Ten albums by bass players - Part three

6. Dave Holland – Extensions (1990)

Having had the opportunity to listen to ‘Another Land’ Holland’s imminent release on Edition Records I dug this out as it also features Kevin Eubanks on guitar with the quartet being rounded out by Steve Coleman (alto sax) and Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith (drums). Listening to it, it’s hard to believe that this was another short term project assembled for an album or tour as the band sounds as if they have spent years in each other’s company; the interplay between the sax and guitar is almost telepathic as they play with, between and around each other and when they drop back it’s apparent that Holland has been a rock solid foundation all along; Smith adds colour and fills and revels in the freedom he’s allowed. And that’s just the first track. Whilst the pace may vary across the rest of the album the quality never drops.

7. Jasper Høiby – Fellow Creatures (2016)

I wasn’t impressed with the first tracks I heard from this but then JazzFM played something off it and I added it to my list of albums I’d buy if I saw it in a sale. Further research revealed a copy had been filed on the wrong shelf in the Butler’s Pantry at Sayer Towers. And it’s a great album. Høiby, at the time, was best known as the bassist in Phronesis, a piano trio. For this album he broadened his musical palette to a more traditional jazz quintet featuring, amongst others Laura Jurd on trumpet and Mark Lockheart on saxes. There is, however, little traditional music on this album. Instead there are false starts, tumbling rhythms, mournful wailing, a Spanish march, the lead constantly changing and always there is Høiby’s probing bass. Høiby was inspired by matters ecological when writing the music for Fellow Creatures and this is reflected in titles such as Little Song for Mankind, Song for the Bees, Plastic Island, the title track and in the lament, Folk Song, which opens the album. His next solo album, Plan B, would follow similar themes. Dave Sayer.