An iconic figure in jazz music with a career that has attained mythical status, British double bass player and composer Dave Holland will be coming to Athens this summer, joined by his entrusted collaborator Chris Potter and their new quartet Kismet, for a unique evening at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, promising a sublime jazz experience. 

The defining moment that propelled Holland to the higher echelons of the international jazz scene, only at the age of twenty-two, was accepting Miles Davis’ invitation to join his band in 1968 as a bass player—from then on, a fascinating journey began that continues to this day. Holland was a key member of the legendary “Lost Quintet” (1968-1969), alongside Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and Jack DeJohnette, and contributed to the recordings of Miles Davis’ studio albums Filles de Kilimanjaro, In a Silent Way, and Bitches Brew—albums that forever changed the face of jazz and modern music. Even after the dissolution of his fixed quintets, Holland remained a vital part of Davis' musical world.

At the same time, he collaborated in concert and recording sessions with jazz greats such as Joe Henderson, Betty Carter, Stan Getz, Thelonious Monk, Anthony Braxton, Sam Rivers, Herbie Hancock, and Pat Metheny, among many others. The 1970s in America was the right place at the right time: a new generation of talented and visionary musicians was pushing jazz into uncharted territories, with Holland spearheading this group of unstoppable artists. His contribution to the evolution of the double bass sound is often described as seismic, seeing him effortlessly moving between different playing styles with unmatched technique and rhythmic mastery.

Gifted and multi-talented, Holland is behind some of the most influential jazz ensembles of our era, gathering around him restless and like-minded musicians with an innovative edge. One such musician is the astonishing American saxophonist Chris Potter, who considers Holland a mentor. After inviting guitar player Kevin Eubanks and drummer Obed Calvaire—known for his versatility and his collaborations with Wynton Marsalis and the SFJAZZ Collective—into their fold, they formed the Kismet quartet. The group will make its European debut in the summer of 2025, with Athens as its first stop.