The Latest from HollyHolmes.com
Welcome to HollyHolmes.com, the professional website of jazz singer, educator, arranger, lyricist, and bandleader, Holly Holmes!
I'm doubly proud to present this website as well as my debut album, the Climb. It is available at www.cdbaby.com, the most complete online vendor for independent musicians. Or simply click here: 
June 27, 2009
Another summer begins, and I have many fun projects in the works. You’ll note on my Schedule page that I will be headed north at the close of the summer for two fun stops. Matt and I will return as always to his hometown of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario for our biennial show at LopLop’s.
A few weeks later we will return to our alma mater in Kalamazoo, Michigan to perform at the Union—the stage where we first met! We will be performing with the man who introduced us, Tom Knific, professor of jazz bass and guitar at Western Michigan University. It should be a great show!
Last summer, I returned to Brazil and appeared as a guest vocalist on the third album of my dear friend Robson Santos. That album has been released and is available for listening and purchase at CD Baby. You can play a little game of Where’s Waldo? while you discover on which tracks my voice remains.
On the academic front, I completed the first year of my PhD in Musicology and was lucky enough to do so on a FLAS (Foreign Language Area Studies) Fellowship to continue my passion for Brazilian Portuguese language and culture. I also received a research fellowship and assisted Jeffrey Magee with his book on Irving Berlin. In the fall, the tables will be turned, and the student will become the teacher as I take on a teaching assistantship at the U of I. Another new adventure!
August 6, 2008
Another summer is coming to a close and 2008 was an outstanding year. In January I performed in Toronto with the University of Illinois Latin Jazz Ensemble at the International Association for Jazz Education conference. I sang Carlos Vega’s arrangement of the standard “Blue in Green” with my original Portuguese lyrics and the band also premiered my arrangement of Edu Lobo’s “Ponteio.” The U of I also released two cd’s this year on which I can be heard. The first is the Concert Jazz Band’s latest album entitled “As of Yet” featuring me on Chris Reyman’s arrangements of the standard “Laura” and Milton Nascimento’s “Vera Cruz.” The next one is the Latin Jazz Ensemble’s first album featuring Carlos’s arrangement of “Blue in Green.”
In May, I was the first vocalist to graduate with a degree in jazz (in my case, a Master’s) from the University of Illinois. I was also awarded a Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship for research in Brazilian Portuguese language and culture research and have begun coursework towards my PhD in Musicology.
I am also excited to announce that I have assisted Dr. Jeffrey Magee by completing some transcriptions of music that will appear in his chapter in the “Cambridge Companion to Duke Ellington” that will be published next year. His work is outstanding!
Most excitingly (a new word?) I will travel to Brazil next week to record with guitarist/vocalist/composer Robson Santos. The sessions will be produced by stellar Brazilian vocalist/guitarist Filó Machado. I can’t wait to get back to my second home, Belo Horizonte!
Finally, I look forwarding to collaborating with a new friend on my updated website. Coming soon!!
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August 25, 2007
The summer is coming to a close as are some of the events I’ve been a part of. Next Friday, August 31st, the kids I’ve been coaching since June will compete for the title CUperstar on the Virginia Theater stage. The kids have come a long way since their timid a capella auditions in May, and if you’re interested in cheering on the future musicians (ages 12-18), do come out next week!
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June 22, 2007
Thanks so much to all of those who came out to the first annual Summer Solstice Celebration at the Krannert Center. It was truly a thrill to perform with the Chris Reyman Trio and local trumpet master Jeff Helgesen. We had such fun creating a program to compliment the day’s events and hoped you enjoyed our celestial song choices.
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May 11, 2007
It has been an exciting spring for music-making. The U of I Concert Jazz Band, of which I am the featured singer, traveled to several jazz festivals including Millikin University in Decatur, Elmhurst College in Chicago, Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana and North Texas in Addison, Texas. This month in particular, the Holly Holmes Quartet is performing throughout Illinois, in Indianapolis and back in one of my alma mater, Kalamazoo, Michigan. We are looking forward to traveling back to Canada this summer as well. One exciting event will be the HHQ’s performance in a jazz competition in Peoria in July. Central Illinois has a lot of talent, but we hope to make an impression on the judges!
Please stay tuned for an overhaul to this website coming later in June! If you have any tips or features you would like to see, let me know.
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October 16, 2006
My messages here have become fewer and further between, but fortunately all due to my busy schedule as a new graduate student. My first few weeks here at the University of Illinois have seen many performances, most notably with the U of I Concert Jazz Band, a new experience for me. After having sung with many, many vocal jazz groups, it is a real thrill to perform with a big band. I am often an extremely understated singer, so it’s been fun kicking my voice up into the upper gears (and trying to steal the lead trumpet notes here and there).
Also, my apologies to any of you who have recently tried to contact me via the email address on this site (jazzme@hollyholmes.com); I have just recently repaired a technical difficulty (or shall I say, technical stupidity?), so there should be no further interruption to its function. So sorry!
E, finalmente, para os meus amigos brasileiros, eu estou fazendo uma pesquisa de música poplar brasileira, specificamente a música de Chico Buarque e como é que ele escreveu durante os anos 60’s e do golpe to 1964. Se voces querem conversar comigo desse tipo de assunto, me fale, favor. Seria meu prazer! Tchau!
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August 1, 2006
After a wonderful summer of gigs in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, I finally got a chance to relax in late July to celebrate…getting married!! Matt and I were married on July 22 in Wisconsin and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. We also enjoyed a great vacation on Lake Michigan where we ate, listened to great live music, and enjoyed nature and quiet.
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June 4, 2006
As of today, I’m proud to announce my brand new MySpace page. I like friends. You can become my MySpace friend here (http://www.myspace.com/hollyholmes). My site features clips from my cd, but more importantly, links to lots of wonderfully creative people in the music industry. Explore, listen, and enjoy!
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April 25, 2006
Last night, my quaint little house hosted the final rehearsal before the debut of brand new fusion band, the Weapons of Mass DisFunktion. I’m happy to report that the band is sounding great and we’re all excited to present this funky and very fun music. Some of the composers include Darren Kramer, Soulive, John Scofield, John Coltrane, and Brazilian-born Hermeto Pascoal. I’ll be singing just a few tunes at our very first public performance this Thursday, 4/27 at Zorba’s Greek Restaurant in Champaign-Urbana. We hope you’ll come out to hear us!
As for my own announcements, after months of patient waiting, my cd, the Climb, is finally available for download on iTunes. If you already have iTunes, click here to take a look. If you would like to download it for Mac or PC, click here. My album has also made it onto a few other downloading sites like MusicNet and Napster.
Finally, after a few requests, I updated the Bio section on this website to include my original lyrics from the Climb including Siren Song (Fee Fi Fo Fum) and The Road to Me (The Road to You). I plan to update this section with some of my other original lyrics that are currently unrecorded, but that you may hear me perform live. Enjoy!
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April 4, 2006
It’s been a busy spring thus far, and I’ve enjoyed some wonderful performance experiences so far. This year I’ll be adding some new performance venues to my itinerary. For example, in August and September I’m excited to be appearing in Indianapolis as well as in South Bend, Indiana in July. Locally speaking, I was invited to perform at the revered hall, the Krannert Center, for their weekly wine-tasting event. Pianist Michael Stryker will join me for that performance on Thursday.
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January 30, 2006
I am pleased to announce my first cd review in a major jazz publication, specifically JazzReview.com. You can read the review of my debut album, the Climb, by clicking here. Sara Holtzschue, a jazz vocalist and composer in NYC, gave me many great compliments as well as fair and constructive criticisms. Thanks to Sara for giving this emerging artist exposure and a well-balanced review.
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January 21, 2006
First off, thanks so much to the people of Springfield for such a fine turn-out at my first performance for the Robbie’s Uptown Friday Night series. We appreciated the warm reception and are eager to return (with a beefed up PA system for your large and lively space)! Thanks too to the Springfield Area Arts Council for organizing such a wonderful event.
Secondly, my apologies to Jim’s Bistro and the folks in Peoria for our scheduling mix-up and consequent canceling of tonight’s performance. I promise to be back very soon!
Finally, I had a glorious time traveling to NYC for the 33rd Annual International Association of Jazz Education Conference with the University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band. This was the band’s first invitation to perform at the conference, a huge honor for both professional and academic ensembles. The band continued their record of artistic excellence with their performance on 1/14 and will certainly receive many future invitations.
Besides U of I’s band, I was delighted to hear numerous other performances and lectures during our days at the festival. Some performance highlights included Chick Corea, Esbjörn Svensson Trio (from Sweden), Javon Jackson featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith, Kurt Rosenwinkel Quintet with Mark Turner, Nnenna Freelon, Rosana Eckert, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Kenny Werner Trio, Jukka Eskola Quintet (from Finland), Curtis Stigers (w/ good friend and collaborator Keith Hall at the drums), Jane Ira Bloom (w/ good friend Dawn Clement at the piano), and many others. My ears are still full of great sounds!
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January 10, 2006
This evening I am off to Manhattan to enjoy the annual International Association of Jazz Education’s conference where the University of Illinois’ Concert Jazz Band will be performing. Besides their performance, I am excited to see so many other pro and academic groups perform. Can’t wait!
Also, the three finalists from the 5th Annual Jazzconnect Vocal Competition will be revealed today. Again, I think our British ladies have stolen the show and blown all the others away, but do listen for yourself.
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January 1, 2006
If you’ve been following the 5th Annual Jazzconnect Vocal Competition, as I have, you may be interested to hear and rate the 8 finalists. Just click 5th Annual Jazzconnect Vocal Competition! I think our British ladies have stolen the show and blown all the others away, but do listen for yourself.
Happy New Year to one and all! May this year bring you increased awareness, joy, and creativity.
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December 4, 2005
Starting today, you can find my entry, Siren Song (Fee Fi Fo Fum), as part of the 5th Annual Jazzconnect Vocal Competition.
The online competition features international jazz vocalists (not yet signed to a label) of all ages and talent levels, competing for a concert at the East Coast Jazz Festival in Maryland. And YOU can vote! The competition’s scores are compiled by both judges and the public (50/50) by ranking each contestant (or a minimum of at least 30 contestants) by four criteria. You don’t even have to pick a favorite! The first round of competition ends December 26th, followed by a second round featuring only five finalists. I’ve heard all of the other contestants, and I think there is a lot of talent and creativity represented. I am just happy to have an opportunity for wider exposure of my music as well as an opportunity to learn from the music of my fellow entrants.
Good luck all…
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See Below for the Most Recent News…
November 27, 2005
Thanks everyone so very much for coming out to the Contemporary Art Center concert in Peoria! Sometimes it’s tough to be the new kid on the block, but you welcomed us warmly and sincerely. The guys and I can’t wait to come back. For those of you in Eastern Illinois, I’ll be hosting a CD Release Party at the Iron Post on Thursday, December 8th with another concert in Bloomington-Normal on the 10th. Keep checking my schedule for details and upcoming performances; I’ll be adding more dates for the New Year. Finally, congrats to my dear brother and sister-in-law Jim and Brook Holmes for bringing lovely Elaine Lyn into the world last month. What a delight! Tchau…
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October 25, 2005
By popular demand, more audio clips and photos have been added to hollyholmes.com. Clicking on the photos will bring you to a new window for viewing and, as of today, will feature a caption. As always, suggestions from you (fans, club owners, media types, other musicians, friends…) are warmly appreciated. Thank you for your thoughtful input.
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October 9, 2005
…NY travel notes…
In mid-September, I took a vacation to NYC with an old friend, or rather a friend of old?
Thursday night, my traveling companion Kathy, and I heard a showcase of 8 young jazz singers at a cozy Greenwich Village haunt called the Cornelia Street Cafe. Each singer brought two tunes to play with an excellent house band, and we enjoyed comparing and contrasting the 6 women and two men. A few brave singers chose to perform original compositions or lyrics and this I especially enjoyed.
The next night we heard a local guitar trio at a bar, again in the village, called the Garage which proved to be much more elegant than it's name. Saturday evening, we visited the Zinc Bar featuring Brazilian music. We giggled through two wonderful caipirinhas (Brazil's national drink made with cachaça, fermented sugar cane) and danced in our seats while listening to a band featuring 3 members from Brazil (one from Belo Horizonte, my adopted Brazilian hometown), an amazing jazz pianist from Chile, and a drummer from California.
Finally, on Sunday we caught a jazz brunch in the lounge below the Washington Street Hotel featuring the amazing Gene Bertoncini on guitar. Gene has had a long career in jazz performing with Buddy Rich, Nancy Wilson, Clark Terry, Wayne Shorter, Tony Bennett, and a working duo with bassist Mike Moore. Sunday, he performed with bassist Sean Smith and singer Roz Corral. To my great thrill, I got to sit in and sing on one tune. I was so glad to have the opportunity to hang with Gene and Sean...dreamy.
Monday morning after staying with a friend in Brooklyn, I walked up through Brooklyn and into Lower Manhattan via the Brooklyn Bridge. This suspension bridge was originally built for horses and pedestrians, but its sound structure required no alterations to accommodate today's busy motor traffic. From there and on such a gorgeous morning, the sun and the ocean were shining. I could see the Statue of Liberty to the West with Ellis Island, the Manhattan Bridge to the East leading to the Empire State Building, and to the Northwest, I saw the space where the Twin Towers would have stood. I was living in Washington DC, working just across the river in the Kennedy Center from the Pentagon, on Sept the 11th, 2001. Seeing the Brooklyn Bridge that the survivors used to evacuate, the pictures of the missing that still decorate the site, and the emptiness of the site itself, brought back my own memories of evacuation, confusion, and fear from that morning. But, I enjoy visiting and learning the details of this tragedy. Knowing that my time here is short, these remembrance sites at the very least help to remind me to appreciate each day more by being the best I can be.
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September 25, 2005
Welcome to HollyHolmes.com! I’m delighted to present this brand new website. Stay tuned for weekly schedule updates, news, and photos, and please join my e-mailing list for your own personal update. And finally, feel free to email me with your questions or comments regarding my music, this website, or whatever is on your mind. Your accolades or constructive criticisms are warmly embraced! Thanks for stopping by....
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