Pass It On

Pass It On

Dave Holland entered the jazz spotlight as a member of Miles Davis’ ground-breaking electric band in the late 1960s. In the 1970s, the British-born bassist played in the free jazz group Circle and went on to collaborate with numerous other artists. As a bandleader and composer, Holland has led a variety of outfits, including large ensembles, and the sextet on Pass It On — Holland, alto saxophonist Antonio Hart, trombonist Robin Eubanks, trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, pianist Mulgrew Miller, and drummer Eric Harland — sometimes sounds like a mini-big band thanks to Holland’s sharp writing and arranging. “Fast Track” and “Double Vision” are both hard-burners; this tight group can swing fiercely. Most of the material is straight-ahead, but listen closely and distinctive details start to emerge — the relation of a trombone part to the other horns, and the way a drum pattern shifts for instance. The first section of “Rivers Run,” which is dedicated to the great saxophonist/pianist/composer Sam Rivers, stands out from the other material; here the band leans effectively toward impressionism. And rest assured that Pass It On is brimming with superb solos, including several by Holland.

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