Emerald Tears

Emerald Tears

ASIN: B00002474U

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Solo bass recordings are rare today, but they were far rarer in 1977, when Dave Holland undertook Emerald Tears, building on a tradition of jazz virtuosos that included Charles Mingus, Paul Chambers, and Scott LaFaro. Holland had already accumulated impressive credentials with Miles Davis's electric band and a host of leading avant-garde figures like Anthony Braxton and Sam Rivers, and this is a striking example of his musicality, as well as his bass chops. There's even something self-effacing in Holland's masterly technique. His articulation is so clean, his notes so precise, and his tone so round and solid, that he consistently gives the impression this might not be that difficult.

Holland goes about the business of making whole music. There are original ballads like "Emerald Tears" and "Under Redwood," in which he develops smoothly melodic improvisations, shaping and coloring his phrases with expressive bends. "Spheres" and "Hooveling" are medium-tempo originals that launch developed pizzicato improvisations, while "Combinations" is a sustained bowed piece played with cellolike facility. "Flurries" takes in Holland's experimental side; it's a complex piece that mixes pointillist leaps, drumming with the bow, and high, whistling harmonics. Davis's "Solar" is a tour de force of solo bop bass with some astonishing double-time passages; Braxton's "B-40/RS-4-W/M23-6-K" combines genuine swing with unpredictable phrase lengths and note choices. Though the bass palette may be limited, Holland sustains interest throughout. --Stuart Broomer

Tracks:

Spheres
Emerald Tears
Combination
B-40/RS-4-W/M23-6-K
Under Redwoods
Solar
Flurries
Hooveling

Amazon.com

Solo bass recordings are rare today, but they were far rarer in 1977, when Dave Holland undertook Emerald Tears, building on a tradition of jazz virtuosos that included Charles Mingus, Paul Chambers, and Scott LaFaro. Holland had already accumulated impressive credentials with Miles Davis's electric band and a host of leading avant-garde figures like Anthony Braxton and Sam Rivers, and this is a striking example of his musicality, as well as his bass chops. There's even something self-effacing in Holland's masterly technique. His articulation is so clean, his notes so precise, and his tone so round and solid, that he consistently gives the impression this might not be that difficult.

Customer Reviews:

Pure Magic.......2002-05-13

This is one of my all time favorite recordings. Dave Holland pulled off a seemingly impossible feat; complex, daring music, played by a lone upright bass player, that keeps you interested and entertained for the whole show. Most people will remember suffering through boring, show-offy bass solos at concerts of any kind. Well, Dave Holland does it for 45 minutes with spectacular results.

Pure Magic.......2002-05-13

Base Solo Bass.......2000-08-21

Dave Holland is one of the great modern jazz bass players. As a contributor to Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew," Chick Corea's early 70s trio and group Circle, and Joe Lovano's recent "Trio Fascination," he has been a part of some jazz's all-time best albums. Even a few of his own recordings, the magnificent "Conference for the Birds" and his two duet albums with Sam Rivers, are easily among the best avant-garde jazz recordings in history. Unfortunately, "Emerald Tears" does not match these other efforts. It is a tribute to Holland from his label ECM that they would even give him the opportunity to make a recording of solo bass music. And while some of the tracks create a deep, rich texture and evocative mood, the album overall is rather thin and redundant.