American-based British jazz bassist Dave Holland has played with numerous great jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Joe Henderson. When he first played together with the Spanish flamenco guitarist Pepe Habichuela in 2007, his curiosity about the traditional flamenco genre was aroused. Descending from a generation-long clan of flamenco musicians, Pepe had previously played fusion
… with Jaco Pastorius, Don Cherry and even with Indian Bollywood strikers. That is why Holland's request surprised him to play pure flamenco together. The result of various rehearsals and European concert series was recorded in 2009 on the fully instrumental album Hands. In addition to two fusion songs composed by Holland, the double bassist respects traditional flamenco rhythms such as tangos, seguiriya, buleria and solea on the other eight tracks. The duo is joined by four other members of the Habichuela clan (actual family name is Carmona), including Pepe's son Josemi Carmona (member of Ketama & La Barberia del Sur). Whether Holland adds so much to flamenco music with his double bass is the question, but the virtuoso interplay of the two great musicians is a great pleasure to listen to. (SvdP)more
