Absolutly stunning!!!
Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 01/04/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In all the Dave Holland's discography in my opinion this one really stands out. I own all the Dave Holland's recent recordings, quintet, quartet, trio and they are all great, great records. But this one is special. It is incredible, amazing. A big band which plays intricate and hypermodern arrangements on the well known trademark Dave's bass textures and compositions. I'm glad Dave recordedin this big band format a couple of his older compositions taken from the "Steve Coleman period", the one that saw "Razor's edge", "Jumpin' in", "Seeds of time" coming to light. I repeat this is a hell of a project. "Quick horns, fat bass, sharp angles, and lyrical melodies" is exactly what you'll find here together with the finest musicianship possible, and ultramodern very interesting arrangements that take pride in remembering the big band history! Billy kilson is a freak, a musical freak, a force of nature! I mean this is really something spectacular that you can add to your Jazz cds collection. I couldn't suggest a better buying in terms of contemporary albums. It is incredibly well written, arranged, played and it is incredibly entertaining to be such deep music!!! One thousand stars. Buy it, you'll thank me later. Go!"
Amamzing cd
William R. Nicholas | Mahwah, NJ USA | 06/06/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a really great modern big band CD. Dave Holland has a fantatic outfit here. These musicans each have very distinct styles, but meld together quite well.
Each song is very comeplex, made up of long chord cycles, and the music is always engaging. It takes a few listenes to be able to folliw the writting style, but each time you listen, the music imrpoves.
The playing is also amamzing: there may be two sax solos in one number, but each player is so strong, they are very distinct from the other. The drummer is very flexable, putting lots of little fills and counter-rhythms under the musie. And Holland is an increadbley disciplined player; it amazes me how, even with extremely free-jamming music behind him, he always keeps a simple, clean, stedy bass-line. It is like Zen non-reactivity.
The music almost remindsd me of Zappa's big band stuff. It is modern, complex, and swings like hell.
BUY THIS."