Dave Holland
Dave Holland
Dave Hollandis an English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States for over 40 years...
ProfessionDrummer
Date of Birth1 October 1946
approach bottom holds influence inspired instrument playing ray special
I have a special place for Ray Brown's playing because his approach to the instrument was the thing that inspired me initially. I feel that that is at the bottom of my playing and that that is the fundamental influence that I have on my playing. He kind of holds a special place for me.
affection affinity bass felt general guitarist high lead liked profile ready rhythm seemed string suit
I think string instruments in general were something I felt an affinity for. I liked the bass. I was a rhythm guitarist and the bass seemed a more interesting thing to do than play chords. It didn't have the high profile of the lead guitarist, but I wasn't really ready for that at the time. It seemed to suit my personality.
developing
The whole point in developing your own style is to find your own voice.
bass closely fulcrum group harmony jazz lower outline parts rhythm role sort supportive work
The fundamental role that the bass has always had is to outline the lower parts of the harmony and be supportive rhythmically. You work very closely with the drummer, usually in a jazz group and in the rhythm section. It is sort of a fulcrum in the group.
bringing connect dance exist high movement music rhythm understanding whatever
I think music can be many things to many people. I think it should exist on many levels. I think that music can exist on dance and rhythm and movement and at the same time, exist on a very high intellectual level. You can come to the music bringing whatever understanding you have and find something in it that you can connect with.
direct honest music needs relevant speak time
I think that what is important is that the music be honest and direct and that it is relevant to today. I think music needs to be of its time and speak to that time.
along boxing connection playing reaction
There's really a connection between the boxing and his way of playing ... It's the speed, the in and outs, the reaction times, the feinting, the moves, the combinations ... It went right along with his thing -- timing, nuance.
area birmingham chords england few four grew house instrument interested living playing string taught
I grew up in the Midlands area of England around the Birmingham area and when I was four years old, my uncle, who was living in the same house that I was living in, had as a hobby, playing the ukulele. At four years old, I was interested in this instrument already and he taught me a few chords on it. So that is how I started on string instruments.
amongst great interest music people situations younger
I think there is great interest amongst the younger people in this music. I think that there is a lot of them that are looking for interesting situations and music that is stimulating.
bass people played playing turned
I started playing with a group of young people when I was 13. I turned professional when I was 15 and I played dance halls, this on bass guitar.
dig heels needed nobody open
It was only when I started to dig my heels in that I started to realize that's what I needed to do - that nobody was going to open the door for me, that I had to make some space.
allow along carried content emotional fairly great jazz music require technical understanding
In fact, jazz has such a great feeling and great emotional content that it really doesn't require you to have technical understanding of it. I think you just have to allow your feelings to go with the music and you will find yourself carried along by it fairly quickly.
certain constantly people time
You have to find a way to protect yourself in a certain way from people who are constantly demanding your time.
art best both emotional perform
To me, at its best, that's what art should do, perform both the emotional and intellectual function.