Jazz Articles about John Hollenbeck

John Hollenbeck Jazz Bigband Graz featuring Theo Bleckmann: Joys & Desires

by C. Michael Bailey
September 12, 2006

This release would look like the dozens of big band recordings that surface every year, except for the small print mentioning Theo Bleckmann. Bleckmann, a fixture in New York City performance art circles, was a conspicuous presence on this year's Winter & Winter recording Las Vegas Rhapsody: The Night They Invented Champagne. Bleckmann isn't singing this time, but his mere presence means something unusual, and perhaps very significant, is up.

The first bit of subterfuge surrounding Joys & ...

John Hollenbeck & Jazz Bigband Graz: Joys & Desires

by John Kelman
January 5, 2006

Only days into the new year, and there's already a strong contender for 2006 “best of lists. That it comes from John Hollenbeck--a drummer who, in recent years, has emerged as one of the most distinctive composers in and out of jazz--is no surprise. After all, last year's--A Blessing (OmniTone), with his Large Ensemble, and Semi-Formal (Cuneiform), with the Claudia Quintet--were critically acclaimed, genre-busting albums with roots in jazz, but equally drawn from other styles too numerous to count.

Joys ...

John Hollenbeck

by AAJ Staff
September 25, 2005

By Chris DiGirolamo To take on the labels “composer , “drummer , “percussionist and “bandleader means being a busy man for John Hollenbeck. Maintaining his composition practices while leading The Claudia Quintet and his Large Ensemble, Hollenbeck this year alone has also toured and/or will soon be touring with vocalist Meredith Monk, pianist Fred Hersch, Jazz Big Band Graz, Bob Brookmeyer's New Art Orchestra and with the many sidemen who share his musical passion such as saxophonist ...

John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble: A Blessing

by Mark Corroto
July 4, 2005

I heard the news today oh boy, four thousand holes in the jazz canon. And though the holes were rather small, they had to count them all. Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Carnegie Hall.

With apologies to Lennon/McCartney (and the Michael Jackson corporation that owns the music), John Hollenbeck and his Large Ensemble release a recording of “what the hell is that" music. The drummer/composer and leader of the Claudia Quintet and ...

John Hollenbeck: A Blessing

by David Adler
May 8, 2005

John Hollenbeck has made several small-group recordings, but a large ensemble suits his advanced compositional voice especially well. With A Blessing, he documents the inspired large-group work he has showcased live over the last three or so years (most recently at the Jazz Standard CD release gig on January 25th). The drummer/bandleader's music is a bit more abstract than that of Maria Schneider and her forebearers (Brookmeyer, Gil Evans, et al.), but it drinks from nearby streams and it has ...

John Hollenbeck: Exploring the Boundaries, Part 2-2

by Paul Olson
March 3, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2

Composer/percussionist/bandleader John Hollenbeck doesn't so much cross musical boundaries as ignore them. Combining elements of jazz, classical, post rock, chamber music--although he is openly indifferent to musical category--his music manages to be challenging and experimental; at the same time, it is utterly unintimidating and accessible. Hollenbeck's sidework with a plethora of groups led by the likes of Bob Brookmeyer, Fred Hersch and Cuong Vu coexists with his own bandleading projects; perhaps the most celebrated of ...

John Hollenbeck: Exploring the Boundaries, Part 1-2

by Paul Olson
March 2, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2

Composer/percussionist/bandleader John Hollenbeck doesn't so much cross musical boundaries as ignore them. Combining elements of jazz, classical, post rock, chamber music--although he is openly indifferent to musical category--his music manages to be challenging and experimental; at the same time, it is utterly unintimidating and accessible. Hollenbeck's sidework with a plethora of groups led by the likes of Bob Brookmeyer, Fred Hersch and Cuong Vu coexists with his own bandleading projects; perhaps the most celebrated of ...