Rifftides is going into partial suspension for a few days. I’m involved in a documentary about Bill Holman (pictured), the composer, bandleader and NEA Jazz Master universally regarded as one of the 
greatest of all jazz arrangers. I will be in Los Angeles for a few days to interview Mr. Holman. Kathryn King Media, a veteran producer of projects related to music, is making the film. Ms. King reports that the production will be supported in part by a fundraising campaign and that information about it will appear by the end of the week in the “Search Projects” section of the Kickstarter website under the title Charting Jazz: The Mastery of Bill Holman.
This video clip summarizes a few of King Media’s projects.
Here’s Holman in 2000 conducting Germany’s WDR Big Band. The piece is his arrangement of “Just Friends,†a breathtaking example of Holman’s celebrated linear writing style, with unison sections that he crafts as if they were improvised solos. Frank Chastener is the pianist, John Goldsby the bassist, Jeff Hamilton the drummer and James Moody the guest tenor saxophone soloist. About halfway through, you’ll see a list of all of the musicians in this remarkable band.
In due time, I’ll post more about the Holman project. As the week of production moves along, I’ll try to work in a Rifftides item or two. Stay tuned.