Dave Holland

Episode 16 of the Burning Ambulance podcast features an interview with legendary jazz bassist Dave Holland, whose latest album, Uncharted Territories, is out now.

Dave Holland has been a respected and admired figure on the international jazz scene since he began playing in London in 1967. He was recruited to join Miles Davis's band in 1968, and stayed with him until 1970, playing on Filles de Kilimanjaro, In a Silent Way, and Bitches Brew. When he left, he formed Circle with Chick Corea, Anthony Braxton, and Barry Altschul. Holland played extensively with Braxton and Sam Rivers during the early 1970s, and recorded the album Conference of the Birds, a crucial avant-garde document, in 1973 for the ECM label. He later formed the Gateway trio with guitarist John Abercrombie and drummer Jack DeJohnette; led two different quintets, in the 1980s and 1990s/2000s; expanded the latter group to an octet and a big band; and much more. Uncharted Territories features saxophonist Evan Parker, with whom Holland first played in 1968, in the Spontaneous Music Ensemble; keyboardist Craig Taborn; and percussionist Ches Smith. In this interview, he discusses old and new projects, his approach to improvisation, running his own Dare2 label, and much more.