Dave Holland is a deceptively unassuming man. His deliberate manner of speaking belies a passion laced with a mystical undercurrent that may in fact explain the unusual combination of talent that has him compared to great bassists in jazz like Scott LaFaro as well as the genre's outstanding composers like Duke Ellington.
A rare mutual enthusiasm developed during this late winter/early spring night in New Hampshire while John Hiatt and The Combo played their extended single set. The group nurtured an exceptional bond of musical comradeship and community within the vintage Lebanon Opera House, the result of which was a palpable warmth in the room that had nothing to do with the temperature.
The greatest virtue of bassist Dave Holland's recordings, whatever the size of the ensemble he leads, lies in how directly the compositions evolve from the improvisation(s) of the players. The key may be that Holland writes with his players in mind. As exhibited on the title song to this live recording from Birdland in 2009, that's clearly a consummate talent in itself. But the band's still got to execute and it's only a matter of moments before the Octet is in full flight for close to eleven minutes on "Pathways."
Valleys of Neptune is a sixty-minute collection of never-before-released tracks recorded during the transition phase of The Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1968 and 1969. In the course of a dozen cuts, the CD vividly illustrate the restless creative urge of the late guitar icon and augurs well for the next phase of archival releases.
Jeff Beck stole the show from Eric Clapton at Madison Square Garden February 19th. Or he would have if Slowhand had deigned to compete with him for the spotlight. But in a magnanimous gesture of generosity, similar to that which EC tender Steve Winwood two years ago around this time, the archetypal guitar hero preferred to let his successor in The Yardbirds take front and center the second of their two NY shows together. And to his tremendous credit, Jeff Beck made the most of his opportunity.
The 60's are commonly regarded as a period of unparalleled artistic adventure, but, for both rock and jazz, the foundation for experimentalism was solidly laid in the previous decade. Each of these double-CD 'Legacy Editions' comprehensively documents what a crucial year 1959 was for the world of jazz; not concieved merely for holiday sales, these deluxe packages capture the historical significance of the work and reaffirm the timeless quality of truly great music of any genre.
When Stefon Harris joined Imani Wnds on the Mainstage of the Flynn February 5, he helped crystallize the intensity of their playing and at the same time, elicited a greater level of improvisation from their playing.The effect of the collaboration might well have been even greater had Harris' own band been present, but even so, the performance was impressive.
If you've never succumbed to the earthy yet cerebral music of The Doors, you're not likely to plunk down big bucks for a multi-CD box set, even if you find it half-price off or more at your local mega retailer. but if you know someone who got it as a Christmas present, take a listen to any one of the six CDs and see if the performance doesn't radically alter your perception and pre-conception of Jim Morrison and company.
Charlie Hunter has certainly proved he's his own man during the course of a career that's found him working as parts of solos, duos, quartets, quintets and larger ensembles both as frontman/bandleader and collaborative participant. He is comfortable with himself to the extent his self-description as a 'boutique' artist sounds both pragmatic and proud.
Gov't Mule extended their New Year's tradition to eight years December 30 and 31, 2009, returning to the Beacon Theatre in New York after a year's sabbatical at the Angel Orensanz and Hammerstein Ballroom in 2008 while the Broadway venue was being refurbished.
