Bill Holman

A kind of quirky approach in a medium groove. Unusual harmonic schemes create a fresh and exciting feature. This swings like CRAZY! The band really has the chance to be creative.(4 soprano saxes) Incl...

This chart was recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra on the CD 'I Told You So.' This is a rip-roaring, swinging chart. It starts with trombones and rhythm setting the time with simple halfnote figures...

This chart was recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra on the CD 'I Told You So.' This is yet another terrific Holman chart written for that band! A slow, swinging, Li'l Darlin - ish kind of chart, it h...

Holman has a wonderful knack of taking just about any tune and making it swing like crazy. This one sure does! Recorded on The Fabulous Bill Holman LP, this chart is amazing in its simplicity and effe...

Here is another chart written for Stan Kenton (in the mid-1950's), that was never recorded by the band. It is a sensational piece, a real flag-waver which features alto saxophone from top to bottom. G...

Written for and recorded by the Buddy Rich Band on the Big Swing Face CD, this wonderful chart features trumpet (a la Bobby Shew on the CD) and alto saxophone (a la Quinn Davis on the CD). Alto Sax 2...

As written for and performed by the Buddy Rich Big Band, here is the long-missing chart that Holman wrote to feature The Great One..... Buddy Rich. It is a terrific, swinging chart with solo space, no...

This is the first movement of the three-part suite titled 'The Big Street' which was recorded on the album 'The Fabulous Bill Holman' in 1957. Set in a medium-up Swing tempo/Feel, this piece is a wond...

This is the second movement of the three-part suite titled 'The Big Street' which was recorded on the album 'The Fabulous Bill Holman' in 1957. It is a slow Swing Feel with a wonderful melody. Wonderf...

This is the third movement of the three-part suite titled 'The Big Street' which was recorded on the album 'The Fabulous Bill Holman' in 1957. This is a Fast Swing, with solo space for 2 Tenor Saxes a...

Recorded on the Hawthorne Nights LP (PABLO) by Zoot Sims, and a wonderful cast of players, this is a neat, medium swing tune which features tenor sax (naturally). The tune starts out with a sort of to...

There were a number of sensational charts written in the 50's for the Bill Holman Band and the Terry Gibbs Band. This is one of them! A great original by Holman, with lots of solo space. Bill Holman w...

This is a bright, up-tempo chart in a contemporary framework. Solos for tenor and trumpet lead to a powerful, swinging shout chorus. A 16-bar drum solo leads into a repeat of the shout before returnin...

The Bill Holman Great Big Band recorded this chart on the Capitol album (same name) in 1960. It is a clever, humorous, nifty chart that features duets in stereo with tenor saxes and trumpets (and othe...

Shades opens with a drum solo (brushes on snare) in a medium tempo and swings on from there. There is a trombone, alto saxophone and piano solo in this first movement. There are also drum solos which...

On the Corner is a moderate tempoed blues ..... a swinging, down-home type of chart, full of terrific ensemble phrases which will knock you out! Trombone and tenor saxophone solos are featured. This c...

Bill Holman titled this one after the signs which used to be in the old-time dance halls around the country. Written in the '50's for Maynard's Birdland Dream Band, this chart is a laid back, swinging...

Sierra continues to find the lost treasures from Maynard Ferguson's Birdland Dream Band Library. A Country Boy starts out with a lazy trombone solo on the written melody and swings along from there. R...

This is another of the many wonderful charts arranged by Holman for the Stan Kenton Orchestra. He is the master at creating exciting, up-tempo flag-wavers. Solos for alto, trumpet and tenor. Recorded...

Rarely does a piece turn up like this one. Although written for Stan Kenton (the mid-1950s), the chart never was recorded by the band (Holman doesn't know why), and it was lost for years. It is a sens...

Here is a great, free-swingin' Opener, also written for Stan Kenton. Although it was never recorded commercially by the band, it was played a great deal in live performances throughout the country. It...

Here is a terrific medium swing chart, also written for Stan Kenton in the 50s. Although it was never recorded commercially by the band, it was played a great deal in live performances throughout the...

There are a few charts from this library which are very playable by any reasonably well developed jazz ensemble. This surely is one of the best! Holman created a beautifully layered piece, based on th...

Holman wrote this to feature Bill Perkins in the mid '50's. It is a tenor saxophone feature throughout and a wonderful chart. Lots of blowing space and the usual swinging ensemble sections for which H...

This is one of those superb Holman charts written for Stan Kenton in the early '50's that just swings like crazy. It starts off very soft and easy, with clever linear writing. It then roars into an al...