Born: April 21, 1957 Primary Instrument: Piano
Trained as a classical pianist and conductor, Mike Holober began his apprenticeship as a jazz pianist and composer after moving to New York City in 1986. He has worked with some of the best jazz artists on the scene, and can be heard on over 40 recordings as a sideman.
His own projects include The Mike Holober Quintet and The Gotham Jazz Orchestra. The quintet’s first recording, Canyon, was released in 2003, and Wish List -- featuring Tim Ries on saxophone, Brian Blade on drums, Wolfgang Muthspiel on guitar, and John Patitucci on bass -- came out in 2006. The Gotham Jazz Orchestra’s Thought Trains (2005) received a 4 star review in DownBeat Magazine and was listed as one of the magazine’s outstanding CDs of 2005. Quake, the orchestra’s most recent recording, is due out on Sunnyside Records in January 2009.
Mike’s work as a composer and arranger has earned him a reputation as one of New York’s most respected jazz writers. With his recent appointment as associate director of the BMI Jazz Composers’ Workshop he has joined the ranks of writers such as Bob Brookmeyer, Manny Albam, and Jim McNeely. He is also artistic director and conductor of Westchester Jazz Orchestra, a non- profit organization that performs a regular program of newly commissioned works each year.
Mike’s arrangements and compositions have been performed and/or recorded by The HR Big Band in Frankfort, The Westchester Jazz Orchestra, The Vanguard Orchestra, The Gotham Wind Symphony, The Airmen Of Note, The Army Blues, Prism Saxophone Quartet, New York Saxophone Quartet, The Catskill Symphony Orchestra, The Schenectady Symphony Orchestra, many New York City based small jazz groups, as well as student groups such as The Eastman Jazz Ensemble and the Orchestra of the Conservatory in Innsbruck, Austria. As a pianist he has performed and recorded with The Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, John Patitucci, The Tim Ries Rolling Stones Project, Nick Brignola, Jason Rigby, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, The Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra, The NewYorkestra, Pete McGuinness, Dave Pietro, Charles Pillow, John Abercrombie, Tim Hagans, Peter Erskine and many others.
Mike toured Venezuela as a Cultural Connect Envoy for the U. S. State Department (June 2005), playing concerts of his original works for jazz quintet and orchestra with symphonies in Merida, Maracaibo, Caracas, and Valencia. He remains active as a composer in the contemporary classical idiom with commissions for chamber works and he is currently composer in residence of the Gotham Wind Symphony (2004-present). As an assistant professor at The City College of NY (1995-present), Mike directs jazz ensembles and teaches courses in jazz composition and arranging, and a rhythm section seminar.
Mike is a recent four-time MacDowell Fellow (2003-2006), Ucross Foundation Fellow (2007), and Corporation of Yaddo Guest (2005). He recently completed a commission from The Philadelphia Museum of Art, funded by The Pew Charitable Trust and administered by the Philadelphia Music Project. This was for an extended work for The Gotham Jazz Orchestra which was premiered at the museum on February 8, 2008. Mike also currently holds commissions from The Gotham Wind Symphony, The University of Michigan, and Westchester Jazz Orchestra.
Awards:
MacDowell Fellow (2003-2006; 2009) Ucross Foundation Fellow (2007) Corporation of Yaddo Guest (2005)Mike Holober and the Gotham Jazz Orchestra: Quake
Sunnyside Records
2009
Tracks: 1 Quake (9:39) 2 Twist & Turn (7:42) 3 Roc & a Soft Place (11:21) 4 Here Comes the Sun (George Harrison) (9:21) 5 Note to Self (9:56) 6 Thrushes (9:50) 7 Ruby Tuesday (Mick Jager/Kieth Richards) (13:04)
Personnel: Mike Holober (Fender Rhodes piano); Steve Cardenas (guitar); Dave Pietro, Jon Gordon, Tim Ries, Charles Pillow, Steve Kenyon (saxophone); Craig Johnson, Joe Magnarelli, Scott Wendholt, Tony Kadleck (trumpet); Mark Patterson, Pete McGuinness, Nathan Durham (trombone); John Herbert (bass instrument); John Riley (drum).
The Mike Holober Quintet: Wish List
Sons of Sound
2006
Tracks: 1 Wish List (7:51) 2 Conundrum (7:25) 3 Bumphs (6:04) 4 Tulainyo (8:08) 5 Boo (8:20) 6 Blackbird (6:57) 7 Opening Day (6:41) 8 Nancy (7:07) 9 Cross That Bridge (7:12)
Personnel: Tim Ries (saxophone), Wolfgang Muthspiel (guitar), John Patitucci (bass), Brian Blade (drums) and Mike Holober (pianist/composer).
Mike Holober and the Gotham Jazz Orchestra: Thought Trains
Sons of Sound
2004
Tracks: 1 Jump Down, Spin Around (11:33) 2 Big Sky (10:09) 3 Waltz Medium (07:43) 4 Thought Trains (06:37) 5 Form x Mood (06:34) 6 Let's Get Nice (09:06) 7 Heart Of The Matter (11:36) 8 I Can See My Desk From Here (06:16)
Personnel: Mike Holober (piano; composer arranger); Dave Pietro, Jon Gordon, Tim Ries, Charle Pillow, Steve Kenyon (saxophones); Tony Kadleck, Scott Wendholt, Craig Johnson, Joe Magnarelli (trumpets); Bruce Eidem, Pat Hallaran, Pete McGuinness, Nathan Durham (trombones); Leise Anschuetz (French horn); Dave Gilmore (guitar); Ron Carter (bass); John Riley (drums).
The Mike Holober Quintet: Canyon
Sons of Sound
2003
Tracks: 1 Canyon (8:12) 2 Ansel’s Easel (6:58) 3 Heart of the Matter (8:47) 4 Same Time, Same Place (8:11) 5 Roc and a Soft Place (8:19) 6 Spin (5:55) 7 In So Many Words (5:16) 8 You and the Night and the Music (7:05) 9 Stardust (4:39)
Personnel: Tim Ries (saxophone), Wolfgang Muthspiel (guitar), Scott Colley (bass), Brian Blade (drums), Mike Holober (pianist/composer).
As A Side Musician
The Sage
Jason Rigby Quintet
Fresh Sound/New Talent
2008
Personnel: Jason Rigy, Russ Johnson, Cameron Brown, Gerald Cleaver, Mike Holober.
Stones World (Rolling Stones Project #2)
Tim Ries
Sons of Sound
2008
Personnel: Tim Ries, John Patitucci, Ben Monder, Greg Hutchinson, Badal Roy, Mike Holober
Gotham Tales
Wolfgang Rainer Group
Kamino Records
2008
Personnel: Wolfgang Rainer, George Garzone, Kenny Davis, Dave Gilmore, Mike Holober
First Flight
Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra
Summit Records
2007
Personnel: featuring Scott Wendholt, Chris Rogers, Dave Pietro, Jason Rigby, Mike Holober
All In
Westchester Jazz Orchestra
WJO Productions
2007
Personnel: Westchester Jazz Orchestra featuring Marvin Stamm, Jim Rotondi, Ted Rosenthal, Harvie S, and Mike Holober as conductor and contributing arranger
Translucent Space
Jason Rigby Quintet
Fresh Sound/New Talent Records
2006
Personnel: Jason Rigby, Cameron Brown, Mark Ferber, Mike Holober
Most Folks
Pete McCann Quintet
Omnitone Records
2006
Personnel: Pete McCann, John O’Gallagher, John Hebert, Mark Ferber, Mike Holober
It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing
Swingin’ Jazz All Stars
Sons of Sound Records
2006
Personnel: Marvin Stamm, Keter Betts, Jay Leonhart, Akira Tana, Fred Wesley, Mike Holober
Circles
Mike Hackett Sextet
Summit Records
2005
Personnel: Mike Hackett, Todd Bashore, Vincent Gardner, Phil Palombi, Aaron Scott, Mike Holober
Things Ain’t What They Used to Be
Nick Brignola Quartet
Reservoir Records
2004 (recorded live at Sweet Basil, 1991)
Personnel: Nick Brignola, Rich Syracuse, Dick Berk, Mike Holober
27 East
Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra
Turnworld Records
2004
Personnel: Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra featuring Greg Gisbert, Dave Pietro, Mike Holober
Urban Soundscapes
The NewYorkestra
Seabreeze Records
2003
Personnel: The NewYorkestra, featuring Andy Middleton, Jay Branford, Bill Mobley, Pete McGuinness, Bobby Sanabria, Mike Holober
Cause and Effect
Chuck Bergeron
Double Time Records
2001
Personnel: Chuck Bergeron, John Abercrombie, Peter Erskine, Rick Margitza, Charles Pillow, Mike Holober
In This World
Charles Pillow
Summit Records
2000
Personnel: Charles Pillow, Peter Erskine, Mark Walker, Pete McCann, Mike Holober
Whole ‘Nother Story
Fundementia (Andy Parsons/Gene Lewin)
Sons of Sound Records
2000
Personnel: Andy Parsons, Gene Lewin, Doug Weiss, Chris Tarrow, Pete McCann, John Hebert, Mike Holober
Now Becoming Then
Dave Pietro
’A’ Records
1999
Personnel: Dave Pietro, Brian Blade, Scott Colley, Scott Wendholt, Mike Holober
Coast to Coast
Chuck Bergeron
’A’ Records
1999
Personnel: Chuck Bergeron, John Abercrombie, Peter Erskine, Rick Margitza, Mike Holober
Altered Ego
Tim Newman
Amosaya Records
1999
Personnel: Tim Newman, Scott Robinson, Joe Magnarelli, Mike Holober
Currents
Charles Pillow Quintet
Challenge Records
1998
Personnel: Charles Pillow, Tim Hagans, Adam Nussbaum, Ben Monder, Mike Holober
Sliding In
Pete McGuinness Quintet
Challenge Records
1998
Personnel: Pete McGuinness, Dave Liebman, Scott Wendholt, Mike Holober
Fundementia
Andy Parsons/Gene Lewin
Igmod Records
1998
Personnel: Andy Parsons, Gene Lewin, Scott Colley, Ben Monder, Mike Holober
Live at Sweet Basil, First Set
Nick Brignola
Reservoir Records
1993
Personnel: Nick Brignola, Rich Syracuse, Dick Berk, Mike Holober
It’s Time
Nick Brignola
Reservoir Records
1992
Personnel: Nick Brignola, Kenny Barron, Dave Holland, Mike Holober
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Primary Instrument:
Piano
Credentials/Background:
Assistant Professor, City College of New York
Associate Director BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop
Clinic/Workshop Information:
Jazz Orchestra rehearsals (including teacher training)
Composition and performance master classes
