Overview
“Conference of the Birds” is an album by the quartet led by British jazz bassist Dave Holland, released in 1973.
Background
Born in Wolverhampton in 1946, Dave Holland began his career in the mid-1960s playing electric bass in local bands before switching to acoustic double bass. After studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, he was recruited by Miles Davis in 1968 after Davis heard him at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. He participated in important recordings such as “In a Silent Way” and “Bitches Brew.” After leaving Davis in 1970, he co-founded the short-lived avant-garde group Circle with Chick Corea, Anthony Braxton, and Barry Altschul, and also worked regularly with Sam Rivers.
Description
Recorded on November 30, 1972, at Allegro Studio in New York, and released in 1973 on ECM Records (ECM 1027), this album marks Holland’s debut as a leader. It was produced by Manfred Eicher. The unique quartet consists of Anthony Braxton (alto saxophone, clarinet, flute), Sam Rivers (tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute), Dave Holland (double bass), and Barry Altschul (percussion, marimba). This was the only recording session on which Braxton and Rivers performed together.
The album consists entirely of original compositions by Dave Holland. It employs an open-form structure: each piece begins with a theme that establishes key, tempo, and mood, after which the musicians improvise freely. The rhythm section of Holland and Altschul provides a variable, shifting pulse rather than fixed meter or conventional harmonic progressions. This supports extended solo improvisations by the two reed players while maintaining a degree of ensemble control. The approach is based on Ornette Coleman’s free jazz principle of “time, no changes” (maintaining pulse while avoiding fixed chord progressions), while integrating more structured interplay.
Track-by-Track Commentary
- “Four Winds” (6:32): An energetic piece characterized by dynamic interplay and relay-like horn exchanges. The rhythm section’s drive and the precision of the solos stand out.
- “Q & A” (8:34): Centered on extended improvisational sections, it develops musical “question and answer” through call-and-response patterns. It also features textural effects such as a coach’s whistle.
- “Conference of the Birds” (4:34): The title track. It opens with a bass solo by Holland, followed by a mantra-like 5/4 rhythm introduced by bass and percussion. A clear, repeating melody is played on flute and reeds, with Altschul’s marimba used effectively. Subtle metric variations, including the insertion of 2/4 measures, are added, while the beautiful interplay between Braxton and Rivers unfolds.
- “Interception” (8:20): The most intense track on the album. It features dense collective improvisation and high-energy solos, creating a high density of expression.
- “Now Here (Nowhere)” (4:34): A compact piece. Effective use of space and dynamic shifts within the ensemble are highlights.
- “See-Saw” (6:40): A swinging, dynamic closing track. Rhythmic interplay brings the album to a strong conclusion.
Reception
The album did not achieve major commercial chart success, but it has been consistently praised by critics as a key work in early 1970s avant-garde jazz. “The Penguin Guide to Jazz” awarded it four stars (of a possible four) and selected it for the “Core Collection.” Many reviewers have described it as one of the most accessible entry points to free jazz/avant-garde jazz. The balance between clarity of thematic material and freedom of improvisation is noted as a particular strength.
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