Wangaratta to swing to jazz master's beat

ONE of the world's leading bassists, Dave Holland, will be the headline international act at this year's Wangaratta Jazz Festival. Holland will perform at the festival in November with his American quintet, featuring Chris Potter (saxophone), Robin Eubanks (trombone), Steve Nelson (vibraphone) and Nate Smith (drums).

Festival artistic director Adrian Jackson launched this year's program in Melbourne yesterday, and is clearly thrilled to have Holland as part of the event.

The British-born bassist, composer and bandleader came to prominence in the late 1960s when he moved to the US to work with Miles Davis. He recorded his first album in the early 1970s, and is still producing music that sounds fresh and relevant.

Jackson says he was lucky enough to see Holland perform when the bassist last toured Australia in 1979, and has followed his career with interest since.

"He's an incredible bass player, with a phenomenal command of the instrument and great musical instincts as an improviser and soloist," Jackson says. "He writes tunes that are interesting for the players and the listeners. And as a bandleader, he's always had really strong musicians in his bands.

"So to have Holland play at Wangaratta is genuinely exciting — especially with this quintet, because they're all first-rate musicians. It's not just a project that's been put together to play at a festival or two. It's a working band of long standing, and I'm confident we're really going to see jazz at the highest level."

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