Critical Mass (Dave Holland album)

Critical Mass is a 2006 studio album release by the Dave Holland Quintet, the first to feature drummer Nate Smith. Saxophonist Chris Potter, trombonist Robin Eubanks and vibraphonist Steve Nelson all return from previous Holland projects. This is the first Dave Holland album not to be released on the ECM label, through which he had released all of his albums since Conference of the Birds in 1972.

Critical Mass
Studio album by
Dave Holland Quintet
ReleasedAugust 29, 2006
RecordedDecember 2005
StudioAvatar Studios, NYC
GenrePost-Bop
Length1:12:50
LabelDare2/Sunnyside
ProducerDave Holland
Dave Holland Quintet chronology
Overtime
(2005)		 Critical Mass
(2006)		 Pass It On
(2008)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
All About Jazz[2]
The Guardian[3]
Sputnikmusic4/5[4]
PopMatters8/10[5]
Jazzwise[6]
The Inlander[7]
Tom HullB+[8]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[9]

Reception

Steve Greenlee of JazzTimes stated "It’s been five years since Dave Holland’s quintet released an album of new material. The bassist hasn’t exactly been relaxing in the meantime; he put out two albums of big-band music and toured extensively, and released a stellar double-live CD by his quintet. And all the while, the least grateful among us have been hankering for some new music from Holland’s quintet. Well, here it is, and it holds its own against Prime Directive, the group’s most impressive release... The groupthink mentality manifests itself most obviously on the New Orleans tribute “Easy Did It,” for which Holland and Smith create a slithering, swelling rhythm that culminates in a five-way roundtable of near-chaos. Critical Mass will be on everyone’s list of 2006’s best."[10] John Kelman of All About Jazz wrote, "Proof that it's possible to retain one's identity while breaking new ground, Critical Mass continues a streak of winning records for Holland that shows no sign of letting up."[2] John Fordham of The Guardian added, " It's unflinching contemporary instrumental jazz, but as subtly melodic as Holland's bands always are."[3]

Track listing
  1. "The Eyes Have It" (Dave Holland) - 7:00
  2. "Easy Did It" (Dave Holland) - 11:16
  3. "Vicissitudes" (Chris Potter) - 9:56
  4. "The Leak" (Nate Smith) - 5:42
  5. "Secret Garden" (Dave Holland) - 8:42
  6. "Lucky Seven" (Dave Holland) - 8:35
  7. "Full Circle" (Robin Eubanks) - 12:11
  8. "Amator Silenti" (Steve Nelson) - 9:17

Personnel

References
  1. Tamarkin, Jeff. Critical Mass at AllMusic
  2. KELMAN, JOHN (23 August 2006). "Dave Holland Quintet: Critical Mass". All About Jazz. allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  3. Fordham, John (3 November 2006). "Dave Holland, Critical Mass". The Guardian. theguardian.com. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  4. "Dave Holland: Critical Mass". Sputnikmusic. sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  5. LAYMAN, WILL (5 October 2006). "Dave Holland Quintet: Critical Mass". PopMatters. popmatters.com. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  6. Heining, Duncan (17 January 2007). "Dave Holland Quintet - Critical Mass". Jazzwise. jazzwisemagazine.com. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  7. BOWEN, MICHAEL. "CD Reviews". The Inlander. inlander.com. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  8. "Tom Hull: Grade List: Dave Holland". Tom Hull. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  9. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 718. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  10. Greenlee, Steve (1 December 2006). "Dave Holland Quintet: Critical Mass". JazzTimes. jazztimes.com. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
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