Dave Holland - 1999 "Prime Directive"

Prime Directive is an album by jazz bassist Dave Holland's Quintet released on the ECM label in 1999. A player's 'prime directive', Dave Holland has decided, should be to spread joy while making creative music. His role model in this regard remains Duke Ellington, whose melodies were the lure to draw listeners deeper into the world of jazz interaction; so it is with the Holland Quintet. Prime Directive, the album, picks where the Grammy-nominated Points of View left off, and is the stronger for the addition of Chris Potter, widely regarded as one of the most exciting young saxophonists in North America.

You may have to wait a while between Dave Holland-led releases, but it's always worth it. Tremendous taste prevents Holland from making unsatisfying music. He is a great leader in the truest senses of the word -- he gives his team space, trusts their abilities and judgment, yet all the while remains firmly in command and infuses the results with his own style and personality. Prime Directive is a wonderful jazz album. These 77 minutes and nine tracks do not cheat or disappoint.

The straight-ahead tunes -- composed by double-bassist Holland and his talented band mates (one each) -- all bear Holland's distinctive rhythmic patterns and harmonics. A fine example is the title track, on which Robin Eubanks on trombone and Chris Potter on saxophones hold a stimulating musical conversation over the rhythm section's driving groove. For listeners who prefer a more deliberate pace, there's the searching, contemplative "Make Believe," with Steve Nelson's lovely vibraphone work appointing the mood. On the hopeful, "A Seeking Spirit," fans will be tapping along to the rhythmic feast offered up by the leader and his pace-setting partner Billy Kilson on drums. The melancholy "Candlelight Vigil" presents Holland at his bowed best. Finally, "Wonders Never Cease" finds the entire band at the height of their collective, improvisational prowess. Prime Directive is recommended; a great leader is, indeed, hard to find.

This band is hands down in my top 5. When i was in my early 20's i began my study of jazz. I was managing a strip bar and a guest would bring me in jazz cd's. They were selections that demanded a study. For example i received 1. Charles Loyd-Live Monterrey 1967 2. 3 different Coltrane albums spanning his major changes. 3. Dave Holland - Big Band-- The What Goes Around album--
Some of the selections i sat on for awhile. Unfortunately i did not give the Holland recording a chance for like a year.
After putting it in i immediately regretted the time it took for me to realize this band was something special.
This is his regular Quintet- not the big band - but same dynamic is there- the same type of compositions- with a strong emphasis on energy. This band seems like they are playing at top caliber as in it does not get any better than this for the type of jazz they are playing.
I love Hollands as a composer . I love the way he structures his compositions-they are usually very complex and require a mental workout with the end result being a feeling of experiencing something great.
This is a top caliber recording from some of the best musicians out there with great direction by Holland.

Holland's group is BY FAR the most refined, sophisticated, soulful, progressive jazz unit working today. "Prime Directive" is even better than the previous record, "Points of View," which was FANTASTIC.
The overall sound on "Prime Directive" is a combination of upbeat energy and Miles Davis style "cool" jazz. What makes the tunes special and COMPLETELY ALTERS their character is the fact that they're mostly in odd-meters. Yet the way these guys groove through those odd-meters almost reminds me of Brubeck's classic quartet. With the addition of supremely inventive saxophonist Chris Potter soloing in polyrhytmic unison with trombonist Robin Eubanks against the translucent vibes of the AMAZING Steve Nelson, Holland's band just takes off into a HIGHER PLANE that leaves everyone else behind. Only a great drummer can hold all this together without sounding trite or merely technical, and Holland, who had the legendary Marvin "Smitty" Smith in his band on the classic "Extensions" record, has found himself another one in Billy Kilson. Kilson navigates those odd-meters like he was born playing them, and his refreshingly "UN-LOOSE" style is what provides the polyrhythms growing on top the perfect point of reference and keeps them interesting.
Overall, "Prime Directive" features over 60 minutes of the best jazz I've ever heard in my life, and, needless to say, it hasn't left my CD player since the day I bought it some 4 months ago.

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Track listing

    All compositions by Dave Holland except as indicated

    "Prime Directive" - 7:46
    "Looking Up" - 13:32
    "Make Believe" - 6:25
    "A Seeking Spirit" (Robin Eubanks) - 11:21
    "High Wire" (Chris Potter) - 6:49
    "Jugglers Parade" - 8:14
    "Candelight Vigil" (Steve Nelson) - 4:51
    "Wonders Never Cease" (Billy Kilson) - 13:55
    "Down Time" - 3:48

        Recorded at Avatar Studios in New York City on December 10–12, 1998

Personnel

    Dave Holland - double bass
    Chris Potter - soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
    Robin Eubanks - trombone
    Steve Nelson - vibraphone, marimba
    Billy Kilson - drums