Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

HOLLYDAY, Christopher

(b '70, Boston) Alto saxist. He made his first album when he was 14; Treaty '85 on Jazzbeat displayed amazing skill for that age. Reverence '88 on RBI was made with a rhythm section of Cedar Walton, Ron Carter and Billy Higgins; it was even more assured but lacking in passion. He played at Montreux July '89 and released his first (eponymous) album on Novus the same month, with Wallace Roney on trumpet, Walton, Higgins and David Williams on bass, still showing promise and now the influence of Jackie McLean. On Course '90 had him with a young (very good) rhythm section, perhaps his regular group, playing duets with them on some tracks, but still not a lot of originality. This was followed by The Natural Moment '91 and And I'll Sing Once More '92. All this may have been too much too soon, but anyone with his chops may re-emerge from the woodshed, perhaps with more to say.