Dave Holland studied string bass and cello at the famous Guildhall School and at the time performed with classical orchestras, avant-garde musicians like Evan Parker and traditional jazz men like Ronnie Scott, in whose club Miles Davis first heard him play. Davis was the one who caused Holland to be snapped up out of England in the late sixties and since then the sympathetic Briton is considered to belong to the absolute top of string bass players. The trade journal Downbeat recently declared the Dave Holland Quintet to be the best acoustic band, the CD
Not for Nothin best CD, Holland himself best bass player and jazz man of the year. Today the bassist will be performing with an ambitious big band, with Holland's best-known compositions included in their repertoire. The extremely talented sax player Chris Potter occupies a place of honor in that band. Their CD
What Goes Around is busy writing history as well. Though Holland feels he has a lot to learn yet when it comes to big band music, the band already sounds superb.
