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Bassists · b. 1946

Dave Holland

British jazz musician

Born: 1 October 1946
Wolverhampton
Country: United Kingdom
Active: 1964–
Record labels: ECM Records
Discography: 17 albums

Biography

Dave Holland is a jazz musician who plays double bass, bass instrument and acoustic bass guitar. Dave Holland was born on 1 October 1946 in Wolverhampton. The music is usually filed under jazz. Record labels: ECM Records. The discography here lists 17 albums, from “Improvisations for Cello and Guitar” (1971) to “Vital Spark (Music of Kenny Wheeler)” (2026). Honours include NEA Jazz Masters.

David Holland (born 1 October 1946) is an English double bassist, bass guitarist, cellist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States since the early 1970s. His extensive discography ranges from solo performances to pieces for big band. Holland runs his own independent record label, Dare2, which he launched in 2005.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Improvisations for Cello and Guitar 1971 · Live

Music From Two Basses 1971

Dave Holland / Sam Rivers 1976

Emerald Tears 1978

Life Cycle 1983

Ones All 1993

The Monterey Quartet: Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival 2009 · Live

Hands 2010

Prism 2013

Uncharted Territories 2018

Good Hope 2019

Another Land 2021

Freedom Call: Prism - Freedom 2026 · Edition Records Freedom Call: Quintet - Synergism 2026 · Edition Records Freedom Call: Sextet - Unity 2026 · Edition Records

Vital Spark (Music of Kenny Wheeler) 2026

1994-06-03: Moers, Germany · Live

Also plays on

Albums where Dave Holland is credited as a sideman

1969	In a Silent Way — Miles Davis	double bass
1969	Filles de Kilimanjaro — Miles Davis	bass
1970	Bitches Brew — Miles Davis	bass, electric bass guitar
1974	Big Fun — Miles Davis	bass
1974	Illuminations — Devadip Carlos Santana & Turiya Alice Coltrane	double bass, acoustic bass guitar
1976	Water Babies — Miles Davis	double bass

Standards written by Dave Holland

Title	Key	Form	Groove
The Balance	G minor	A · 8	Even sixteenths
Conference Of The Birds	F major	AAA · 8	Even eighths
Homecoming	E♭ major	A · 19	Medium-up swing

Awards

NEA Jazz Masters

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument does Dave Holland play?

Dave Holland is known for playing double bass, bass instrument and acoustic bass guitar.

When and where was Dave Holland born?

Dave Holland was born 1 October 1946 in Wolverhampton.

What are Dave Holland's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Freedom Call: Prism - Freedom (2026), Freedom Call: Quintet - Synergism (2026), Freedom Call: Sextet - Unity (2026), Improvisations for Cello and Guitar (1971) and Music From Two Basses (1971).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.