BRIAN HOLLAND

Brian Holland (piano) is an internationally renowned pianist, composer, recording artist, and entertainer who has enjoyed a music career spanning more than four decades. From playing pipe organs in pizza parlors throughout the Midwest to playing Ragtime piano in Rwanda, Africa, Brian has toured the world sharing his love for all forms of early American music.

Brian performs with some of the hottest jazz bands in the US – Sierra Stompers, Holland-Coots Jazz Quintet, Big B.A.D. Rhythm, Groovus, Swingin’ West, and others – promoting his unique and creative styles of jazz, ragtime, stride, swing, boogie, and blues.

Brian earned a Grammy nomination for his work with Bud Dresser on their 2006 album, “Ragtime-Goodtime-Jazz”. This album, plus several others, are available at www.shanesmohawk.com.

​From 2015-2020, Brian served as the Artistic Director for the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival (Sedalia, MO). In 2021-22, he was Artistic Director for the Central Pennsylvania Ragtime and American Music Festival (Orbisonia, PA). And since 2018, he is proud to be Co-Creative Consultant for the Monterey Jazz Bash by the Bay (Monterey, CA) with his dear friend, Jeff Barnhart.

“Brian Holland has to be one of the fastest, cleanest players anywhere today. Every note, no matter how swift, is as sparkling clear as Waterford crystal. His touch is assured and he makes even the most complex passages sound easy.”

– Jack Rummel, prominent reviewer & performer

“Brian Holland’s lightning-fast left hand bangs out a clean, steady rhythm while his right hand skitters up and down the keyboard rendering the melody in thick chords. Watching his energy and dexterity is narcotic.”

– The New York Sun