Leave it to Dave Holland to create a pioneering solo bass record both daunting to the student and dependably satisfying to the layperson listener. Holland’s been quietly making big waves since his early gigs with Miles, moving from acoustic to electric incarnations of his instrument with ease and playing in every style from free to postbop to fusion. This ECM set from relatively early in his career presents his Olympian powers on upright via an intimate program of originals and a pair of disparate ‘covers’. The label’s limpid production suits the action and resonance of his strings, leaving all the nuances of his intonation exquisitely audible. A broad melodic acumen percolates through pieces combining with a persistent rhythmic mutability. These are carefully considered song forms, not just inventories of extended techniques that would cause even the most erudite bull fiddlers to take pause in admiration. Even the interpretation of one of Braxton’s schematic compositions carries a funky underpinning. Holland keeps the prevailing mood warm and inviting, even on the introspective “Under Redwoods”. Bow leaves scabbard only on a pair of pieces and the album feels the better for its focus on pizzicato. Holland also corrals his imagination into the confines of a single LP’s dimensions. Any longer and the session might begin to suffer under the relative starkness of the set-up. Holland would wait 16 years before releasing another solo recital, this time on Intuition. That set is well worth hearing too, but this one holds the privilege of precedence.
Posted by derek on November 18, 2007 2:52 PMFunny, the cover is almost the same as "the Room" by K. Rowe
both solo recordings
Cor
Don't think I ever heard this one, but his solo cello outing, "Life Cycle" (also ECM) is pretty good.
Posted by: Brian Olewnick at November 19, 2007 6:21 AMObviously, it is a must hear. I always think of Holland's playing as an extremely high but at the same time basic technical standard all bass players should deal with - no sliding around for notes, clear articulate playing, etc.
I always wished there was more arco on this one, though.
Reminds me--crawling up the list of jazz recordings in most dire need of reissue are the two volumes of duos with Holland and Sam Rivers, originally issued on IAI from around '76. (I haven't missed this, have I?) Great stuff!
Posted by: Brian Olewnick at November 19, 2007 10:45 AMThose IAI albums were available on cd as recently as a few years ago, but they’re hard to come by now. Meandering in a few spots, iirc, but overall top-notch & good examples of Rivers’ round-robin approach to his arsenal.
Life Cycle is a great place to fix on Holland’s arco. As noted above, I’m happy that the emphasis here is on pizz.
Posted by: derek at November 19, 2007 11:54 AMI don't quite follow why it took almost 30 years for a review of this to appear on Bags! Whatever, yes, both then and now it's a fine solo bass record - for 1977.
Now when will ECM finally get Barre Phillips' "Call Me When You Get There" onto CD? It's only been 25 years in the waiting.
Posted by: Graham L. Rogers at November 19, 2007 2:33 PMWell, Bags has only been around since February of '03 so that's part of the delay. ;)
ECM's admirably been mining its back catalog, though admittedly at a slower pace than most might prefer. Bennie Maupin's The Jewel in the Lotus and Dewey Redman's The Struggle Continues returned to print just two weeks ago.
Posted by: derek at November 20, 2007 6:48 AMOne of my least favorite solo bass records.
I'm a fan of the genre but, sorry, this bores me to tears. The cello LP is better, imo.
Posted by: clifford at December 3, 2007 2:11 PMNot in my top 10 either, but I still like it. There are a lot of great ones, but "Was Da Ist" is tough to top.
Posted by: Damon Smith at December 3, 2007 3:31 PMthis bores me to tears.
Please elaborate, Cliff. Is it because it's so tune-oriented? I'm genuinely curious, though I can understand your preference for the cello record considering it's (or was) your axe.
Posted by: derek at December 3, 2007 6:35 PM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................