Dave Holland (bassist)

Born in Wolverhampton, England, Holland taught himself how to play stringed instruments, beginning at four on the ukulele, then graduating to guitar and later bass guitar. Holland recorded several important albums with Anthony Braxton between 1972 and 1976 – including New York, Fall 1974 (1974) and Five Pieces (1975) – that were released on Arista Records. Holland also recorded duo sessions with saxophonist Sam Rivers and fellow bassist Barre Phillips, and the solo bass album Emerald Tears. Also in the 1970s he appeared with performers including Stan Getz and the Gateway Trio with John Abercrombie and DeJohnette. The Gateway trio released two influential modern jazz albums in 1975 and 1977, and reformed in 1994 for a recording session which yielded another two albums. As a sideman, Holland appeared on rock and pop recordings as well, working with singer Bonnie Raitt on her 1972 album Give It Up. The 1980s Holland formed his first working quintet in 1983, and over the next four years released ''Jumpin' In, Seeds of Time, and The Razor's Edge, featuring alto saxophonist Steve Coleman, trumpeter Wheeler and trombonist Julian Priester (or Robin Eubanks). Subsequently, he formed the Dave Holland Trio (with Coleman and DeJohnette) for the 1988 album Triplicate, and teamed with Coleman, electric guitarist Kevin Eubanks and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith for Extensions. He also recorded Life Cycle'', an album of compositions played on solo cello. The bassist also continued to collaborate with his peers, often connecting with figures from the previous generation of jazz icons. In 1989, Holland teamed with drummer Billy Higgins and pianist Hank Jones to record The Oracle, and joined drummer Roy Haynes and guitarist Pat Metheny in 1989 to record Question and Answer. The 1990s and 2000s During the 1990s, Holland renewed an affiliation, begun in the 1970s, with Joe Henderson, joining the tenor saxophonist on So Near (So Far), a tribute to Miles Davis, and Porgy & Bess. Holland also reunited with vocalist Betty Carter, touring and recording the live album Feed the Fire (1993). Fellow Davis alumnus Herbie Hancock invited Holland to tour with him in 1992, subsequently recording The New Standard. Holland joined Hancock's band again in 1996. He was also part of the sessions for River: The Joni Letters, winner of the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. As a leader, Holland formed his third quartet and released Dream of the Elders (1995), which introduced the vibraphonist Steve Nelson to his ensembles. Holland formed a quintet that includes tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, trombonist Robin Eubanks and, a more recent addition, drummer Nate Smith. Their recordings include Points of View, Prime Directive, Not for Nothin, Extended Play: Live at Birdland and Critical Mass. In addition to releasing four quintet albums on ECM, Holland debuted his Big Band, which released What Goes Around in 2002. The album won Holland his first Grammy as a leader, in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category. The second Big Band recording, Overtime (2005), again won the Grammy in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category; it was released on Holland's Dare2 label, which he formed that year. In 2009, Holland was a co-founder of an all-star group called the Overtone Quartet. The group consisted of Holland on bass, Chris Potter on tenor saxophone, Jason Moran on piano, and Eric Harland on drums. The group toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe. ==Awards and honors==

He won the Critics Poll in Down Beat magazine for Musician of the Year, Big Band of the Year, and Acoustic Bassist of the Year (he also garnered top bassist in the 2006 poll). The Jazz Journalists' Association honored him as Musician and Acoustic Bassist of the Year. He was the recipient of the Miles Davis Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival. The National Endowment for the Arts named Holland as one of its five Jazz Masters Fellows in 2017; the award recognizes artists for their lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions toward the advancement of jazz. Holland has received honorary doctorates from the New England Conservatory, Boston, where he held a full-time teaching position in 1987–88 and where he has been visiting artist in residence since 2005; Berklee College of Music, Boston; and the Birmingham Conservatoire, in England. He was also named Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London). From 1982 to 1989, Holland served as the artistic director of the Banff Summer Jazz Workshop through the Banff School of Fine Arts in Alberta, Canada. In addition, he has taught workshops and master classes around the world at universities and music schools and is President of the UK-based National Youth Jazz Collective. == Discography ==

Albums Compilation(s) Albums with shared credits Dates in brackets are the date of release in cases when they took place more than a year after the recording. Credited artists are listed as written on the album cover respectively its credits, but omitting Dave Holland (hence the 'with'). As sideman With Karl Berger • Tune In (Milestone, 1969) • Transit (Black Saint, 1986) • Crystal Fire (Enja, 1992) • Conversations (In+Out, 1994) With Anouar Brahem • Thimar (ECM, 1998), rec. 1997 • Blue Maqams (ECM, 2017) • After the Last Sky (ECM, 2025) With Anthony Braxton • The Complete Braxton (Freedom, 1973), rec. 1971 • News from the 70s (Musica Jazz/Felmay, 1998), rec. 1971–1976 • Town Hall 1972 (Trio, 1972) • Quartet: Live at Moers Festival (Ring, 1976), rec. 1974 • Quartet (Avignon) 1974 (Braxton Bootleg, 2011) • New York, Fall 1974 (Arista, 1974) • Trio and Duet (Sackville, 1974) • Five Pieces 1975 (Arista, 1975) • The Montreux/Berlin Concerts (Arista, 1977), rec. 1975–76 • Quartet (Bremen) 1975 (Braxton Bootleg, 2011) • Quintet (New York) 1975 (Braxton Bootleg, 2012) • Creative Orchestra Music 1976 (Arista, 1976) • Dortmund (Quartet) 1976 (hatART, 1991) • Quartet (Graz) 1976 (Braxton Bootleg, 2011) • Quartet (Berlin) 1976 (Braxton Bootleg, 2013) With Steve Coleman • Rhythm People (The Resurrection of Creative Black Civilization) (Novus/RCA, 1990) • Black Science (Novus/RCA, 1991) • Rhythm in Mind (Novus/RCA, 1991) With Chick Corea • 1969: Is (Groove Merchant, 1969) • 1969: Sundance (Groove Merchant, 1972) • 1970: The Song of Singing (Blue Note, 1971) With Miles Davis • Filles de Kilimanjaro (Columbia, 1968) • In a Silent Way (Columbia, 1969) • Bitches Brew (Columbia, 1969) • Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy, 2015), rec. with Holland from Jul 1969 • 1969 Miles – Festiva De Juan Pins (Columbia, 1993), rec. Jul 1969 • Live in Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 2 (Columbia/Legacy, 2013), rec. Jul and Nov 1969 • Big Fun (Columbia, 1974), rec. with Holland from Nov 1969–Mar 1970 • Live-Evil (Columbia, 1971), rec. with Holland from Feb, Jun 1970 • Black Beauty: Live at the Fillmore West (Columbia, 1973), rec. Apr 1970 • Miles at the Fillmore - Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy, 2014), rec. Apr, Jul 1970 • ''Live at the Fillmore East, March 7, 1970: It's About That Time'' (Columbia, 2001), rec. Mar 1970 • Miles Davis at Fillmore: Live at the Fillmore East (Columbia, 1970), rec Jun 1970 With Robin Eubanks • Karma (JMT, 1991) • Mental Images (JMT, 1994) With Herbie Hancock • The New Standard (Verve, 1996) • River: The Joni Letters (Verve, 2006) With Billy Hart • Enchance (Horizon, 1977) • Oshumare (Gramavision, 1985) With Joe Henderson • Black Is the Color (Milestone, 1972) • Multiple (Milestone, 1973) • So Near, So Far (Verve, 1993) • Porgy & Bess (Verve, 1997) With Eric Kloss • To Hear Is to See! (Prestige, 1969) • Consciousness! (Prestige, 1970) • One, Two, Free (Muse, 1972) With Dave Liebman • First Visit (Philips, 1973) • Fire (Jazzline, 2018) – rec. 2016 With Joe Lovano • From the Soul (Blue Note, 1992) • Trio Fascination: Edition One (Blue Note, 1997) With Sam Rivers • Sizzle (Impulse!, 1975) • The Quest (Red, 1976) • Paragon (Fluid, 1977) • Waves (Tomato, 1978) • Contrasts (ECM, 1981) • Zenith (NoBusiness, 2019) • Ricochet (NoBusiness, 2020) • Braids (NoBusiness, 2020) With Kenny Wheeler • Windmill Tilter (Fontana, 1969) • Gnu High (ECM, 1975) • Deer Wan (ECM, 1977) • Double, Double You (ECM, 1984) • Flutter By, Butterfly (Soul Note, 1988) • Music for Large & Small Ensembles (ECM, 1990) • The Widow in the Window (ECM, 1990) • Angel Song (ECM, 1997) • What Now? (CAM Jazz, 2005) With others • Claudia Acuña, Rhythm of Life (Verve, 2002) • George Adams, Sound Suggestions (ECM, 1979) • Geri Allen, The Life of a Song (Telarc, 2004) • Barry Altschul, ''You Can't Name Your Own Tune'' (Muse, 1977) • Barry Altschul, Another Time/Another Place (Muse, 1978) • Franco Ambrosetti, Tentets (Enja, 1985) • Kenny Barron, Scratch (Enja, 1985) • Terence Blanchard, Wandering Moon (Sony Classical, 2000) • Paul Bley, Paul Bley & Scorpio (Milestone, 1973) • Michael Brecker, Tales from the Hudson (Impulse!, 1996) • Nick Brignola, Baritone Madness (Bee Hive, 1978), rec. 1977 • Gary Burton, Like Minds (Concord, 1998) • Uri Caine, Toys (JMT, 1996) • Baikida Carroll, Shadows and Reflections (Soul Note, 1982) • Betty Carter, Feed the Fire (Verve, 1994), rec. 1993 • James Carter, The Real Quiet Storm (Atlantic, 1995) • Vassar Clements, Once in a While (Flying Fish, 1992) • Joe Farrell, Joe Farrell Quartet (CTI, 1970) • Bill Frisell, With Dave Holland and Elvin Jones (Nonesuch, 2001) • Hal Galper, Inner Journey (Mainstream, 1973) • Laszlo Gardony, The Legend of Tsumi (Antilles, 1989) • Barry Guy and the London Jazz Composers' Orchestra, Zurich Concerts (Intakt, 1988) • Jim Hall, Jim Hall & Basses (Telarc, 2001) • Roland Hanna, Child of Gemini (MPS, 1971) • John Hartford, Morning Bugle (Warner Bros. 1972) • Roy Haynes, Birds of a Feather: A Tribute to Charlie Parker (Dreyfus Jazz, 2001) – Grammy nominated • Julius Hemphill, The Boyé Multi-National Crusade for Harmony (New World, 2021) • Mark Isaacs, Encounters, with Roy Haynes (ABC, 1990 & 1995; veraBra, 1991; Gracemusic, 2013) • Leroy Jenkins, For Players Only (JCOA, 1975) • Lee Konitz, Satori (Milestone, 1974) • Charles Lloyd, Voice in the Night (ECM, 1998) • Pat Metheny, Question and Answer (Geffen, 1990) (with Roy Haynes) • Peter O'Mara, Avenue U (Enja, 1990) • Chris Potter, Unspoken (Concord, 1997) • Wayne Shorter, Moto Grosso Feio (Blue Note, 1970) • Tomasz Stańko, Balladyna (ECM, 1976) • Richard Teitelbaum, Muun Music Universe, Vol. 1: The Peace Church Concerts (CMC/India Navigation, 1974) • Gary Thomas, While the Gate Is Open (JMT, 1990) • Collin Walcott, Cloud Dance (ECM, 1975) ==Filmography==

Concert films • 1992 Renaud Le Van Kim: Miles Davis and Friends (Bravo) • 2000 DeJohnette, Hancock, Holland and Metheny Live in Concert • 2005 Dave Holland Quintet Live in Freiburg • 2008 Herbie Hancock & The New Standard Allstars in Japan (Jazz Door) • 2009 Dave Holland Quintet: Vortex • 2009 Dave Holland Quintet Live from the Zelt-Musik-Festival, Freiburg 1986 Featured in documentaries • 2001 Mike Dibb: The Miles Davis Story (Channel 4) • 2004 Murray Lerner: Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue (Eagle Rock) about the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 ==References==