DC Jazz Festival Announces the Addition of Dave Holland to the Lineup

Dave Holland Added to the Lineup of the DC Jazz Festival…

NEA Jazz Master, bassist, composer and bandleader Dave Holland is among the headliners at the 19th Annual DC JazzFest, taking place from August 30 through September 3 with DC JazzFest at The Wharf on September 2-3, over Labor Day Weekend.

Holland has become one of the most prolific and versatile bassists in jazz history throughout his over five-decade long career. In 2021, Martin Johnson of The Wall Street Journal described him as “one of jazz’s leading bassists“ and characterized his playing by its “big bold tone and articulated structures.”  

Holland was catapulted onto the scene in the ‘60s as a member of Miles Davis’ famed Bitches Brew-era band and effectively helped lay the groundwork for the rise of Fusion jazz. In the ‘70s, Holland formed a short-lived free-jazz quartet with Chick Corea, Anthony Braxton and Barry Altschul before collaborating with bands led by the likes of Stan Getz, Thelonious Monk, and Sam Rivers. Throughout his career, he has remained devoted to musical expression of all styles, which is evident through the breadth of his collaborations, which include projects with Spanish guitar great Pepe Habichuela and the late Betty Carter. 

Today, Holland continues to tour as a leader and collaborator. During the ‘80s, he worked as artistic director of the Banff Centre’s jazz summer program in Canada and as a faculty member of the New England Conservatory of Music in the ‘90s, where he still serves as an artist in residence. 

DC JazzFest has become  a highlight for low-end lovers over the past several years. Last year, bass legends Christian McBride and Ron Carter were among the headliners. 

DC JazzFest will be hosted at The Wharf, DC’s premier waterfront neighborhood and destination. Located on a lovely stretch of the historic Potomac River, The Wharf is full of scintillating restaurants and clubs, vibrant retail, and first-class hotels and offices.  The neighborhood’s monumental views and bustling riverside promenade are accessible by nearby Metro service, highway, and water taxi service. 

The largest jazz festival in the nation’s capital, the 19th Annual DC JazzFest will feature a robust lineup of performers – from local legends to NEA Jazz Masters – with concerts across several venues. This year’s Festival experiences will include in-person performances, up-close-and-personal “Meet the Artist” conversations, and indoor performances at Arena Stage and Union Stage including the DCJazzPrix international emerging jazz band competition Finals live at Union Stage at The Wharf.

The 2023 DC JazzFest Lineup, to date, includes:

Gregory Porter • NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd Kindred Spirits featuring Gerald Clayton, Marvin Sewell, Reuben Rogers, and Kendrick Scott • Samara Joy • NEA Jazz Master Kenny Garrett • NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington New Standards • NEA Jazz Master Dave Holland Trio feat. Kevin Eubanks and Eric Harland • NEA Jazz Master Big Chief Donald Harrison • Omar Sosa Quarteto Americanos • DCJF Artist-in-Residence Orrin Evans Quintet • Etienne Charles & Creole Soul • Warren Wolf • Vinny Valentino featuring Marshall Keys, Federico Peña and Dennis Chambers • Leigh Pilzer Startet • BIRCKHEAD • Veronneau • Mark G. Meadows • 2022 DCJazzPrix winner the Julieta Eugenio Trio.

For more information about the 2023 DC JazzFest, August 30-September 3, including concert updates and ticketing information, visit www.dcjazzfest.org. Tickets for the DC JazzFest at The Wharf can be purchased here.