note of the U.S. tour dates.)
Though I haven’t seen the Dave Holland Big Band in action, I can only imagine how inspiring this ensemble would be with a leader like Holland and a cast of excellent performers, including his quintet colleagues and our friend Josh Roseman on trombone.
Whether you're a seasoned jazz aficionado, or someone who just wants to witness a solid jazz performance but doesn’t know where to begin, you should definitely check these guys out.
Margaret Pitcher
JamBase | San Francisco
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