Dave Holland Octet – Pathways (Music Review)
By Andrew Duncan • Jul 20th, 2010 • Category: Categories, Jazz, Music Genres, ReviewsDave Holland Octet
Pathways
Dare2
Rating: 4 out of 5
Link: http://www.daveholland.com/
Dave Holland does something to jazz that takes talent and finesse to pull off; he garners your attention and fully keeps it throughout his debut Pathways.
This may be Holland’s first recording, but the bassist is not shy of knowing how to work a big band, as well as collaborate with some of jazz greats, including Miles Davis during the Bitches Brew era.
With a full band, he takes these collection of energetic and sincere songs to the stage and gives them a life of there own. The title track proves that with this progressively moving piece that wastes no time getting into the solo work. Tonal excellence prevails and the limelight of these musicians are housed under great care of the band swirling rhythms and transitions all over the place.
“How’s Never?” is a funky jam that allows Holland to show off his chops, bouncing back between drummer and bassist with the horns coming in and out and leveling it all out.
The Octet does a great job balancing sequentiality with chaos. And maybe not so much in the music itself but in the spirit are we reminded of Count Basie and his Birdland days through Holland’s songs “Ebb And Flow” and “Wind Dance,” as well as hearing nods to everyone from Gillespie to Les Baxter. when you get to “Shadow Dance,” you will be applauding right along with the crowd for the appreciation that this band just blew your mind.
And with that I never once thought, “Oh one more change up” or “one more solo.” All I have to say is bring it on Holland because you are the man to make me get excited about jazz and its continued progression.
Andrew Duncan is a journalist who has migrated to the forces of academia. He has written for various publications including Chord, Heckler, Readyset...Aesthetic, and a vast array of alternative press contributions. When not roaming the streets of Indianapolis, he is either addicted to KXCI, making music, or striving to watch every film listed on IMDB.
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“This may be Holland’s first recording”? Dave Holland has been around for decades. He recorded his first album as a leader in 1971, and he’s on a bunch of albums with Miles Davis and Chic Corea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Holland