Raincheck – 2019
Bill Holman Orchestra
A creative transformation of the Billy Strayhorn song
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Bill Holman, who turned 92 in 2019, has been a major big band arranger since the 1950s.
Holman, who came to his original fame as one of Stan Kenton’s key arrangers of 1952-53, has led his own Los Angeles-based orchestra since the mid-1980s, creating crowded and often-dissonant but always swinging charts for his impressive musicians.
A very good example of his writing can be heard on this 2019 performance of Billy Strayhorn’s “Raincheck” which features fine solos from tenor-saxophonist Doug Webb and pianist Christian Jacob although the exciting ensembles take honors.
-Scott Yanow