Zurich Jazz Orchestra plays a Tribute to Bill Holman

Big band musicians around the world mourn the passing of master composer and arranger Bill Holman, who died on 6 May 2024 at the age of 97. His long and prolific career spanned seven decades and produced hundreds of compositions and arrangements that have become the beloved core repertoire of big bands and favourites of their audiences around the world. The last time Bill Holman was in Switzerland (2014), he conducted a concert of his music with the Zurich Jazz Orchestra, which remains one of the most memorable performances in the ZJO's long history.

Our musical directors Daniel Schenker and Ed Partyka met in 1996 as members of the Generations Festival Big Band in Frauenfeld, which - you guessed it - was conducted by Bill Holman. The Zurich Jazz Orchestra will celebrate the wonderful music and long life of Bill Holman on 27 March, performing some of his most popular works as well as some rarely heard gems that put the orchestra and its outstanding soloists in the spotlight.