Biography
An alto saxophonist rooted in bop, Christopher Hollyday produces a warm, bright tone and a high-energy approach that echoes the lineage of Charlie Parker, Jackie McLean, and Phil Woods. He first attracted notice as a teenager among the late-’80s cohort known as the “Young Lions,” drawing praise for the self-titled 1989 album, the 1990 follow-up On Course, and 1992’s And I’ll Sing Once More before withdrawing from the spotlight. After years devoted to music education, he resumed steady performing with the 2018 release Telepathy.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1972, Hollyday absorbed jazz from his father’s sizable record collection. Drawn especially to Charlie Parker, he took up the alto saxophone at age nine; by 1983 he was appearing on Boston-area gigs alongside his older brother, trumpeter Richard Hollyday. His first recording, the self-produced 1985 album Treaty, included bassist Nat Reeves, drummer Ron Savage, and pianist John Medeski. The 1988 sophomore effort Reverence placed him with pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Billy Higgins. That same year he gained broader attention by leading a week at New York’s Village Vanguard and by touring with Maynard Ferguson.
The resulting visibility led to a contract with RCA/Novus; his label debut, the 1989 quintet album Christopher Hollyday, featured trumpeter Wallace Roney. Amid worldwide touring he continued recording for the label, issuing the 1990 quartet set On Course with pianist Larry Goldings and the 1991 date The Natural Moment with pianist Brad Mehldau. He closed the period with 1992’s And I’ll Sing Once More, a lushly arranged session for a 14-piece ensemble that included saxophonist Scott Robinson, pianist Kenny Werner, and violinist Mark Feldman.
While touring and conducting clinics, Hollyday developed a deepening interest in teaching. In 1993 he stepped back from performing to complete a degree in composition and arranging at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. He then moved to San Diego, where he spent the next decade as a high-school music instructor. He later earned a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from San Diego State University and joined that institution’s faculty. Although academic duties dominated from the late ’90s onward, he maintained a local performance schedule.
Hollyday reentered regular circulation in 2018 with Telepathy, his first studio album in more than twenty years, recorded with longtime San Diego colleague, trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. The Telepathy Quintet followed quickly with 2020’s Dialogue.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1972, Hollyday absorbed jazz from his father’s sizable record collection. Drawn especially to Charlie Parker, he took up the alto saxophone at age nine; by 1983 he was appearing on Boston-area gigs alongside his older brother, trumpeter Richard Hollyday. His first recording, the self-produced 1985 album Treaty, included bassist Nat Reeves, drummer Ron Savage, and pianist John Medeski. The 1988 sophomore effort Reverence placed him with pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Billy Higgins. That same year he gained broader attention by leading a week at New York’s Village Vanguard and by touring with Maynard Ferguson.
The resulting visibility led to a contract with RCA/Novus; his label debut, the 1989 quintet album Christopher Hollyday, featured trumpeter Wallace Roney. Amid worldwide touring he continued recording for the label, issuing the 1990 quartet set On Course with pianist Larry Goldings and the 1991 date The Natural Moment with pianist Brad Mehldau. He closed the period with 1992’s And I’ll Sing Once More, a lushly arranged session for a 14-piece ensemble that included saxophonist Scott Robinson, pianist Kenny Werner, and violinist Mark Feldman.
While touring and conducting clinics, Hollyday developed a deepening interest in teaching. In 1993 he stepped back from performing to complete a degree in composition and arranging at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. He then moved to San Diego, where he spent the next decade as a high-school music instructor. He later earned a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from San Diego State University and joined that institution’s faculty. Although academic duties dominated from the late ’90s onward, he maintained a local performance schedule.
Hollyday reentered regular circulation in 2018 with Telepathy, his first studio album in more than twenty years, recorded with longtime San Diego colleague, trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. The Telepathy Quintet followed quickly with 2020’s Dialogue.
Albums