Tag Archives: Dave Holland

Top Ten Jazz Albums of 2010

Posted on by
2

Another really good year for jazz releases, and as with the past few years it was dominated by great independent releases rather than major label offerings.  Christian Scott, Dave Holland, the Clayton Brothers and Rudresh Mahanthappa continued their run of outstanding musical output, while some relatively unknown players (outside of the jazz world, anyway) put out some great albums.  The picks are a varied bunch, but the one common strain is that all these artists continue to move modern jazz forward in new and exciting ways.

It was a tough call for album of the year between Pathways and Apex.  In the end, though, I am such a big fan of Mahanthappa’s recent work, and his collaboration with the veteran Bunky Green just continues to blow me away every time I listen to it.  It just edged out the exciting live energy of the amazing band that Dave Holland put together for yet another amazing entry in his ever expanding jazz discography.  As always, these are my personal favorites for the year and by no means dismisses the fantastic work of the many great jazz artists who put out meaningful and outstanding work over the past 12 months.  I would love to hear your comments on these picks.  Enjoy !!

(#10) Christian Scott  – “Yesterday You Said Tomorrow” : 2010 : Concord Jazz

Christian Scott – “American’t”

(#9) Cory Weeds – “The Many Deeds of Cory Weeds” : 2010 : Cellar Live

Cory Weeds – “Corner Kisses”

(#8) Jeremy Pelt – “Men of Honor” : 2010 : Highnote

Jeremy Pelt – “Us/Them”

(#7) Scott Dubois – “Black Hawk Dance” : 2010 : Sunnyside

Scott Dubois – “River Life”

(#6) Jae Sinnett – “Theatre” : 2010 : J-Nett Music

Jae Sinnett – “Straight Around The Corner”

(#5) Ted Nash & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra – “Portrait in Seven Shades” : JALC Records

Ted Nash & JALC – “Picasso”

(#4) Clayton Brothers – “The New Song and Dance” : 2010 : ArtistShare

Clayton Brothers – “The New Song and Dance”

(#3) Pat Bianchi – “Back Home” : 2010 : Doodlin’ Records

Pat Bianchi – “Hammer Head”

(#2) Dave Holland Octet – “Pathways” : 2010 : Dare2 Records

Dave Holland Octet – “Ebb and Flow”

(#1) Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green – “Apex” : 2010 : Pi Recordings

Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green – “Summit”

Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green – “Playing with Stones”

Listening Room – “Jumpin’ In”

Posted on by
Reply

Jumpin In

Dave Holland Quintet – Jumpin’ In

Dave Holland Quintet – New One

From “Jumpin’ In” : 1983 : ECM 1269

This session features an early version of the Dave Holland Quintet.  The album is full of challenging and creative material, which the talented members of the group tackle head on.  A great record that finds Holland really coming into his own as a composer, arranger and leader.

Players:
Dave Holland – Bass
Steve Coleman – Alto Sax, Flute
Kenny Wheeler – Trumpet
Julian Priester – Trombone
Steve Ellington – Drums

Listening Room – “Five Pieces 1975″

Posted on by
Reply

Anthony Braxton assembled one of his best groups for this 1975 release on Arista Records.  With Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler and Barry Altschul joining him in the studio, Braxton laid down what is considered by his many admirers as one of his finest recordings of the 1970′s.  All but the opening track (You Stepped Out of a Dream) were composed by Braxton and the tight and very capable players in the group handle the complex music beautifully.

braxtonfive

Released 1975  :  Arista Records  :  Catalog # A 4064

Players:
Anthony Braxton – Alto Sax, Clarinet, Sopranino, Flute, Contrabass Clarinet
Kenny Wheeler – Trumpet
Dave Holland – Bass
Barry Altschul – Drums

Anthony Braxton – Opus 23G from “Five Pieces 1975″

Anthony Braxton – Opus 40M from “Five Pieces 1975“

Listening Room – “Pass It On”

Posted on by
Reply

This 2008 release by the Dave Holland Sextet features new arrangements of eight original compositions by Holland that have appeared on his past recordings and show why Holland is one of jazz’s great modern composers.  For “Pass It On” Holland employs a three horn front-line as well as including the massive talents of pianist Mulgrew Miller and drummer Eric Harland.  The one non-Holland composition on the album is the stellar opening track The Sum of All Parts, written by trombonist Robin Eubanks.   The track Rivers Run (originally recorded in 1988) is a nice tribute by Holland to his 1970′s duets partner, the great free jazz saxophonist Sam Rivers.

Pass It On
Buy at Amazon

Released 2008  :  Emarcy / Dare2 Records  :  Catalog # 06007

Players:
Dave Holland – Double Bass
Robin Eubanks – Trombone
Antonio Hart – Alto Sax
Alex Sipiagin – Trumpet
Mulgrew Miller – Piano
Eric Harland – Drums

Dave Holland Sextet – The Sum of All Parts from “Pass It On”

Dave Holland Sextet – Rivers Run from “Pass It On”

Listening Room – “Conference Of The Birds”

Posted on by
Reply

Dave Holland – “Four Winds”

Dave Holland – “Q & A”

From “Conference of the Birds” : 1972 : ECM

This album from 1972 was Dave Holland’s first as a leader of his own group. He had previously played with Miles on the classics In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew. All Music Guide calls Conference of the Birds “one of the all time avant-garde jazz classics” and it is one of the rare times, if not the only time, that Sam Rivers and Anthony Braxton played together on record.

Players:
Dave Holland -Bass
Anthony Braxton – Alto & Soprano Sax, Clarinet, Flute
Sam Rivers – Tenor & Soprano Sax, Flute
Barry Altschul – Drums & Percussion