Conference of the Birds is an album by the Dave Holland Quartet, recorded on 30 November 1972 and released on ECM the following year—Holland's debut as bandleader and fourth project for the label.

[5] Meanwhile, Holland and Altschul began working in a trio with multi-instrumentalist Sam Rivers, but were soon invited to join Braxton's new quartet, which initially included Wheeler.

"[10] Holland's compositions for this album had originally been performed live in New York City by a quintet including trumpeter Randy Brecker, tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, guitarist Ralph Towner and Barry Altschul; "Braxton and Rivers, however, were chosen for the recording as better able to respond to the opportunist disjunctions offered within Holland's compositions.

It was, in essence, a return to the rugged discipline of early 1960s free improvising by working off melodic foundations using the 'time, no changes' principle to achieve greater control over that elusive quarry, freedom.

"[14] Steve Huey, writing for AllMusic, calls Conference of the Birds "one of the all-time avant-garde jazz classics, incorporating a wide spectrum of '60s innovations....