Martin Holland

MUSICIAN – COMPOSER – ARRANGER - PRODUCER – CONSULTANT                           

If I were a redwood tree, you could call me ‘young blood’. I am 62 years going on 18, meaning I’ve had my 17th birthday over 43 times now.  

  I was 17 when I played my first paid gig and have been at it since.   
  
  The instrument I get paid to play is BASS  (electric & acoustic, fretless, fretted, 4 – 6 – 8 string) . I am also skilled as a guitarist, and play a little mandolin, banjolayee, percussion, keyboards, and drums. 

 GENRES include Rock n Roll, Blues, Jazz, R&B,  Eastbay greasy TOP styled Funk, Reggae, Brazilian styles, Zydeco/Cajun., Soca, West African styles, Bluegrass, Classical, Disco, Punk & Jam band improvisational stuff, ...    
  
I also sing back-up harmonies -
  

I am ridiculously fortunate to have performed music with some of the best musicians, and in many parts of the world, touring in Europe and North America, as well as in Brazil . I've made many friends along the way and a have made a strong musical presence in Sacramento, San Francisco and Oakland, California from the 80's up into 2008 when I left Melvin Seals and JGB. In those years I also lived in Boston, Massachusetts, Denver, Colorado, with brief stays in Amsterdam, Holland, and Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. 
I am currently a resident of San Juan Capistrano, California.  I am a former member of AFM local 47, the 'union of the stars', or the union that works in TV and film, and since I live 50 some miles away from Hollywood, and not a sight reader, I let it go. I did keep the card and had it bronzed. Now it's unreadable ..damn.  I am FOR RENT everywhere around the world, notably in Los Angeles County, Orange County, Inland counties, San Diego County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Holland, UK, Germany, France, Italy, etc for music performance, recording sessions, TV and film, instruction, consultation, and touring (in most, but not all circumstances). I have good transportation, a nice old SVT with an 8X10 cab. 8,6,5,4 string basses, fretless bass, stand up bass... I also own and operate a small recording studio and an independent record label, Moms Records. 
  
NAME DROPPER names of some notable performers, starting in 1975, I've played with &/or recorded, and featured on records with:  
             
  
 I've performed and/or recorded with these respected artists - 'Godfather of Reggae' Joe Higgs, the original 'smooth Jazz saxophonist, Stanley Turrentine,  the original Hammond B3 'wiz kid' Melvin Seals ( Jerry Garcia Band, Elvin Bishop), with him in the bands Melting Pot, and JGB. Blues legend  Frankie Lee,  Maytals guitarist, Hux Browne. poll winning Saxophonist,  Paul McCandless, . Kim Weston who sang alongside Marvin Gaye on such early hits as "It takes Two", "Rock me a little while".  Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, original members of the Mothers of Invention from 1966 to 69, as well as the 71 and 74 versions of the MOI.  Ronnie Montrose,  Lenny Williams,  Steve Kimock,  Tony Lindsey,  Warren Haynes,  Buzzy Linhart, Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart,  Rodney Franklin,  Eric McFadden,  Bill Spooner (Tubes), David Kemper,  David Garibaldi,  the Platters,  the Coasters,  Johnny Heartsman, Pete Sears, G.E.Smith, the Drifters, New Monsoon, Achilles Wheel,  Stu Allen,  John Kadlecik,  Kate Livoni,  Lydia Pense,  Kofi Baker,  Jorge Solovera,  David Kaffinetti (Spinal Tap),  Rick Reddington, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Elvin Bishop, Chad Hollister, Freddy Hughes,  Derick Hughes, Nate Bolden,  John Girton,  Jonathan Richmond,  Billy Johnson & Brian Collier of Santana,  Mind X,  Ramblin Jack Elliott,  Floyd ‘Red Crow’ Westerman,  Bodhi Busick, Vince Herman,  Bill McKay, West Coast Rhythm Section,  'Ladee Bianca' Thorton (Frank Zappa),  Jackie Greene,  Merle Saunders, Bill Kreutzman,  Donna Godchaux, Tom Constanten & Vince Welnick of the Grateful Dead.   

  I am currently a full time member of the band 'Easy Wind, as well as my own Grateful Dead tribute band, 'Jerry Duty'. I'm also a member of Breadbox, Dead Dreams and Hemp String Orchestra. I am a 2nd chair bassist with the West Coast Strays, Skeleton Crew, Electric Waste Band, and Fish and the Seaweeds.