Linger Awhile with Holotradband is HTB's debut recording. Holotradband is a seven-piece ensemble playing traditional jazz in generally the same spirit as the Eddie Condon groups of the 30's and 40's.
The group was formed with the idea of getting the best possible musicians available, playing material enjoyed by those musicians, and letting their talent, creativity, and nearly complete improvisational freedom determine the sound. This is a "lead sheet" kind of band. The musicians, not the charts, are the key to the sound of Holotradband.
Other than "Rhythm of the Tambourine" a nice chart David Loomis based on a Benny Carter arrangement of the song, there's only an occasional scripted intro or ending. With those few exceptions, what you hear is straight, simple, and spontaneous improvisation by the musicians. The band recorded this CD "live" in the studio, i.e., without isolation booths or baffles. No overdubs, no heavy-handed digital technology, no cut and paste.
Record the tune. Not satisfied? Record it again. Everybody ... From the top ... If you hear this band on CD, you know what it sounds like live ... factoring in the obvious difference in ambient quality of a live acoustic performance and an electronic reproduction of the same.
The material on this CD ranges from the very hot, up-tempo ... "Linger Awhile", "Weary Blues", "Rhythm of the Tambourine", "Give Me Your Telephone Number" to the slower-tempo, highly emotive efforts on "Big House Blues", "Waiting At the End of the Road", and "Why?" HTB's audiences tell us everything on the CD is eminently danceable.
There's a lot to like on this CD. If you enjoy hot jazz, improvisation, and music that really swings, it's a pretty safe bet you'll enjoy this recording.
The Musicians of Holotradband:
At the time of this submittal, Holotradband – a group with a penchant for red-hot, toe-tapping traditional jazz, blues, and early swing - is nearing the 5th anniversary of its weekly performance at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant, long a Seattle favorite for jazz and blues. The group is comprised of some of Seattle's most well- known and respected traditional jazz men.
Dave Holo (cornet) has been a part of the Northwest's traditional jazz scene since the mid-1970's. He's a veteran of numerous recording projects and has played dozens of jazz festivals with half-a-dozen bands all over the U.S. and Canada, with a few European performances to his credit as well. Twenty consecutive years of Monday nights at the New Orleans Restaurant in Seattle have allowed Holo to hone his own appropriately authentic style without being imitative.
David Loomis (trombone) is among those whose name will always be on the list when you ask the hardcore west coast traditional jazz fans to name their favorite trombonists. Widely-recorded and a veteran of thirty years with numerous bands on the traditional jazz festival circuit, David is not only a trombonist extraordinaire, but an engaging vocalist and an very accomplished arranger as well. Listen to his work with Holotradband; you'll understand.
Bruce Hall (clarinet) modestly claims to have been a musical vagabond for the past thirty-five plus years. This is his very self-deprecating way to describe a career which has never included a "day job". A more careful inspection uncovers Bruce's career playing the pits in shows, as a studio musician, recording movie sound tracks, and composing, arranging and producing a wide variety of performance and recording projects. In addition to teaching his craft to others, he's a first-call guy in Seattle for a whole lot of folks.
Matt Weiner (bass) has played and recorded with bands from Boston to Austin, New York to Seattle. His recording credits are broad and varied ... swing, gypsy jazz, trad jazz, bluegrass, rock-a-billy, and other styles which aren't easily categorized. Matt also produced a unique recording project of string bass and ukulele duets. He composed and arranged much of the material used for the project. Very few bassists can drive a band like Matt does, and no one today plays slap-bass like Matt. Festival audiences all over the U.S., Great Britain, and "the continent" have marveled at Matt's playing – rightly so. When you hear Matt in Holotradband, think Pops Foster or Steve Brown. He's that strong.
Mike Daugherty (drums) is a Baltimore native who transplanted himself to Seattle in the mid-1990's and has been steadily establishing himself as a drummer who can and will jump right into any musical style. Rock-a-billy, punk, trad jazz, swing, ska ... You name it, Mike's probably played it. He's an in-demand drummer, although Seattle band leaders occasionally find his availability limited due to amount of time he spends touring Europe. Audiences love Mike for his outgoing manner, his style, and his way of delivering a vocal. His talents as a drummer, vocalist, and band leader are well-documented.
Lance Haslund (guitar) is another talented writer/composer, multi-instrumentalist in this group, Lance got his start on guitar as a kid in the 60's. He plays guitar and string bass in bands covering rock, folk, gypsy jazz, mainstream jazz, traditional jazz, and a number of other idioms. His work with Holotradband may well remind you of Freddie Green. Like Freddie Green, Lance seldom solos and never uses a pickup or a mic. He plays a big-bodied archtop, and he gets a lot out of it. Much of the very blended, cohesive sound of the Holotradband rhythm section comes from Lance's straight rhythm style.
Alex Guilbert (piano), the "young guy" in the group has been a working professional in the Seattle area since the early 90's. Classically-trained and equipped with a degree in piano performance, Alex is also a composer/arranger and has performed solo, led groups, and played, produced, and engineered a number of recording projects in addition to his work with Holotradband. Coupled with his classical training, Alex's love of many different styles of jazz allows him to bring ideas to the work of Holotradband that just wouldn't be there were his perspective narrower.
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