Music

Music is interconnected with and inseparable from my life as a writer and linguist.

Though I perform infrequently now, this page is both a showcase of my contributions as a vocalist, bandleader, arranger, and lyricist, and an essential moment in my professional trajectory.

Enjoy!

Landscape of Minas Gerais mountains

João Antunes e Holly Holmes (2023)

Sérgio Pererê (Brazil) – vocals, charango, percussion (1, 5, 7)

Leandro César (Brazil) – Gig instrument (1, 5)

Kristoff Silva (Brazil) – vocals, nylong-string guitars (2, 5, 6)

Luca Raele (Brazil) – clarinets (2, 6)

Mendi Mohinder Singh (UK) – tabla (2, 4, 6)

Fernando Rischibieter (Brazil) – e-bow guitar (3)

Chris Reyman (US) – Fender Rhodes (3)

Recorded by David Woodhead at Blueprint Studios in Manchester, UK in September and December 2013 (3, 7).

Recorded by Todd Reising at Mass Music in Champaign, Illinois, USA in November 2013 (3).

Recorded by Dustin Jones at Mission Control Studios in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada in August 2023 (5).

Mixed and Mastered by João Antunes in São Paulo, Brazil in 2023.

João Antunes - audio engineer, compositions, guitars, viola caipira, charango, bass, and a million other things

Holly Holmes - vocals and English lyrics

Recorded by João Antunes at Estúdio Via Sonora, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil in May-June, 2012 (1, 2, 4, 6, 7).

Mark Van Ziegler (UK) – acoustic bass (3)

Timothy Mulligan (UK) – drums (3)

Chico Amaral (Brazil) – saxophone (3, 4)

André Mehmari (Brazil) – piano (4)

Pablo Souza (Brazil) – acoustic bass (3, 4)

Yuri Vellasco (Brazil) – drums (4)

Christian Fá (UK) – vocals (5)

Pablo Passini (Brazil) – guitar (5)

Rafael Martini (Brazil) – piano (5)

Bossa Nuevo album cover

Karim Yengsep – Double Bass | Lara Driscoll – Keyboards
Holly Holmes – Voice, Mandolin | George Turner – Guitar
Mikael Templeton – Alto Sax, Flute | Matt Plaskota – Drums Cody Jensen – Percussion

Recorded by Mark Ruble at Pogo Studio, Champaign, IL.

Bossa Nuevo (2011)

The Climb album cover

Recorded and mixed by Holly Holmes and Bill Jones at Western Sound Studios, Kalamazoo, MI. Arrangements by Holly Holmes.

Tracks 9 & 10, recorded live at Kraftbräu Brewery, Kalamazoo, MI by Ian Gorman on August 8, 2004.

Mastered by John Stites at Arcadia Recording, Kalamazoo, MI.

The Climb (2001)

Earlie Braggs, trombone (3)

Chris Sargent (1, 8), Bartosz Hadala (3), Rob Cookman (6) - piano

Rob Cookman (4) - accordion

Dan Kramlich, keyboard (9)

Brett Farkas (1, 5), Bill Jones (4, 6, 7, 10), Matt Warnock (10) - guitars

Dan Thatcher (1, 6, 7, 8), Joe Ayoub (2), Mark Ziegler (3, 4, 10) - bass

Quincy Davis (1, 8), Fred Knapp (3), Jon Wert (10) - drums

Jeff Moehle (4, 6, 10), Kevin Garica (7) - percussion

Recordings as a Guest Vocalist in Brazil

Documentary film about Brazilian lyricist and poet, Murilo Antunes.

(0:22) Guest vocalist on the song “Viva Zapátria”

Music by Sirlan de Jesus

Lyrics by Murilo Antunes

“Límbico Trêm” by Robson Santos, composer-guitarist our of Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Guest and Background Vocalist

Listen for my voice acting like an instrument!

Such fun to record and thanks to Robson for encouraging me to run with this idea.

Holly Holmes singing into a classic microphone

Chris Reyman – Piano | Jon Wegge – Bass
Holly Holmes – Voice, Arrangement | Joshua Hunt – Drums

Recorded live at the ArtsGarden, Indianapolis.

Holly Holmes Quartet (2008)

Holly Holmes Master's Recital performance

Holly Holmes Master’s Recital (2008)

Chris Reyman – Piano | Tyler Ross – Guitar | Jon Wegge – Bass
Holly Holmes – Voice, Arrangements | Joshua Hunt – Drums | Andrew Boostrom – Trombone, Voice | Nora Barton – Cello

Recorded live at Smith Hall, Champaign, IL.

As of Yet album cover

University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band - Charles “Chip” McNeill, director

Holly Holmes, featured vocalist

Phil Doyle, tenor sax soloist, “Vera Cruz”

Joshua Hunt, drum soloist, “Laura”

Carlos Vega, soprano saxflutealto sax soloist, “Laura”

Recorded by Michael Graham at Lodge Recording Studios, Indianapolis.

As of Yet (2008)

Dave Dickey, Kyle Newgard, David Phy, Matt Lemke - trombone

Mike Jones, Walter Reed, Derek Sanchez, Andy Schumm, Matt Kunz - trumpet

Steve Jones, Dick Kelley, Andrew Schurman- Reeds

Chris Nolte, acoustic bass

George Turner, guitar

Art of the Dance album cover

University of Illinois Latin Jazz Ensemble - Tito Carrillo, director

Holly Holmes, featured vocalist

Carlos Vega, bari sax soloist

Peter Kenagy, flugelhorn soloist

Kelly Corbin, alto sax soloist

Matt Plaskota, conga soloist

Recorded live at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts; Mixed by Bill Demkov, Champaign, IL.

Art of the Dance (2008)

Andrew Boostrom, Dave Dickey, Matt Lemke - trombone

Mike Jones, Nick Schroeder - trumpet

Phil Doyle, tenor sax

Sam Carroll, Molly Cryderman - percussion

Joshua Hunt, drums

Chris Reyman, piano

Josh Ramos, electric bass