Dave Holland. Photo credit: Mark Higashino

Ahead of DAVE HOLLAND’s week-long residency at the Royal Academy of Music, as International Jazz Artist in Residence, Sebastian interviewed the Academy’s Head of Jazz Nick Smart, who has also sent us the programme full programme for the concert which will bring next week to a close (Duke’s Hall, Friday 16th Jan, 7.30pm – TICKETS )

(UPDATE JAN 19th. Peter Vacher’s review of the Friday 16th concert is now published).

LondonJazz News: So there’s  a renewed mood of anticipation in Marylebone Road right now?

Nick Smart: Youre right. We are all very excited about Dave’s arrival this weekend. His residency last year was such a tremendous success and he inspires the students and staff by his presence, not to mention his unending generosity in playing with everyone as much as possible.

LJN: What form will the concert next Friday 16th take?

NS: This years concert features a mixture of Octet music in the 1st half, and the Academy Big Band in the second. Rehearsals are well under way now and it is already sounding like it is going to be an amazing mix of music, he’s sent plenty of challenging things but his music always seems to have such an optimistic sense of groove and catchy melodicism that it somehow never sounds hard…. but don’t be fooled.. it can be!

LJN: And you have a singer involved, what role does she have?

NS: There are some brand new lyrics by Norma Winstone to be heard, she wrote them at the National Youth Jazz Collective Summer School this year for Dave’s tune Dream of the Elders – we’ll be performing that in the first half with Miriam Ast singing. The big band half of the programme centres around his “Monterey Suite” from the classic 2002 album Overtime.

LJN: Is Dave Holland involved in any other events open to the public?

NS: There is also a public masterclass on Wednesday 14th Jan, at 6.30pm, following on from the success of last year’s. Dave was as generous as ever in answering everybody’s questions and recounting stories, plus he workshopped three student led ensembles in their own compositions. We will follow the same format for this year.

o – o – o – o

FULL PROGRAMME AND BAND LISTING FOR 16th NOVEMBER CONCERT

1st set –

THE ORACLE
MAKE BELIEVE
HERBACEOUS
DREAM OF THE ELDERS
EBB AND FLOW

Miriam Ast – vocals
James Copus and Ben Rodney – tpt
Oli Martin – tbn
Ronan Perrett – alto
Tom Barford – tenor
Greg Barker – baritone
Tal Janes – guitar
Jonathan Mansfield – vibes
Rupert Cox and Jacob Collier – piano
Dave Holland – bass
Ben Brown and Marc Michel – drums

2nd set –

(The Monterey Suite)
BRING IT ON
FREE FOR ALL
A TIME REMEMBERED
HAPPY JAMMY

LAST MINUTE MAN

Sam Glaser – alto sax
Jim Gold – alto sax
Matthew Sulzmann – tnr sax
Tom Ridout – bari sax
James Davison – Trumpet
James Copus – Trumpet
Ben Rodney – Trumpet
Owen Dawson – Trombone
Oli Martin – Trombone
Alex Kelly – Trombone
Ralph Wyld – vibes
Will Barry – piano
Rob Luft – guitar
Dave Holland – bass
Dave Storey and Phelan Burgoyne – drums