Bill Holman - The Bill Holman Band Live

clinthopson · July-27th-2005, 11:56 AM

Bill Holman makes a rare recorded appearance, the first since 1997, with his new big band disc.

As usual, Holman demonstrates why there are few other big band arrangers and composers who can reach the creative pinnacle while keeping the music real jazz. On top of that, at least to my ears, Holman rarely repeatedly uses the same ensenble figures as many other big band arrangers are wont to do. But his sounds is almost easily identifiable. There's a sound of a Bill Holman chart that is hard hitting, swinging and with an underlying sense of humor.

The band is made up of L.A. heavyweights including Carl Saunders, Ron Stout, Bob Summers, Bob Enevoldson, Andy Martin, Lanny Morgan, Ray Herrman and Bob Efford.

The charts range from jazz standards like "Donna Lee" and "Blue Daniel" to Holman originals. I love the piccolo lead on "Donna Lee."

Holman always sneaks in a bit of humor in his titles, i.e. "Bary Me Not" and "Press One."

He takes the Beatles' "A Day In The Life" and virtually deconstructs it. I've never felt that much of the Beatles music lends itself very well to jazz, with a few exceptions. Certainly DIL, with its unusual patterns, isn't a tune which would come to mind as a jazz line. Holman makes it work - big time.

As you can see, I love this disc, but I've loved everything Bill Holman has done since the Kenton days.

graypencil · July-27th-2005, 12:49 PM

awaiting the arrivalof my copy as we squeak ..

GrayP ( the Holman completist )

clinthopson · July-27th-2005, 01:40 PM

Phil, I expected you to have it by now.

groover · July-27th-2005, 02:01 PM

Sounds intriguing, Clint. I have nothing by Holman in my collection, so I just ordered a copy of "View from the Side". If I like that, I'll consider the new one.

Clay Fink · July-27th-2005, 04:34 PM

What's the label?

I love the Holman sides from the "Kenton Presents" Mosaic box.

clinthopson · July-27th-2005, 05:05 PM

Jazzed Media is the label.

"View From The Side" is a gasser, also the Monk disc plus anything else by Holoman.

There's pretty good chance that if you pick up a disc by Kenton, Herman or just about any big band, there'll be a chart by Bill Holman.

Clay Fink · July-27th-2005, 05:55 PM

His work is all over the Mulligan Mosaic.

makpjazz57 · July-27th-2005, 06:08 PM

I was thrilled to find out Graham Carter/JazzedMedia was going to release the Bill Holman Live CD. I think it is a great addition to JazzedMedia's recorded output. Carter is a big fan of jazz legend Phil Woods and has done a great job of releasing high-quality recordings featuring Phil Woods. My favorites so far:

The Bill Holman Live CD
This is How I Feel About Quincy (Phil Woods)
Plays the Music of Henry Mancini (Woods/Carl Saunders)
Groovin' To Marty Paich (Phil Woods)
Just for Now (Irene Kral)
and...
a lesser known, but very talented vocalist who resides in L.A...
In The Company of Friends (Denise Donatelli) great arrangements by pianist/composer/arranger, Tom Garvin

Also, I think up next for release - Don Menza Big Band sometime in October. Menza is a long-time favorite musician for me - also a great arranger.

Marla

Rob Damen · July-27th-2005, 06:49 PM

Cheers,

Rob

Clay Fink · September-18th-2006, 11:02 PM

Just picked this up. Never too late. A killer band, for sure. The "Donna Lee" on here is so totally off the wall - I love it. Ditto the take on "A Day in the Life" . Original and totally cliche-free arrangements by a real master. I'm a little cold on a couple of the soloists, actually, but the remainder of the performance is so good, there's not really anything to gripe about. I suspect that it's not easy for even Holman to pull off a project like this, considering the state of the music business. That they had to perform in a hotel ballroom next to LAX to what sounds like a small audience is a bit disheartening.