The Dave Holland Quintet (in its "default" configuration of Chris Potter sax, Robin Eubanks trombone, Dave Holland Bass, Steve Nelson vibraphone, and Nate Smith drums) is playing this weekend at Yoshi's in Oakland. Alex and I and early (very nice) dinner before the Friday 8pm set, and then got a gift of the 10pm set because the room wasn't fully booked (same happened last time we were there for Joe Lovano). The first set was tight well constructed, with a couple of new compositions, but a bit "cold." More like one of the quintet's recordings than a live set. But on the second set, they seemed more relaxed, enjoying themselves, and letting go with mesmerizing bouts of improvisation. They all contributed great passages. While my favorite players of the evening were overall Potter and (as always) Nelson, a genius of rhythmic surprise, Eubanks led the widest ranging improvisations of the evening around his composition Full Circle from the Critical Mass recording that launched this lineup.
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