Search - Dave Holland :: Rarum X (Dig)

Great Sampler of a Brilliant Artist

David Anderson | New York, NY | 07/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was going to make a sampler to introduce a friend of mine to the music of Dave Holland, among the premiere jazz group leaders today, but this terrific compilation has made this totally unnecessary -- I will recommend this CD instead.Rarum X gives a compact cross section of Holland's innovative ECM career as a leader/composer, capturing many of the most memorable tunes. It's got ostinato groove tunes (How's Never, Nemesis), songs built around some of the most complex and satisfying quintet interplay in modern jazz (Prime Directive, Homecoming, You I Love), early Holland gem compositions (Four Winds, Conference of the Birds). There's even a Holland cello solo (Inception) from his Life Cycle recording.For a compilation this is very well selected and sequenced. Holland personally selected the recording, and I think he intentionally put his best recognized compositions at the end, giving it incredible staying power in your CD player.Highly, highly recommended."