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Rating: "Conference Of The Birds" dates back to 1972. 6 tracks, all composed by Dave Holland. Here is a double-bassist who has always played a secondary role. Just like in this album.
Holland is not a discoverer of new sounds, he has never contributed to the expansion of his instrument's language, and he does not possess particular talents as a composer or arranger.
"Conference Of The Birds" appears to be an album with a European aroma, with lines of late free jazz and features excellent solos by the versatile multi-instrumentalist Antony Braxton, known for his remarkable stylistic qualities and classical training. The quartet is completed by Sam Rivers (sax and flute), from the Coltrane school, and Barry Altschul (percussions). Dave Holland, for his part, boasts significant collaborations (Davis, Metheny) and in this record remains confined to the role of accompanist to the talented soloists mentioned above.
The album also has South American resonances, a robust sound, and pleasantly cultured. The most intense and recommendable episode is (thanks to Braxton's winds) "Interception", while in "Conference of Birds", which titles the album, the percussion and sound interplay are fascinating. Not bad either is "See Saw" which wraps it all up.
The work is honest and at times ingenious.
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