CONCERT REVIEW: Rick Holland Uptown Orchestra at Lovin' Cup

December 31, 2009 at 10:45am

Sometimes it all just falls into place. The setting, the situation, the scene, the tone -- everything's going your way. That describes last night for me. And at the heart of this mid-week Xanadu was the Rick Holland Uptown Orchestra, a modest, brass-centric outfit led by the trumpet-blowing Holland that swung with equal parts effervescence and laid-back cool at Lovin' Cup. And come to find out, five of his Holland's regular guys were sidelined, and the holes on the bandstand were plugged with subs --- hired music muscle like Po' Boy Erik Jacobs on the slide trombone.

By the time the Orchestra heaped on a helping of Count Basie, there was nowhere else I wanted to be. I dragged my mom out in the cold for this show and she was thrilled when they stomped on the Savoy. Holland led the affair with a relaxed air, coaxing more than conducting under his porkpie lid. He went around the bandstand numerous times so every cat there got his fair shake, including pianist extraordinaire Bill Dobbins. This is one sweet band, yes, yes.

Comments for "CONCERT REVIEW: Rick Holland Uptown Orchestra at Lovin' Cup" (1)

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Rick said on Jan. 05, 2010 at 10:56pm

Frank--
I just wanted to thank-you for the nice words about the band. Hope we can hook up on your radio show and talk some Jazz!! Happy New Year!

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