Updated: August 15, 2020
Born: April 21, 1957
Described as “one of the finest modern composer/arrangers of our time” by Downbeat Magazine, Mike Holober’s latest release, Mike Holober & The Gotham Jazz Orchestra: Hiding Out (ZOHO Music, 2019) was nominated for a 2020 GRAMMY® Award (Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album), and features two multi-movement suites inspired by the natural world: Hiding Out, which was commissioned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art (funded by the Pew Foundation), and Flow, which was commissioned by the Westchester Jazz Orchestra (funded by a NYSCA Individual Artists Grant).
The release of Hiding Out comes after a decade working with some of the worlds most renowned large ensembles. From 2007-2013 he served as Artistic Director/Conductor of the Westchester Jazz Orchestra (WJO), and from 2011-2015 he was Associate Guest Conductor of the hr-Big Band (Hessischer Rundfunk - Frankfurt, Germany). With WJO he has written and conducted for Joe Lovano, Kate McGarry, John Scofield, John Patitucci, Randy Brecker, and Paquito D’Rivera. Projects for the hr-Big Band include arranging and conducting concert length projects for Kurt Rosenwinkel, Billy Cobham, Jane Monheit, Terje Rypdal, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Miguel Zenon, and a concert of the works of Frank Zappa for the 2015 Frankfurt Jazz festival. With the WDR Big Band (WestDeutsche Rundfunk - Cologne, Germany) he has written and conducted projects for Avishai Cohen and Eli Degibri, and for legendary drummer Al Foster
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All About Jazz Articles
Album Review
- Live at Maureen's Jazz Cellar by Jack Bowers
- Marvin Stamm/Mike Holober Quartet Live @ Maureen's Jazz Cellar by Nicholas F. Mondello
- Live @ Maureen's Jazz Cellar by Pierre Giroux
- Hiding Out by Angelo Leonardi
- Hiding Out by Jerome Wilson
- Hiding Out by Jack Bowers
- Hiding Out by Dan Bilawsky
- Hiding Out by Karl Ackermann
- Balancing Act by Angelo Leonardi
- Balancing Act by Mark Sullivan
July 13, 2020
March 31, 2010
CCNY Professor's Musical Journey Down the Hudson to Debut April 10
January 15, 2009
Holober has brought a profound artistic vision to bear on today’s jazz scene and confirmed his standing as one of the finest modern composer/arrangers of our time, in the tradition of Gil Evans, Bob Brookmeyer and Jim McNeely. — Ed Enright, DownBeat
Mike Holober leaps into the front rank of the most accomplished and inventive composers in jazz.” — Bob Bernotas, Just Jazz
Primary Instrument
Piano
Location
New York City
Credentials/Background
Professor, City College of New York
Instructor, Manhattan School of Music
Associate Director BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop 2007-2015
Clinic/Workshop Information
Jazz Orchestra rehearsals (including teacher training) Composition and performance master classes
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