The crunchy riffs and full-on breaks of first track “The Watcher” are a sharp shift from Holland’s long line of acoustic recordings. But, like most musicians of stature, the bassist stamps his personality on everything he plays, and on the atmospheric, rock-edged Prism, the icy intellect, sense of form and group interplay remain intact.
Great tunes and a top-notch quartet featuring stinging lead and silky rhythm from guitarist Kevin Eubanks, the controlled thunder of Eric Harland’s drums and Craig Taborn’s pristine piano and distinctive, distorted-at-the-edges Rhodes.
Dave Holland
Prism
(Dare 2/OKeh)