Dave Holland: A Short Documentary

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I love Dave Holland as a bassist, composer and band leader, so I'm predisposed to like this video documentary. I'm especially fascinated with how his ideas about music can fit Into the world of work and business.

A couple of quotes:

"I mean I have teachers, but they're teachers I have only listened to on record. The whole history, the historic tradition that you learn as a young player by listening and studying the masters, you know, that have gone before you. I mean, I'm learning now from the players I play with now. That's, the process goes on." --Dave Holland

and

"As far as my position as a teacher, I just try to do the same thing. I mean, I have a phrase that I like to use called, 'pass it on.' I think that's what's important, that you take what you've been given, and you try to give it back. And in all forms of life, You know, not just music. You know you try to pass on what you've also received. By doing that it become so much more than if you hold onto it." --Dave Holland

Enjoy the documentary. Then go listen to some Dave Holland music!

Dave Holland is the world's leading acoustic bass player. He played with Miles Davis, Betty Carter, Sonny Rollins and many more. This documentary gives insight into the ups and downs of Dave's life and his career as a bass player. Clare and Louise Holland, Steve Nelson, Chris Potter, Robin Eubanks and many other band members share their experience with Dave as a band leader, a player a composer and a family man.

Listen Here

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Going into an all-day meeting, I decided to try something different. For a long time I’d been thinking, “Bill, you talk too much.” My journal entries were replete with, “Talk less. Listen more.”

That morning, I titled my journal entry, “Listen Here” (after the great song by Eddie Harris) and continued with:

Listen Here by Eddie Harris — Atlantic Records  — 1966.

Listen.
Ask questions.
Be curious.
Ask humble questions.
Listen.
Summarize.
Synthesize.
Pass.
“I don’t know.”
“Let me think about that.”
Speak the *kind truth?*
Nah!
Observe.
Listen…
Just listen!

While my change in approach was noticed by more than one person, something even more interesting happened. During the morning session, I received a notification about a new podcast just downloaded to my iPhone. It was an HBR Ideacast entitled, Become a Better Listener and featuring Mark Goulston, author of Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone.

Maybe someone is trying to tell me something? Great start? Message received!

To be continued…


New Blog? New Song!!

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Normally it's "Hello Cruel World!" whenever I launch something (teaching myself a new programming language, writing on a pristine whiteboard, or starting a new website/blog).

Here's an idea: instead of HCW, let's check out New Song by Omer Avital. Recorded live in Nice, it's got a nice groove to help us on our way.

Omer Avital performing New Song, the title track from his new album, live at Nice Jazz Festival.

I love it! Great bass line and the band is clearly having fun.

I'm really looking forward to posting articles, links, photos here, exploring some of the best ideas that interest to me. I hope you'll find something of value here! Maybe even one or two of the Best Ideas…