NPR's JazzSet: Dave Holland Big Band -- On Tour

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Dave Holland Big Band, Out on Tour

The leader of one of the most exciting ensembles today came to the United States from England, to play bass with Miles Davis in 1968. Lucky for us, Dave Holland stayed here, and he remains at the forefront of jazz to this day.

Dave Holland. Photo Credit: Laurence Labat
Through the 70s and 80s, Dave Holland anchored many exciting groups. Then in the 1990s, he stepped forward and organized his own quintet. In 2000 he expanded and premiered the Dave Holland Big Band at the Montreal Jazz Festival.

The group's first CD, What Goes Around, won a Grammy in 2003 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble. The next CD, Overtime, has just come out on Dare2 Records - Dave's new label, which he owns. The music includes Holland's "Monterey Suite," which had its national radio premiere on JazzSet in 2002. The band is currently touring, and will be playing in Colorado, California, Oregon and New York in April.

Ed Littlefield, Jr.
On Jan. 22, 2005, the Dave Holland Big Band boarded a bus and inched its way from New York to the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Blizzard conditions didn't stop them or the ticket-holders from getting to the Kennedy Center either. The band has played two full sets, and the audience wants more. We timed their ovation at almost six minutes.

Credit: Laurence Labat

MUSIC
"What Goes Around" by Dave Holland, featuring Chris Potter on saxophone and Robin Eubanks on trombone -- the title selection of the first album

"Last Minute Man" by Dave Holland, featuring Josh Roseman on trombone and Duane Eubanks on trumpet -- inspired by funky rhythms in the spirit of Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg

"Blues for CM" by Dave Holland, inspired by bassist Charles Mingus -- solos by Steve Nelson on vibes, Antonio Hart on alto

"Mental Images" by Robin Eubanks -- solos by Duane and Robin Eubanks

PERSONNEL
Dave Holland, leader & bass
Antonio Hart & Mark Gross, alto saxophones
Chris Potter, tenor
Gary Smulyan, baritone
Steve Nelson, vibes & marimba
Taylor Haskins, Duane Eubanks & Alex "Sasha" Sipiagin, trumpets
Robin Eubanks, Jonathan Arons, Josh Roseman, trombones
Nate Smith, drums

WEB RESOURCES

Dave Holland Big Band

The band's Overdrive CD

Kennedy Center Jazz

CREDITS
Our music mixer is JazzSet Technical Director Duke Markos, with Chris Weal and Drew Doucette of Big Mo Recording. Thanks to Greg Hartmann -- and also to Louise Holland.
From the Kennedy Center: Sean Costello, Sara Waller, Wesley Taylor, and house sound man Joe Stanton were the team, with Kevin Struthers of Kennedy Center Jazz.

In Paris, recording Dee Dee Bridgewater: engineer Pascal Camille at Média Mix Production; director Claude Carriere of France Musiques.
And also: the JazzSet Technical Director in New York is Duke Markos. Producer: Becca Pulliam; Executive Producer: Thurston Briscoe III, at WBGO Jazz 88 in Newark, N.J.