Robert Avel Holz (born February 3, 1958) is an American drummer and composer. Holz was born in

Syracuse, New York Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffa ...

and resides in Los Angeles, California. He played with

jazz guitarist Jazz guitarists are guitarists who play jazz using an approach to chords, melodies, and improvised solo lines which is called jazz guitar playing. The guitar has fulfilled the roles of accompanist (rhythm guitar) and lead guitar, soloist in small ...

Larry Coryell Larry Coryell (born Lorenz Albert Van DeLinder III; April 2, 1943 – February 19, 2017) was an American jazz guitarist. Early life Larry Coryell was born in Galveston, Texas, United States. He never knew his biological father, a musician. He w ...

's trio between 2015 and 2017 appearing at major venues such as Blues Alley in Washington, D.C.; and, has led his own groups: Bob Holz and A Vision Forward, and Bob Holz Band.

Biography

Holz started his jazz career composing and performing in Boston attending the

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

, the largest independent college of contemporary American music and jazz worldwide. He then went on to apprentice with Jazz Hall of Fame drummers Billy Cobham and Dave Weckl. Bob has accompanied a number of high-profile artists on drums in both jazz and crossover genre including: Robben Ford, Les McCann, Cornell Dupree, James Cotton, Peter Tosh, The Outlaws, Mountain, Noel Redding, Foghat, Molly Hatchet, Head East, Savoy Brown, Wolfman Jack, The Winters Brothers, Blackfoot, Shemika Copeland, Johnny Winter, Eddie Money,

Maria Muldaur Maria Muldaur (born Maria Grazia Rosa Domenica D'Amato; September 12, 1942) is an American folk and blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s. She recorded the 1973 hit song "Midnight at the Oasis" and has ...

, Dr. John, The Grass Roots, Three Dog Night, Blue Oyster Cult, Elvin Bishop, Duke Robillard, Renee Austin, Marcia Ball, Sue Foley, Otis Rush, Pinetop Perkins, Commander Cody, Point Blank,

Grinderswitch Grinderswitch was a southern rock band formed near Macon, Georgia in 1973. Formed from a collaboration of musicians through word of mouth and connections to already established bands and musicians, Grinderswitch became a known act during the pea ...

, Stillwater, Bobby Kimball of Toto, Orleans, Brian Howe of Bad Company and George Clinton/ Parliament Funk. Focusing on Jazz Fusion, Holz has developed a formidable resume of live and studio recordings with a host of luminaries including

, John McLaughlin, Jean-Luc Ponty, Ralphe Armstrong, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, and David "Fathead" Newman. Traveling extensively as a band leader (Bob Holz and A Vision Forward) he has released six albums developing his own style of jazz fusion and post bop jazz. The first album, ''Higher than the Clouds'' was released in 2012 featuring songs written by Bob Holz, Fran and Frank Stephanek. Bob Holz can be heard on vocals, drums and percussion. Frank Stepanek is featured on guitars, bass, keyboards and percussion as well as the vocal on "She Can Go Free". ''Visions and Friends,'' the second album by MVD Audio, was recorded in Los Angeles in 2016 and released in 2017. The eleven tracks featured compositions from Holz, Coryell, and keyboardist Billy Steinway. Randy Brecker is featured on trumpet, Alex Machacek on guitar. The third album for MVD Audio, ''Visions:Coast To Coast Connection'' with A Vision Forward was released in 2018 and featured Stanley Clarke, Randy Brecker, Alex Machacek, Ralphe Armstrong, and

Chet Catallo Chet Catallo (born March 11, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist known for his work as a member of the band Spyro Gyra. Music career In 1978, Catallo joined the group Spyro Gyra while they were recording the album ''Morning Dance''. This record ...

. On February 8, 2019, Holz released the fourth CD ''Silverthorne'' with MVD Audio. The album features Holz on drums, guitarist Mike Stern, trumpeter Randy Brecker, bassist Ralphe Armstrong, saxophonist

Brandon Fields (musician) Brandon Fields (born 1958) is a saxophonist, flutist, and clarinetist from Indiana.Jamie Glaser, guitarist Alex Machacek, saxophonist Ada Rovatti, bassist Andrew Ford, keyboardist Billy Steinway and percussionist Alex Acuna. The fifth CD, ''Live in New York & L.A.'' also by MVD Audio, was released in 2020 crossing East and West coasts in production over several years. It features musicians Bob Holz, Brandon Fields, Ralphe Armstrong, Mike Miller, Joey de Leon and

. Bob Holz's album, ''Holz-Stathis: Collaborative'' for MVD Audio, was released in September 2023. Alumni of the Mahavishnu Orchestra: John McLaughlin, Jean-Luc Ponty and Ralphe Armstrong reunited for the first time in decades. Also featured was Latin jazz fusion with percussionists

Airto Moreira Airto Guimorvan Moreira (born August 5, 1941) is a Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist. He is married to jazz singer Flora Purim, and their daughter Diana Moreira is also a singer. Coming to prominence in the late 1960s as a member of the ...

, Alex Acuña and Joey Heredia.

Discography

; Bob Holz and A Vision Forward * 2016:
A Vision Forward
' (MVD Audio) Bob Holz,

, Mike Stern and Randy Brecker * 2017:
Visions And Friends
' (MVD Audio) Bob Holz,

and Randy Brecker * 2018:
Visions: Coast To Coast Connection
' (MVD Audio) Bob Holz, Stanley Clarke and Randy Brecker * 2019:'
Silverthorne
' (MVD Audio) Bob Holz, Mike Stern and Randy Brecker * 2020:
Live in New York and L.A.
' (MVD Audio) Bob Holz, Brandon Fields, Ralphe Armstrong, Mike Miller, Joey de Leon and

* 2023:
Holz-Stathis: Collaborative
' (MVD Audio) Bob Holz Bob Holz Band * 2012: ''Higher than the Clouds'', (CD Baby) Bob Holz, Frank Stepanek and Fran Stepanek

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Holz, Bob 1958 births Living people American jazz drummers American rock drummers American session musicians Jazz fusion drummers 20th-century American drummers American male drummers 20th-century American male musicians Musicians from Syracuse, New York Musical groups from Syracuse, New York Jazz musicians from New York (state) American jazz composers Post-bop composers American male jazz composers 21st-century jazz composers 21st-century American male musicians