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Dave Holland

Frank Kreber

Frank Kreber

Mar 5, 2022
335
616
Germany
#1
I'm currently listening to Dream Of The Elders and once again realizing how much I (as an electric bassist) am influenced by Dave Holland's double bass playing. His calm, hands-on sovereignty, his virtuosity that's never an end in itself, the way he creates spaces with his lines... Not that I could play anywhere near as well, but he's an absolute role model. This CD in particular, where he mediates between Gene Jackson's driving, polyrhythmic drumming and the relaxed soloists Steve Nelson (vib) and Eric Person (sax), is a particularly impressive example.
 
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#2
Frank Kreber said:
I'm currently listening to Dream Of The Elders and once again realizing how much I (as an electric bassist) am influenced by Dave Holland's double bass playing. His calm, hands-on sovereignty, his virtuosity that's never an end in itself, the way he creates spaces with his lines... Not that I could play anywhere near as well, but he's an absolute role model. This CD in particular, where he mediates between Gene Jackson's driving, polyrhythmic drumming and the relaxed soloists Steve Nelson (vib) and Eric Person (sax), is a particularly impressive example.
Click to expand...
For me, I’d say Charles Mingus, with his groove and forcefulness, occupies that space. Beyond that, I’ve always been impressed with the sonic textures of Eberhard Weber and his impressionistic music, as applied to my fretless playing. But fretless player Mick Karn was also working that territory somewhat when he was alive, so that’s in there as well.
 
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#3
Maybe two years ago I went on a Dave Holland kick, mostly because YouTube's "You Might Like..." algorithm kept throwing his concerts at me. Prior to that I was only familiar with his work with Miles Davis from 1968-70, and his Conference Of The Birds album from 1972.

But man, every Dave Holland clip from the past ~30 years that YouTube threw at me was absolutely killer! Engaging provocative risk-taking music that was enthralling and challenging, never rote or predictable, executed with a blend of muscle and finesse.

I especially love this 2009 concert from Liège, Belgium:

 
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#4
Long ago, I saw him live with Sam Rivers (just the two of them), and it was life-changing.
Since then, I've seen him twice with his own bands, and I got to speak with him briefly... very nice person!
By the way, he's also great on electric bass. There are YouTube clips of him playing a Fender Precision.
 
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#8
Bob_Ross said:
Maybe two years ago I went on a Dave Holland kick, mostly because YouTube's "You Might Like..." algorithm kept throwing his concerts at me. Prior to that I was only familiar with his work with Miles Davis from 1968-70, and his Conference Of The Birds album from 1972.

But man, every Dave Holland clip from the past ~30 years that YouTube threw at me was absolutely killer! Engaging provocative risk-taking music that was enthralling and challenging, never rote or predictable, executed with a blend of muscle and finesse.

I especially love this 2009 concert from Liège, Belgium:

Click to expand...

Very long time Holland fan here, especially all the early ECM sides. The mid 80s quintet with Steve Coleman on sax was especially mind blowing live, and you could still see them in <300 seat clubs back then.
 
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