Reviews

Mike Holober: Canyon
(Sons of Sound SSPCD016)

"…seems to have come out of nowhere.… Indeed, what strikes one most immediately about Canyon is Holober's writing and arranging, which, together with a superb band, make this a notable debut… Highly melodic, Holober's tunes fall easily on the ears, but the collective execution is full of substance… Holober, as both pianist and arranger, seems to draw on the mid-1960's Herbie Hancock for inspiration, and his playing extends the influence with a fresh approach to dynamics, articulation, and rhythm… both relaxing and simulating, and grows in detail with each hearing." [read the review]
— Cadence, February 2004

3 stars: "Holober's seven originals all have strong melodic qualities and are well handled by his quintet (saxist Tim Ries, guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade). Their playing evokes images of majestic precipices and wide open spaces." [read the review]
— DownBeat, January 2004

"…an all-star ensemble ready for any kind of musical adventure. Fittingly, Holober's seven original compositions and sparkling arrangements of two familiar standards provide a landscape worthy enough for this cast of musicians, and the album stands as a perfect example of what cohesive jazz artistry should be: a set of performances that continue to intrigue and reward listeners over the course of time, where different facets of musicanship and creativity are discovered with each new visit."
— Thomas Staudter, The Gazette, October 2003

"Holober's piano style can be compared to a handful of Miles Davis alumni, perhaps: Bill Evans or Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock; but it's his tunes and the ensemble interplay rather than his instrumental prowess that hold sway on Canyon; …The arrangements here don't call attention to themselves but are absolutely first-rate, begging for repeated listens – and listen to Ries' Stan Getz-esque sax solo on the closer in front of the band's cool simmer. Marvelous!" [read the review]
— All About Jazz, October 2003

"I really like the compositions by Mike Holober, seven of which are on this CD. He is a talented pianist, and has organized and arranged the music in an interesting way… I enjoyed hearing Wolfgang Muthspiel play last year at the Austrian Cultural Theater and he shines again within this group of musicians." [read the review]
— Jazz Now, October 2003

rating: 4 headphones: "This disc is pianist Mike Holober's debut as a leader, but he is already a well-regarded figure on the New York scene, as the testimonials on the sleeve from Fred Hersch (who produced the sessions), Jim McNeely and John Patitucci attest. Their confidence in Holober's ability to deliver high quality jazz as both performer and composer is fully justified by the music. The players dig deep into his seven original compositions on the disc, which are mostly inspired by his outdoors activities as a hiker and climber, and have a clean, airy spaciousness even in their busiest sections. His intricate but attractive melody lines unfold over imaginative and carefully textured ensemble voicings and structures, with Muthspiel's guitar and Ries' horns skilfully deployed at both ensemble and solo level. Colley and Blade are a superb rhythm section, and their contributions both energise and enrich the music at any given tempo… Worth checking out." [read the review]
— Jazzwise, October 2003

"Canyon is one of those rare collections of jazz that come along once in a blue moon, and when discovered, sticks around for a very long and enjoyable time! …Canyon is incredibly good in its solo performances, and the sound is exceptional as this group performs together. A first rate group led by Mike Holober makes Canyon a memorable jazz listening entertainment. Excellent debut." [read the review]
— Jazz Review , September 2003

"Fred Hersch isn't the most groundbreaking pianist of the ‘90s and 2000s, but he is definitely among the most expressive. So when Hersch produces an album, one is anxious to check it out… This is a very straightahead post-bop date—a pleasing but conventional effort that draws on the influence of Evans as well as Keith Jarrett, Ahmad Jamal, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock (the acoustic post-bop Hancock of the ‘60s—not the fusion/jazz-funk explorer who led the Headhunters back in the ‘70s). While nothing groundbreaking or terribly original occurs, Holober's performances are generally solid—and he certainly deserves credit for doing most of his own composing… Canyon won't go down in history as a CD that tried to reinvent the post-bop wheel, but it's a decent and respectable, if derivative, effort for the East Coast pianist." [read the review]
— Barnes and Noble, September 2003