AZIZA 

“The commander-in-chief of a first rate, cutting edge group has to be everything: creative genius and effective entrepreneur, power player and diplomat, steeped in experience but fresh and unjaded. Few current leaders exemplify the role as well as bassist Dave Holland.”—DownBeat

Renowned jazz bassist and composer Dave Holland leads this new, all-star quartet in a performance that’s sure to light up the intimate Lincoln Theatre. Recently named a 2017 Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, Holland is now in his fifth decade as a performer, and his music reflects this rich history: from his international launch in the 1960s with Miles Davis through the many great bands he has led and contributed to since. Joining Holland is composer and standout sax virtuoso Chris Potter, an archetypal players’ player with limitless creativity and a vibrant sense of swing, all in service to the music. “Daring yet precise, with clean edges and unexpected implications,” DownBeat notes, Potter “is something special.” West African guitarist Lionel Loueke thrills audiences with his distinctive rippling runs (including fans who heard his trio make its Columbus debut at the Wex). Rounding out the group is dynamic, in-demand drummer Eric Harland, who played at the Lincoln last fall alongside Charles Lloyd and Bill Frisell. Check out this fantastic quartet’s forthcoming album this fall for a preview of this major highlight of our 2016–17 jazz season.