close
John Hollenbeck
Credit: Lukas Beck

John Hollenbeck (followed by 6 users)

Inventive, exploratory, genre-blending New York drummer/composer leads the Claudia Quintet and John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble.

Read Full Biography

STREAM OR BUY:

Active

1990s - 2020s

Born

Genre

Styles

Member Of

Set Your Streaming Service

Suggest Streaming Links

To Set Your Preferred Streaming Service, Log In to Your AllMusic Account

To Submit Streaming Links, Log In to Your AllMusic Account

Log In

Don't have an Account?

John Hollenbeck Biography by Alex Henderson

Best known for helming the Claudia Quintet and John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, as well as his sideman contributions to the work of numerous other artists, John Hollenbeck has shown himself to be an intuitive and far-reaching drummer, percussionist, composer, and group leader. Born in Binghamton, New York and a resident of New York City, Hollenbeck studied with trombonist/pianist/bandleader Bob Brookmeyer and was a member of Brookmeyer's New Art Orchestra before becoming associated with the downtown Manhattan music scene.

Like other artists who emerged from that community of musicians, his perspective is without boundaries; Hollenbeck draws from modern creative and avant-garde jazz, but his music also touches on elements of modern composition, including post-minimalism. The long list of people Hollenbeck played and recorded with in the '90s and into the new millennium underscores his versatility and broad-mindedness; that list ranges from frequent collaborator singer Theo Bleckmann to performance artist Meredith Monk, pianist Fred Hersch, trumpeter Cuong Vu, trombonist Curtis Hasselbring, keyboardist Gary Versace, clarinetist David Krakauer's Klezmer Madness!, and a group led by trumpeter Frank London (a founding member of the Klezmatics).

No Images After appearing as a sideman on various jazz and avant recordings, Hollenbeck began to build a catalog of his own in 2001 when he issued three albums on Blueshift/CRI: No Images, The Claudia Quintet, and Quartet Lucy. The Claudia Quintet, initially featuring a lineup of Hollenbeck joined by Chris Speed on tenor sax and clarinet, Matt Moran on vibes, Ted Reichman on accordion, and Drew Gress on acoustic bass, would prove to be his most longstanding working band of the new millennium. After the arrival of the group's eponymous Blueshift/CRI debut, the Claudia Quintet was signed by the Cuneiform label, which released the band's I, Claudia (2004); Semi-Formal (2005); For (2007); Royal Toast (2010), featuring special guest Versace on piano; What Is the Beautiful? (2011), with the quintet supplemented by pianist Matt Mitchell and featuring poetry of Kenneth Patchen sung by vocalists Theo Bleckmann and Kurt Elling; and September (2013), in which Red Wierenga replaced Reichman on accordion and the bass duties were split between Gress and Chris Tordini.

A Blessing The new millennium also saw Hollenbeck receiving wide recognition for his work with modern creative and experimental big bands, including his own John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, which released A Blessing on Omnitone in 2005 and Eternal Interlude on Sunnyside in 2009, both of which received Grammy nominations for Best Large Ensemble Jazz Album. He also worked with a pair of European outfits: Jazz Bigband Graz, with which he recorded Joys & Desires, released by Intuition in 2005; and the Frankfurt Radio Bigband, which commissioned his Songs I Like a Lot project, heard on the 2013 Sunnyside album of the same name, followed by 2015's Songs We Like a Lot (also on Sunnyside), which arrived in 2015. Hollenbeck's Grammy recognition also includes a 2010 nomination (Best Instrumental Composition) for "Falling Men," which appeared on that year's Bee Jazz label release Shut Up and Dance, an album of his compositions recorded by France's Orchestre National de Jazz under the artistic direction of Daniel Yvinec, and a 2013 nomination (Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist[s]) for "The Moon's a Harsh Mistress" from Songs I Like a Lot.

The Now Is Deep on the Ground
John Hollenbeck / Kenneth Patchen
How Can I Keep from Singing
Robert Lowry / Doris Plenn / Pete Seeger
Love Song for Kate
John Hollenbeck
Burt and Ken
John Hollenbeck
Joys & Desires #1: Jazz Envy feat. Theo Bleckmann / Graz Jazz Big Band
John Hollenbeck
The Bird with the Coppery, Keen Claws feat. Theo Bleckmann / Graz Jazz Big Band
John Hollenbeck / Wallace Stevens
a-b-s-t-i-n-e-n-c-e
John Hollenbeck
Just Like Him feat. Theo Bleckmann / Graz Jazz Big Band
John Hollenbeck
Bicycle Race
Freddie Mercury
Man of Constant Sorrow
Traditional
Close to You
Burt Bacharach / Hal David
Wichita Lineman
Jimmy Webb
Cellular Songs~Melt feat. Katie Geissinger / Meredith Monk / Allison Sniffin
Meredith Monk
Cellular Songs~Happy Woman feat. Ellen Fisher / Katie Geissinger / Joanna Lynn-Jacobs / Meredith Monk / Allison Sniffin
Meredith Monk
Cellular Songs~Dyads feat. Ellen Fisher / Joanna Lynn-Jacobs
Meredith Monk
Cellular Songs~Dive feat. Allison Sniffin
Meredith Monk
Cellular Songs~Click Song #3 Prologue feat. Ellen Fisher / Katie Geissinger / Joanna Lynn-Jacobs / Meredith Monk / Allison Sniffin
Meredith Monk
Sum feat. NDR Bigband
John Hollenbeck
Owts Hgis feat. NDR Bigband
John Hollenbeck
Marimba Hocket feat. NDR Bigband
John Hollenbeck
Entitlement feat. NDR Bigband
John Hollenbeck
Drum Hocket feat. NDR Bigband
John Hollenbeck
Cool Code feat. NDR Bigband
John Hollenbeck
All the Things in Their Right Places feat. Dan Cavanagh / Miley! / James Miley
Jerome Kern / Radiohead
Wernerism feat. Dan Cavanagh / Miley! / James Miley
Dan Cavanagh
All Credits
Year Credit
2026 Peace and Justice John Hollenbeck Primary Artist
2026 Looking for Consonance GEORGE Glockenspiel, Drums, Group Member, Arranger, Composer
2025 Of the Near and Far Patricia Brennan Drums, Percussion
2025 Monk: Cellular Songs - Generation Dance Meredith Monk Producer
2025 Meredith Monk: Cellular Songs Meredith Monk Recording Producer, Crotale, Percussion, Primary Artist, Producer, Vibraphone
2023 Letters To George GEORGE Piano
2022 Meredith Monk: The Recordings Meredith Monk Bamboo Xylophone, Bell, Bells, Chinese Bells, Clacker, Composer, Cowbell, Cuica, Cymbals, Drum, Drums, Flexatones, Glockenspiel, Gong, Marimba, Melodica, Metal Percussion, Microphone, Percussion, Performer, Piano, Rasp, Shruti Box, Triangle, Vibraphone, Vocals, Wind Instruments, Xylophone
2021 My Choice Theo Bleckmann Drums, Percussion
2021 Idiom Anna Webber Drums
2021 Fumio Yasuda: My Choice Fumio Yasuda Percussion
2020 Modern Tales Brussels Vocal Project / John Hollenbeck Primary Artist, Liner Notes, Composer
2018 Linger Benoît Delbecq / Jorrit Dijkstra / John Hollenbeck Primary Artist
2018 Clockworks Patrick Zimmerli Drums, Group Member
2018 All Can Work John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble Producer, Arranger, Liner Notes, Primary Artist, Drums, Composer
2017 Elegy Theo Bleckmann Primary Artist, Drums, Group Member
2016 The Beautiful Day: Kurt Elling Sings Christmas Kurt Elling Composer
2016 Super Petite The Claudia Quintet Producer, Liner Notes, Drums, Percussion, Composer
2016 On Behalf of Nature Meredith Monk / Meredith Monk Vocal Ensemble Bells, Clarinet (Contrabass), Cuica, Cymbals, Glockenspiel, Marimba, Percussion, Vibraphone
2016 Double Quartet John Hollenbeck / Sylvain Rifflet / Jochen Rueckert / Pascal Schumacher / Henning Sieverts / Loren Stillman / François Thuillier / Florian Weber Primary Artist, Member of Main Personnel, Drums
2016 Binary Anna Webber Drums
2016 Binary Anna Webber's Simple Trio Drums, Group Member
2015 Songs We Like a Lot John Hollenbeck Primary Artist, Producer, Arranger, Conductor, Liner Notes, Composer
2014 Simple Anna Webber Drums, Percussion
2013 Songs I Like a Lot John Hollenbeck Primary Artist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor, Percussion, Producer
2013 September The Claudia Quintet Producer, Drums, Percussion, Group Member, Composer
2012 The Multiple Personality Reunion Tour Guy Klucevsek Drums, Percussion, Xylophone
2011 What Is the Beautiful? The Claudia Quintet Producer, Keyboards, Drums, Percussion, Group Member, Composer
2011 Voladores Tony Malaby / Tony Malaby's Apparitions Melodica, Vibraphone, Marimba, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Drums, Percussion, Noise, Group Member
2011 Novela Tony Malaby Drums, Percussion
2011 Noisy Love Songs Okkyung Lee Percussion
2011 Meredith Monk: Songs of Ascension Meredith Monk Percussion, Shruti Box, Vocals
2011 Hello Earth! The Music of Kate Bush Theo Bleckmann Drums, Percussion
2010 The Satie Project Dan Willis and Velvet Gentlemen / Dan Willis Drums, Percussion
2010 Shut Up and Dance John Hollenbeck / Orchestre National de Jazz Primary Artist, Liner Notes, Composer
2010 Royal Toast The Claudia Quintet / Gary Versace Producer, Composer
2009 Samuel Scott Fields Percussion
2009 Eternal Interlude John Hollenbeck / John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble Primary Artist, Producer, Whistle (Human), Drums, Composer
2009 Dancing on the Volcano Guy Klucevsek Drums, Percussion
2009 Blackbird Henning Sieverts Drums, Group Member
2009 Big Choantza Curtis Hasselbring / The New Mellow Edwards Drums, Percussion, Group Member
2008 Warblepeck Tony Malaby Cello Trio / Tony Malaby Member of Attributed Artist, Main Personnel, Melodica, Marimba, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Drums
2008 Refuge Trio Refuge Trio Member of Attributed Artist, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Drums, Percussion, Crotale, Group Member, Composer, Primary Artist
2008 Rainbow Jimmies John Hollenbeck Primary Artist, Producer, Liner Notes, Piano, Vibraphone, Drums, Composer
2008 Meredith Monk: Impermanence Meredith Monk Piano, Vibraphone, Marimba, Glockenspiel, Drums (Bass), Cymbals, Percussion, Bells, Angklung, Composer, Unknown Contributor Role
2008 Edge of the Mind Sound Assembly Drums
2008 Cloudy Then Sunny Junk Box Percussion
2007 Symmetry Henning Sieverts Drums
2007 Live in Vienna Kristin Korb Drums
2007 Live in Vienna Arni Egilsson Drums
2007 For The Claudia Quintet Producer, Audio Production, Member of Attributed Artist, Drums, Percussion, Composer
2007 Dome Johannes Enders Main Personnel, Drums, Percussion
2007 Beckett Scott Fields Percussion, Group Member
2006 West End Avenue Jeff Campbell Composer
2006 Velvet Gentlemen Dan Willis Drums, Percussion
2006 The New Mellow Edwards Curtis Hasselbring / The New Mellow Edwards Melodica, Drums, Percussion
2006 Sequence Jorrit Dijkstra / John Hollenbeck Primary Artist
2006 Reflection Ed Neumeister Drums, Percussion, Composer
2006 My Ears Are Bent Ted Reichman Drums
2006 Live in Vienna Rufus Reid Drums
2006 Hotel Alba Enders Room Additional Personnel, Drums, Primary Artist
2006 Fragment Satoko Fujii Percussion
2006 Fragment Junk Box Percussion, Group Member
2006 Early American: The Melodies of Stephen Foster Andy Biskin Drums, Percussion, Group Member
2006 American Gotham Gotham Wind Symphony Drums
2005 The Nail That Stands Up Gets Pounded Down Rich Woodson's Ellipsis Drums, Group Member
2005 Semi-Formal The Claudia Quintet / John Hollenbeck Primary Artist, Producer, Member of Attributed Artist, Piano, Keyboards, Drums, Percussion, Composer
2005 Nihm Okkyung Lee Main Personnel, Drums, Percussion
2005 Leaves of Grass Fred Hersch Main Personnel, Drums, Percussion, Group Member
2005 Just Drums II - The Project Primary Artist
2005 Joys & Desires John Hollenbeck Primary Artist, Producer, Liner Notes, Member of Attributed Artist, Drums, Composer
2005 Awakening Marko Lackner Drums
2005 A Blessing John Hollenbeck / John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble Primary Artist, Producer, Audio Production, Main Personnel, Drums, Percussion, Composer
2004 I, Claudia The Claudia Quintet / John Hollenbeck Primary Artist, Producer, Drums, Group Member, Composer
2004 Hidden C Henning Sieverts Drums, Percussion, Toy Instruments
2004 Get Well Soon Till Brönner / Bob Brookmeyer / Bob Brookmeyer New Quartet Guest Artist, Drums
2004 First Offerings Rick DiMuzio Drums
2004 Blinds and Shades Florian Ross Guest Artist, Drums, Group Member
2004 Amalgam(e): 10 Years of Red Toucan Drums, Primary Artist
2003 Island Bob Brookmeyer Drums
2003 Bob Brookmeyer & Kenny Wheeler Quintet Island Bob Brookmeyer Drums
2002 Waltzing With Zoe Bob Brookmeyer Drums
2002 Quartet Lucy John Hollenbeck / Quartet Lucy Primary Artist, Producer, Composer, Berimbau, Piano, Drums, Percussion
2002 Q & A: Jazz Big Band Graz Plays the Music of Bob Brookmeyer Bob Brookmeyer Drums
2002 Now and Now Again Maritime Jazz Orchestra Drums
2002 New Standards Ed Neumeister Main Personnel, Drums, Percussion
2002 Mercy Meredith Monk Vocals, Melodica, Piano, Vibraphone, Marimba, Xylophone, Cowbell, Cymbals, Percussion, Bells, Gong, Metal Percussion, Resonator, Bell, Bowed Vibes, Composer, Drums (Bass), Triangle, Unknown Contributor Role
2002 Just Drums: Drummer Compilation Primary Artist
2002 Gueuledeloup Achim Kaufmann Quartet Drums, Percussion
2001 Women's Yoga Chants Drums
2001 The Claudia Quintet The Claudia Quintet / John Hollenbeck Primary Artist, Producer, Composer, Drums, Percussion
2001 Sideshow: Songs of Charles Ives Sideshow Melodica, Drums, Percussion, Bells, Primary Artist
2001 Origami Theo Bleckmann Melodica, Drums, Percussion, Composer, Primary Artist
2001 No Images John Hollenbeck Primary Artist, Producer, Autoharp, Drums, Percussion, Sampling, Composer
2001 Madly Loving You Bob Brookmeyer / Ed Partyka Composer
2001 Hand to Mouth Dan Willis Drums, Percussion
2001 Group Therapy Jim McNeely Drums
2001 Come Play with Me Cuong Vu Drums
2000 Pure Cuong Vu Producer, Main Personnel, Drums, Composer
2000 Multi-Colored Chant Chaula Hopefisher Drums
2000 Lilacs & Laughter Florian Ross Drums
2000 Double Exposure Achim Kaufmann Quartet Drums, Percussion
2000 Control and Resistance Rich Woodson's Ellipsis Drums
1999 New Works Celebration Bob Brookmeyer Drums
1998 Twelve Sacred Dances Patrick Zimmerli Drums, Percussion
1998 Dan Willis Quartet Dan Willis Drums, Percussion
1997 No Boat Theo Bleckmann Composer
1996 And Another Thing... Tim Sessions Drums
1993 Music for All Seasons L.A. Philharmonirc Trombones Tamboura
Tardif Brulez Les Meubles Drums, Percussion, Group Member
Static Still Theo Bleckmann Producer, Cover Design, Composer, Primary Artist
Scorpion Eater Tony Malaby's Tubacello Prepared Piano, Drums, Percussion, Composer
Schorr Family Firehouse Stage Series: Young Lions of Jazz The Young Lions Composer
Pirouet Jazz Compilation, Vol. 2: Cats and Dogs Additional Personnel
New Year New Music Gotham Wind Symphony Composer
Monosuite Hayden Chisholm / Jurgen Friedrich / Juergen Friedrich Primary Artist
Monk: Lullaby for Lise Katie Geissinger / Allison Sniffin Producer
Life's a Real Dream Lard Dog & Band of Shy Vocals, Musician
Les Deux Versants Se Regardent Eve Risser Composer
Golightly Anette Von Eichel Drums
Colouring Hockets John Hollenbeck / NDR Bigband Primary Artist, Arranger, Composer
Blue Intuition Drums
Another Life Dan Cavanagh / John Hollenbeck / James Miley Primary Artist, Engineer, Featured Artist, Drums
30 Jahre Bundesjazzorchester BuJazzO Arranger, Composer

AllMusic Year in Review

2015 Songs We Like a Lot Favorite Jazz Albums

Similar To

Jim Black Ted Poor Allison Miller Jorrit Dijkstra Rich Woodson The Claudia Quintet Drew Gress Rob Price Theo Bleckmann Chris Speed Darren Lyons David Sanford Hamid Drake Cuong Vu Frank Carlberg Fred Hersch

Influenced By

Bob Brookmeyer

Associated With

Chris Speed Theo Bleckmann Jazz Bigband Graz Meredith Monk Cuong Vu John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble Orchestre National de Jazz Quartet Lucy The Claudia Quintet Rich Woodson