Dave Holland

[mrmxyzptlk]

For those who don't know about it, there's a blog, "You Are What You Hear," that hosts lots of great "unauthorized" live jazz recordings:

http://urge2burge.wordpress.com

I took a look at the blog today, and found that a recording has been posted of Herbie Hancock's group from the 2008 Newport Jazz Festival. The bassist is Dave Holland. I did a double take upon noticing that Holland plays electric bass on this gig in addition to acoustic!

Of course, Holland is known primarily as an extraordinary acoustic bass player. However, he played electric bass on many performances during his tenure with Miles Davis in 1969-1970. I've long enjoyed his electric bass playing; back in the pre-Jaco era, he played with great technical facility and improvisational flair. Sadly, he abandoned the electric bass after the early '70s, and I was afraid we'd never hear him play it again. It makes me happy to see him pick up the electric instrument once more after such a long hiatus!

Does anybody know which model of Fender bass Dave is using? In the photo on the "YAWYH" site, it looks like a Precision, but it's hard to tell.

[bassist15]

In the video I saw of Dave playing electric bass he was using a sunburst P/J bass

[GM60466]

During some of the Bitches Brew session Dave played electric bass. It was a Fender P Bass that belonged to Harvey Brooks.

G

[bhagiti]

At the Isle of White Festival in '70 he was playing a black P-bass with a white guard. You can see the performance beginning here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfHDQ1GffRQ

[Dr. Cheese]

That tape with Herbie Hancock is nice! Mr. Holland does a nice spin on Paul Jackson.

[SMASH]

I saw that tour. Awesome. Very heavy in parts, not just some old guys going through the motions - it was totally vital.

I'd say Dave played electric for 2/3 of it, and I can't recall exactly but I think it was just a regular Precision.

Thanks for the link. Wow, awesome site !

[AndyCotton]

thanks for the blog pointer. great stuff on there!

[JimK]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow2JFatvUVM

More electric Dave...it's "Jack In" from Dejohnette's "Parrallel Realities" album (I think it's Dejohnette playing a synth bass thingee on the studio album).

There was a Metheny-Holland-Hancock-Dejohnette DVD out there from about 10 years-
http://www.amazon.com/Dejohnette-Han...2384201&sr=8-1

...wow, glad I bought mine when I did.

I just picked up MIles' Festiva de Juan Pins 1969 with Holland playing URB & EB...very raw EB in a Bitches Brew vibe.

[KoalaBass]

I think he was playing with a precision strung with flatwounds in the early 70's! I bet Harvey brooks was using the same set-up.