Kevin Eubanks: Turning Point (1992)

Turning Point is a highly appropriate title for this album. After recording his share of commercial fluff for GRP, Kevin Eubanks switched to Blue Note with this heartfelt CD and strived for excellence instead of going out of his way to avoid it. Creativity, personal improvising, and spontaneity are main ingredients of the album, which unites the talented electric and acoustic guitarist with bass explorer Dave Holland and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith, among others. Like so much intellectual jazz, Point requires several listenings in order to be fully appreciated.~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Personnel:
Charnett Moffett - Bass, Bass (Acoustic)
Mark Mondesir - Drums
Kent Jordan - Flute (Alto)
Kevin Eubanks - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Dave Holland - Bass, Bass (Acoustic) 1-3-6
Marvin "Smitty" Smith - Drums
Turning Point
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Dave Holland Octet: Pathways (2010)

In his latest release, Pathways, bassist Dave Holland shapes his octet into a groove-heavy, blue-flame intensity with writing that is state-of-the-art hard bop. "Pathways" opens the album with the horns setting the pace as Smuylan’s baritone leads the melody with commanding solos. The horns riff hard while Nelson plays the vibraphone with a modernistic feel. Next up is “How’s Never?” Holland starts it off with a bass solo as Nate Smith eases in with some rhythm. The marimba gives it a sophisticated feel but the horns — specifically Hart on alto sax backed by Smulyan’s baritone — gets into the groove vein of greasy funk.

Personnel:

Dave Holland - bass

Antonio Hart - Alto Sax and Flute
Chris Potter - Tenor Sax and Soprano Sax
Gary Smulyan - Baritone Sax
Alex "Sasha" Sipiagin - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Robin Eubanks - Trombone
Steve Nelson - Vibraphone and Marimba
Nate Smith - drums
Tracklist:
01 Pathways
02 How's Never?
03 Sea of Marmara
04 Ebb and Flow
05 Blue Jean
06 Wind Dance
07 Shadow Dance
Pathways
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Terence Blanchard: Wandering Moon (2000)

Terence Blanchard emerged as a young lion in the 1980s along with his New Orleans homeboy and fellow trumpeter, Wynton Marsalis. Blanchard released several recordings with Donald Harrison and scored a few soundtracks, including Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues and Malcolm X. This splendid album follows his film music tribute, Jazz in Film, and returns Blanchard to the straight-ahead fold. With an even singing and swinging tone, Blanchard is backed by drummer Eric Harland, pianist Ed Simon, and newcomer alto and tenor saxophonists Brice Winston and Aaron Fletcher. The legendary bassist Dave Holland anchors the bottom and ensures the grooves. Blanchard's melodically compelling compositions range from the mystical moods of "Luna Viajera" and "Sweet's Dream" (an elegy to the late trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison) to the uptempo "Sidney's Song" (for clarinetist Sidney Bechet), which recall's Blanchard's days with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. On board for Wandering Moon is another Jazz Messenger alumnus, tenor saxophonist Branford Marsalis, who displays his Wayne Shorter/John Coltrane solo signature on the '60s-style tunes "If I Could, I Would," "My Only Thought of You," and "Joe & O." On the standard "I Thought About You," Blanchard takes center stage with an ebullient trumpet voice that rings from the silver screen to the bandstand. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

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Wandering Moon (RS) / Wandering Moon (MU) @ 320K

The Monterey Quartet: Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival (2009)

The Monterey Quartet" is a historic summit of four of today's top Jazz Musicians together on one CD for the very first time!

Dave Holland: Today's most accomplished pure-jazz composer among bassists; his sense of swing is unexcelled.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba: One of the most important figures to emerge from Afro- Cuban jazz; he's an extraordinarily versatile pianist able to blend Cuban and American jazz traditions into a fresh, modern whole.

Chris Potter: One of today's most sophisticated and respected saxophone stylists.

Eric Holland: A drummer extraordinaire who has become a first-call player; his collaborations represent a virtual who's who of modern jazz.

Their live performance at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival was mesmerizing and the talk of the festival; now it is captured live on CD.

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Live at the 2007

Don Grolnick: Weaver of Dreams (1990)

Don Grolnick was a busy session pianist/keyboardist who played on many kinds of dates, including jazz fusion and pop. But for a brief period in the late 1980s and early '90s, he detoured into playing post-bop. Weaver of Dreams was the first of his two CDs for Blue Note, featuring an all-star septet including the Brecker Brothers, Bob Mintzer, Dave Holland, Peter Erskine, and Barry Rogers. His intricate opener, "Nothing Personal," suggests the influence of George Russell, with its rapid-fire lines and unpredictable accents on trumpet and bass clarinet, along with the composer's tasty solo. There's a bit of reverb added to the unified trumpet and tenor sax in his "Or Come Fog," which touches briefly on its source, "Come Rain or Come Shine." Mintzer's wild bass clarinet is a highlight of the brisk setting of the standard "I Want to Be Happy," while the foot-patting treatment of "Weaver of Dreams" is a feature for the rhythm section alone. Weaver of Dreams lapsed from print, only to briefly reappear in a short-lived two-CD reissue. This is easily the finest recording led by Don Grolnick, who passed away in 1996.

Musicians:

Don Grolnick : piano

Michael Brecker : tenor saxophone

Randy Brecker : trumpet
Bob Mintzer : bass clarinet
Barry Rogers : trombone
Dave Holland : bass
Peter Erskine : drums
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Weaver of Dreams