Dave Holland Quintet - Critical Mass 2006

Published by e-man | Filed under Jazz

Dave Holland Quintet - Critical Mass 2006
MP3 @ 320 | 175 MB | Complete Covers included
Genre: Jazz

I recently posted Dave Holland on John Hartford’s “Morning Bugle”;

http://http://avaxhome.ws/music/country/John_Hartford_-_Morning_Bugle__1972.html

Here is the same bassist in a context about as far removed as you can get!

This from Nic Jones:

This particular lineup of Dave Holland’s longstanding quintet had apparently been working for eighteen months prior to recording this disc, and that simple fact oozes out of every note played. There is a level of cohesion and empathy here that arguably can come only from such longstanding associations.

Holland is anything but despotic in his leadership responsibilities, and every member of the group gets a composer’s credit here. The resultis a diversity of approaches that makes for rewarding listening, and there is an object lesson in this for countless other groups working in this modern mainstream field.

In addition to Holland’s bass, the rhythm section is rounded out by Steve Nelson, principally on vibes, though he makes some telling contributions on marimba, and drummer Nate Smith. They give the music an airy, perhaps understated quality, at times taking in earthy funk in a satisfyingly contradictory way, while Robin Eubanks’ trombone takes the music in the same direction. The resulting balance is down entirely to the musical personalities of the players involved.

This is perhaps best exemplified on Holland’s “Easy Did It,” where for once a title is apt for all the right reasons. Chris Potter plays soprano sax here, and his work on that horn has arguably greater character than his tenor playing. While he doesn’t approach the individuality of, say, Steve Lacy on the straight horn, he does have an exceptional grasp of tonal nuance.

There’s an awful lot of music in this vein out there at the moment, and whilst it’s always faultlessly played, it can be a little wearing having to try and identify soloists through note patterns alone. There is no such concern here, which makes this disc a rarity. The soloists ave identities of their own and there’s nothing in the way of the usual overstatement here. What emerges instead is the impression of a band mining a rich musical seam with skill and aplomb.

Nic Jones

Chris Potter - tenor and soprano saxophone
Robin Eubanks - trombone
Steve Nelson - vibraphone, marimba, tambourine;
Dave Holland - bass
Nate Smith - drums

1 The Eyes Have It
2 Easy Did It
3 Vicissitudes
4 The Leak
5 Secret Garden
6 Lucky Seven
7 Full Circle
8 Amator Silenti

Get it here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/163723144/Dave_Holland_Quintet_-_Critical_Mass__2006.rar