November 18-24, 2004

musicpicks

Dave Holland Quintet

Smarty-pants jazz

It takes special chops for a jazz group to be simultaneously tight and loose so that the musicians work together as a well-oiled unit, yet all are able to improvise freely without the center falling apart. 'Tis a fine line to tread, and when it works the music becomes refreshingly alive. Few ensembles do it better than the Dave Holland Quintet, a group that loves to get frisky with signatures while veering off into heady hinterlands. Even so, the stuff is hardly strange or far-out—au contraire, their sound is warm and embracing. The ensemble features a formidable amalgamation of smarty-pants players: Chris Potter (saxophones), Robin Eubanks (trombone), Steve Nelson (vibes), Nate Smith (drums) and Holland holding the center together on acoustic bass. Now 7 years old, the quintet offers seasoned sophisticated post-bop where the players consistently challenge one another to gently push the envelope.

Fri., Nov. 19, 7 and 9 p.m., $35, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914.

—Deni Kasrel