Seeing Dave Holland twice this week!

[DaveBeny]

(1) Tonight, at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Dave has been giving masterclasses at the Academy this week. I'm not sure what the format will be tonight - it may be a performance with some of the students. This isn't open to the public - a music journalist friend is taking me as a guest.

(2) On Saturday, at the Birmingham Recital Hall. Dave grew up in Wolverhampton, just outside Birmingham. He receives an honourary degree from B'ham Conservatoire on Friday and is performing solo on Saturday night at Birmingham's Recital Hall.

Can't wait! I'll post some reviews.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Ask him when "Bass Inventions" is going to be released on a CD!!

[Wil Davis]

Originally Posted by David Benyahia

…snip
I'll post some reviews.

Ahhhh! You lucky dog!


Uh, oh - I'm turning GREEEEEEEEN!!!!

- Wil

[DaveBeny]

Last night was GREAT!

The concert was the culmination of Dave's three days' teaching at the Academy. Dave's compositions were played by a revolving septet of extremely talented students (tenor, alto, trumpet/flugelhorn, piano, bass, drums, guitar). Dave gave an introduction to each piece and watched from the side.

Off the top of my head, the tunes played included:
'You I Love'
'Pass It On'
'Homecoming'
'Processional'
'Double Vision'
'Dance of the Elders'
'The Balance'

This lasted for an hour and a half. Dave then got up and played two five minute medleys on solo bass. I can't identify everything he played but 'Mr P.C' was in there. I sat about ten feet in front of him and was blown away. Dave's technique and creativity are off the scale. Can't wait for Saturday's concert now!

Bruce,
I asked Dave about 'Bass Inventions'. He had suggested to ECM that they record it, but they passed on it. Now Dave has his own label, it's on his wishlist of things to record - it's just a matter of self-financing an orchestral recording!

[Bruce Lindfield]

Sounds good - I've played 'Processional' at Jazz classes - like a 5/4 Blues!

Thanks for asking about Bass Inventions - shame about ECM turning it down, it was just the sort of crossover project that they could have been really good at!

There's a transcription of Dave's solo version of Mr. PC on Lucas Pickford's site, I think... I printed it off!

[Rob Palmer]

Saw this piece performed live and was disappointed. Didn't move me in any way at all. For someone with about 64 CDs with Dave Holland on them, I would have preferred to have enjoyed it. Saw Marc Johnson with John Taylor around the same time. Much more engaging. Johnson's bowed bass solo was the most moving bowed experience I have ever had

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Rob Palmer

Saw this piece performed live and was disappointed. Didn't move me in any way at all.

Where did you see it and when?

You haven't filled out your profile so I can't guess if it was the same concert I saw?

I think Turnage is an aquired taste - but he studied with Messiaen amongst others and I really like his work, although it is not easy listening!

So - 3 Screaming Popes and his operas are too much for me - but I like his Jazz-based stuff with John Scofield and Pete Erskine - plus orchestral pieces like "Your Rockaby" etc.

I think it's great that we have a young British composer who is being taken seriously by both the classical "establishment" and who wants to work with the best Jazz players as he is a big fan of Miles' electric period!!

Turnage combines a lot of things that I'm a big fan of - but of course, it may not be everybody's cup of tea!