MVD Audio [Release date 06.11.26]
We last reviewed Bob Holz in 2023 and his album which gave equal billing to co-producer Rob Stathis. The latter takes more of a production role on this latest release which once again harnesses the power of Holz’s address book. So, as previously, we have appearances from some of the jazz fusion heavyweights. Holz was a member of Larry Coryell’s band in 2015-17.
Drum-led albums can be overwhelming, even if the drumming is very musical, so it is good to report that Holz “blends in” and allows his heavyweights free rein.
‘Next In Line’ recycles tracks that appeared on previous releases including that 2023 album with a Mahavishnu personnel-heavy ‘World Turned Upside Down’, ‘Better Try’ (with saxophonist Brandon Fields) and ‘The Tunnel’ (with the late Dean Brown).
Opener ‘Jammin Man’ features bass colossus Stanley Clarke (from the 2018 album ‘Visions: Coast To Coast Connection’) but Austrian guitarist Alex Machacek gets up his head of steam (also on ‘Eleven High’ and ‘Flat Out’ both appearing originally on 2016′s ‘Visions & Friends’) whilst Randy Brecker provides trumpet. The brass section plays a major part in proceedings with Brecker leading the fray.
Mike Stern lends his distinctive guitar to ‘Larry’s Blues’, ‘Silverthorne’ (both appeared on 2018′s ‘Silverthorne’) and ‘Moving Eyes’; the latter track first appeared on Holz’s debut album ‘A Vision Forward’ in 2016. Larry Coryell and Steve Weingart feature on ‘Shooting Range’ (also from Holz’s debut album) whilst long-time collaborator Billy Steinway contributes keyboards throughout.
To complicate matters Holz’s last album, 2024′s ‘Night Watch’, appears to be another compilation and included five of the tracks (50 per cent of the total) on ‘Next In Line’.
For those who want to hear some exemplary jazz fusion, from a name that doesn’t get bandied about when discussing the genre, this compilation provides an excellent primer.
Even the title ‘Next In Line’ is an appropriate purchase proposition. ****
Review by David Randall
Album review (Holz-Stathis Collaborative, 2023)
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