Dave Holland

David Holland (born 1 October 1946) is an English double bassist, bass guitarist, cellist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States since the early 1970s.

His extensive discography ranges from solo performances to pieces for big band. Holland runs his own independent record label, Dare2, which he launched in 2005.

Biography 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.

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