2006 GRAMMY AWARD WINNER - BEST JAZZ LARGE ENSEMBLE!

Legendary bassist Dave Holland premiered his big band at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2000. At the time, his quintet was thriving, and therefore he wasn’t thinking much beyond the initial engagement of his 13-piece ensemble. After all, as any student of modern jazz knows, the economics of keeping a big band alive and on the road is, in most cases, cost prohibitive. But almost immediately, his jazz orchestra generated a high level of interest, and, as Holland notes, a “ripple effect” took place. “I had reservations it would work,” he says. “But the big band became an unexpected and wonderful success.” The group defied the odds and profitably toured, touching down throughout Europe twice as well as playing dates in the U.S., including shows at both the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall. Less than five years after it was born, the Dave Holland Big Band is inarguably the top big band in jazz. In addition to scoring top honors in jazz polls, its first CD, What Goes Around, scored a Grammy in 2003 for best large ensemble jazz album. The follow-up disc, Overtime, the debut release on Holland’s own label, Dare2 Records (distributed by Sunnyside Records in the U.S. and Universal Music France outside of the States), continues the big band story with a new chapter of passionate, exhilarating excursions. “The new album represents the growth of the big band,” says Holland, who composed and arranged seven of the eight pieces, including the four-part “The Monterey Suite.” “We set out to create an ensemble sound. This record documents the unifying sense we have developed. I can’t say enough about the musicians. Without them, these pieces are just notes on paper.” Tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, a member of the big band and the quintet, said in an interview recently that Holland’s leadership was special. “Dave approaches the band as something you wind up and let go. Of course, he’s serious about the music. He wants us all to play at our highest level. He’s very curious to see how far we can take an idea and run with it.” On Overtime, you hear the collaborative results: a rich, full sound that rolls and sometimes roils; lyricism with warm-toned harmonies; mystery within the romance; a spirited flow, a thrilling fury, a buoyant dance. And the conversations aren’t blowing sessions, but lively exchanges among inspired musicians listening to each other. - from the Sunnyside Records homepage