Bassist/Composer Dave Holland: "Conference of the Birds"

Dave Holland is to this day one of the premier bassists and composers of Jazz. This iconic album was made after Holland emigrated to America and had just finished a long tenure with Miles Davis. From Davis he became part of a short-lived band led by pianist Chick Corea. It was called "Circle" and had Corea, multi-instrumentalist Anthony Braxton, Holland and drummer Barry Altschul, Corea soon broke up the band to form the Latin flavoured band "Return to Forever" however Holland had formed a musical bond with Braxton and Altschul. Sam Rivers on tenor/soprano saxophones and bass clarinet was chosen to work with the other three and this iconic recording was born. It was called "Conference of the Birds" and that composition along with 5 others made up the recording done in New York on November 30,1972. All the compositions are by Holland and reflect a more edgy sound and skirts the edges of the "avant-guard". This is one of the finest recordings of Holland's long career and stands as a milestone. Check it out tonight!