AZIZA: Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke & Eric Harland

As a soloist, composer and bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. DownBeat called him, “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet,” while JazzTimes identified him as, “a figure of international renown” and saxophonist Dave Liebman called him simply, “one of the best musicians around.”

Dave Holland is a renowned bassist, composer and bandleader whose passion for musical expression of all styles and dedication to creating innovative ensembles have propelled a career of more than 50 years. A guiding light on acoustic and electric bass, Holland has earned top honors including multiple Grammy Awards and the title of NEA Jazz Master. Today he is celebrated for his own remarkable ensembles, ranging from duos and trios to big bands, featuring innovative collaborators like Steve Coleman, Robin and Kevin Eubanks, Jason Moran, Chris Potter and Eric Harland. Holland’s most recent release, Without Deception, reunites him with pianist Kenny Barron in an intimate and adventurous trio with drummer Johnathan Blake.

Praised by his mentor Herbie Hancock as "a musical painter"; Lionel Loueke combines harmonic sophistication, soaring melody, a deep knowledge of African music, and conventional and extended guitar techniques to create a warm and evocative sound of his own.

Multi-Grammy Nominated Drummer, Eric Harland is the most "In demand drummer" of his generation. " When Eric Harland contributes... his intention is therefore to create the highest musical experience so that every listener may have insight... into the musical moment.

Dave Holland is a bassist, composer, bandleader whose passion for musical expression of all styles, and dedication to creating consistently innovative music ensembles have propelled a professional career of more than 50 years, and earned him top honors in his field including multiple Grammy awards and the title of NEA Jazz Master in 2017.

Holland stands as a guiding light on acoustic and electric bass, having grown up in an age when musical genres—jazz, rock, funk, avant-garde, folk, electronic music, and others—blended freely together to create new musical pathways. He was a leading member of a generation that helped usher jazz bass playing from its swing and post-bop legacy to the vibrancy and multidiscipline excitement of the modern era, extending the instrument’s melodic, expressive capabilities. Holland’s virtuosic technique and rhythmic feel, informed by an open-eared respect of a formidable spread of styles and sounds, is widely revered and remains much in demand. To date, His playing can be heard on hundreds of recordings, with more than thirty as a leader under his own name.