John Hollenbeck

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number, among them Tiny Kahn, Louie Bellson, Max Roach, and Shelly Manne, have been accomplished composers and arrangers. Among our younger contemporaries, it is drummer, composer, arranger, and bandleader John Hollenbeck who best continues this tradition.

Hollenbeck began to appear on the scene as a sideman three decades ago. His first major musical impact came in 2001 and 2002; with degrees in percussion and composition from the Eastman School of Music under his belt, he quickly released four impressive recordings. Three included the extraordinary vocalist Theo Bleckmann, while one featured the debut of his Claudia Quintet. The very next year, he and Bleckmann performed at Edgefest in Ann Arbor, both as a duet and with the U-M Jazz Band. Over the last decade he has continued to work as a sideman, in a number of duets, and with his acclaimed quintet, which functions as a vehicle for his ever-growing book of compositions. He writes music for many different contexts and occasions, including chamber works and percussion scores for Meredith Monk's performances.