It's been 5 years since the final studio tape yesteryear Dave Holland's quintet. But betwixt touring on its ain as well as as the nub of Holland's big band, which was responsible for the outstanding Overtime (Dare2, 2005), the unit of measurement shows no sign of slowing down. Critical Mass proves that when the chemical scientific discipline is right, fifty-fifty longstanding bands tin dice along to improve yesteryear introducing novel elements, without forgetting what made them cracking inward the initiative of all place.
The quintet has been together for to a greater extent than or less a decade alongside merely 2 changes. Saxophonist Chris Potter, who replaced Steve Wilson afterwards Points of View (ECM, 1998), rapidly evolved a virtually telepathic link alongside trombonist Robin Eubanks that has been i of the quintet's signatures. Despite the describe of piece of occupation concern most drummer Billy Kilson leaving the grouping over 2 years ago, newcomer Nate Smith has already proven that spell his overall approach is lighter, he's as capable. Critical Mass is his initiative of all recording alongside the group, as well as there's been no loss of chemical scientific discipline or distinct identity.
Always a democratic leader, Kingdom of the Netherlands has in i lawsuit once again encouraged everyone to contribute compositionally. The leader wrote one-half of the album's 8 tunes, the other players i melody apiece. The group's audio has ever been defined yesteryear its unique instrumentation: at that topographic point isn't a audio similar it anywhere else. Steve Nelson's vibes as well as marimba supply a chordal foundation for a trombone/saxophone forepart line. But fifty-fifty a unique textural conception tin grow tiring afterwards a number of years, as well as it's to these musicians' credit that this quintet remains as vital as ever.
Holland's "The Eyes Have It opens the disc on a familiar note; the bassist as well as drummer's inescapable groove makes fifty-fifty the most complicated bar shifts experience natural. Potter gets ameliorate alongside each passing year, employing the perfect combination of melodic project design as well as passionate energy. But it's afterwards Holland's solo, where Potter empathically solos inward tandem alongside an as intuitive Eubanks, that we're reminded of this group's existent magic.
Kingdom of the Netherlands revisits the Middle Eastern vibe of Points of View's "Bedouin Trail, but "Secret Garden feels to a greater extent than authentic, the number of Smith's rhythmic even hence textural approach, spell Eubanks' "Full Circle proves that it's possible to swing inward whatever fourth dimension signature.
But the existent surprise is saved for last. Nelson's ain records require maintain been decidedly mainstream efforts. On "Amator Silenti he's written an episodic composition that goes from a rubato tone poesy form to a lyrical ballad to angular gratis play, as well as that's something novel for the quintet. After edifice to a fever pitch, it ultimately returns to its to a greater extent than melodic beginning.
Proof that it's possible to retain one's identity spell breaking novel ground, Critical Mass continues a streak of winning records for Kingdom of the Netherlands that shows no sign of letting up.
Bassist extraordinaire Dave Kingdom of the Netherlands believes that similar fine wine, music shouldn't live unbottled earlier its time. Kingdom of the Netherlands as well as his highly regarded quintet spent a twelvemonth as well as a one-half honing as well as retooling the music on their novel album until it reached the indicate he calls "critical mass, where "it has larn what it's going to be.
That patience, tending as well as commitment to getting things correct is evident throughout Critical Mass. This is the function of a working band, a grouping alongside 5 distinct, creative personalities that's been together almost inward its entirety—with the exception of novel drummer Nate Smith—for nearly a decade. Under Holland's generous leadership, each fellow member of the quintet gets enough of room to solo as well as contribute his ain ideas to the mix. Each also contributes an master composition, to dice along alongside 4 from Holland.
The number is some of the most exciting, serious jazz around, a superbly crafted mix of the mainstream as well as the avant-garde, the cerebral as well as the swinging. From Holland's hypnotic, Middle Eastern-influenced "Secret Garden to the exploratory funk of Robin Eubanks' "Full Circle, the grouping exhibits impressive passion, cohesion as well as sense of adventure. In a band filled alongside stars, Chris Potter stands out for his tour de strength saxophone work, weaving edgy, serpentine lines inward a higher house Eubanks' steady, to a greater extent than laid-back trombone. Longtime Kingdom of the Netherlands cohort Steve Nelson in i lawsuit again shines on vibes as well as marimba; Nelson wrote the album's most challenging tune, the evocative "Amator Silenti.
This particular lineup of Dave Holland's longstanding quintet had patently been working for 18 months prior to recording this disc, as well as that uncomplicated fact oozes out of every regime annotation played. There is a degree of cohesion as well as empathy hither that arguably tin come upwards merely from such longstanding associations.
Kingdom of the Netherlands is anything but despotic inward his leadership responsibilities, as well as every fellow member of the grouping gets a composer's credit here. The number is a multifariousness of approaches that makes for rewarding listening, as well as at that topographic point is an object lesson inward this for countless other groups working inward this modern mainstream field.
In add-on to Holland's bass, the musical rhythm department is rounded out yesteryear Steve Nelson, principally on vibes, though he makes some telling contributions on marimba, as well as drummer Nate Smith. They give the music an airy, perchance understated quality, at times taking inward earthy funk inward a satisfyingly contradictory way, spell Robin Eubanks' trombone takes the music inward the same direction. The resulting residue is downwards alone to the musical personalities of the players involved.
This is perchance best exemplified on Holland's "Easy Did It," where for in i lawsuit a championship is apt for all the correct reasons. Chris Potter plays soprano sax here, as well as his function on that horn has arguably greater grapheme than his tenor playing. While he doesn't approach the individuality of, say, Steve Lacy on the direct horn, he does require maintain an particular grasp of tonal nuance.
There's an awful lot of music inward this vein out at that topographic point at the moment, as well as whilst it's ever faultlessly played, it tin live a piffling wearing having to essay as well as pose soloists through regime annotation patterns alone. There is no such describe of piece of occupation concern here, which makes this disc a rarity. The soloists require maintain identities of their ain as well as there's zilch inward the agency of the green overstatement here. What emerges instead is the impression of a band mining a rich musical seam alongside science as well as aplomb.
/search?q=dave+Holland
Track listing:
1 "The Eyes Have It" (Dave Holland) - 7:00
2 "Easy Did It" (Dave Holland) - 11:16
three "Vicissitudes" (Chris Potter) - 9:56
4 "The Leak" (Nate Smith) - 5:42
5 "Secret Garden" (Dave Holland) - 8:42
vi "Lucky Seven" (Dave Holland) - 8:35
seven "Full Circle" (Robin Eubanks) - 12:11
8 "Amator Silenti" (Steve Nelson) - 9:17
Personnel:
Chris Potter - tenor & soprano saxophones
Robin Eubanks - trombone
Steve Nelson - vibraphone, marimba & tambourine
Dave Kingdom of the Netherlands - double bass
Nate Smith - drums
EmoticonEmoticon