Featured Artists
Mike Holstein
Guitar & Bass
Having studied Music Performance and Education with emphases in Guitar and Bass, Mike Holstein has been serving up some amazing Jazz in this region for many years! He performs frequently with top Jazz performers and has even performed with the amazing Sheila Jordan. Mike’s creative style is always fascinating for listeners… the music formation is live, in-the-moment, and new. And he doesn’t just play guitars; he makes them! Feel free to ask him at performances what his latest wood-working projects are! Mike, his wife Kellie, & their kitty, “Cat” live in Marion, NC where they have supported children through the Foster Care program. His support of Holly Hopkins Jazz is nothing short of amazing and, absolutely appreciated!
Ron Brendle
Bass
When Ron first sat at his Great Grandmother’s pump organ at around 5 years of age and played those first notes, he realized there was a magic that happened when he heard those airy sounds. He believes that moment set him on a lifelong quest of music. Being a musician and learning about music is a journey he is thankful never ends.
Ron has had many magic moments including the opportunity to study with Charlie Haden and meeting Jaco Pastorious. Over the years he has shared the stage or recorded with artists Mose Allison, John Abercrombie, Charlie Byrd, Dizzy Gillespie, Hank Crawford, Ray Charles, Sheila Jordan, George Hamilton V, Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Kimbrough, Maria Howell, and Dom Flemmons.
Holly Hopkins Jazz appreciates Ron’s musical contriubtion and friendship!
Dr. Dave Fox
Piano
Mr. Fox performs throughout the Southeast as a classical and jazz pianist. Most recently, he has been active as a composer.
Mr. Fox is the pianist in the Greg Hyslop Trio, the Atlantic Jazz Orchestra (formerly the US Airways Jazz Orchestra), the All-Stars, and the faculty jazz group Seven Steps, which he co-founded with Neill Clegg.
Neal Davenport
Piano
Neal Davenport has performed for hundreds of events and receptions in the Southeast for many years. His extensive repertoire covers the musical spectrum from big band to high energy dance music. Neal’s breadth of musical knowledge is so extensive! And, at one point he had the honor of being the Musical Director for country artist, Charley Pride. It is Holly’s joy to work with Neal Davenport!
Jim Brock
Percussion
Jim Brock has proven to be an innovator in the world of drums and percussion. During his career he has appeared on hundreds of recordings with artusts such as Joe Walsh, Joan Baez, Kathy Mattea, Joe Cocker, and more and has multiple solo recordings available.
Jim has traveled the world for performances and has had multiple appearances on shows like The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, The View, and others. He has performed at the White House for President Clinton and, was asked to compose the music for the documentary “The Spirit of Sacajawea” for which he is the recipient of the prestigious Telly Award.
Jim has also been nominated for an Emmy award in the category of Composer.
Holly Hopkins Jazz appreciates Jim’s enthusiasm and support of its performances!
George Hoar
Bass, Piano, Celtic Elements
Originally from Queens NY, bassist and pianist, George Hoar, came from a musical family. His mother was a classically trained piano teacher and composer and taught George at an early age. His father was an amateur drummer with a natural feel for jazz music. At William Patterson College, George studied with Rufus Ried, David Samuels, Harold Maybern, Todd Coolman and Don Funuto. He also studied bass privately with Harvey Swartz and piano with Art Resnick.
George has performed at the Harlem club, The Showman, and was one of the artists featured on Jazz Sounds of Harlem hosted by Wynton Marsalis on BET. George currently resides in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.
Troy Conn
Guitar
A versatile musician, Troy has been playing professionally for fifteen years. He holds the B.M. from UNCC and has studied at Berklee College of Music. An active performer with numerous small groups at various venues and festivals, Troy has also performed with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in their Pops Concerts and in their rendition of the opera, The Barber of Seville. Troy’s musical styles include jazz, classical, acoustic, rock, Celtic, folk, and blues. Troy teaches in the Extended Day Program at Providence Day School and part-time at Pfeiffer University.
Troy is an incredible talent – and, great to perform with!
Wayne Christensen
Guitar
Wayne has played guitar for many years. During college he performed with a Jazz Ensemble and additionally accompanied a song and dance troupe representing the University of Wisconsin.
Wayne has worked with the Lake Norman Big Band and, he has extensively supported Holly as accompanist during her first years of performing.
If you’ve ever chatted with him you will quickly note he has a great knowledge of music history as well!
While he has retired from performing with Holly, his support of Holly Hopkins Jazz will always be appreciated!
Rick Cline
Drums
Rick Cline is a performer/educator in Hickory, NC, as well as a father of 2 boys, Reese and Gabriel. As a native of Hickory, Cline enjoys a wonderful musical career filled with numerous weekly performances and an abundant weekly teaching load. He teaches applied percussion at Lenoir Rhyne University, and currently directs the Piedmont Percussion Program, a program for kids ages 6-18 for 7 years. The program performs yearly at the NC Day of Percussion, has won national acclaim among educators, and has been acknowledged for excellence in the internationally distributed “Percussive Notes“. Rick is an amazing drummer and Holly appreciates his support!
Matt Kendrick
Bass
Matt Kendrick, a bass player and composer, is one of North Carolina’s most beloved jazz musicians. From his home base in Winston-Salem, he plays almost nightly with the Matt Kendrick Trio and other groups. He’s a member of the music faculty at Wake Forest University. Matt also serves as Music Director for Carolina Music Ways, an arts education nonprofit and Co-artistic director for Music Carolina a non-profit arts presenting organization.
Noel Freidline
Piano & Vocals
As the leader of the Noel Freidline Quintet for the last 26 years, Freidline has recorded 8 CDs, performed at jazz festivals as diverse as the Jacksonville (FL) Jazz Festival to the Bethlehem (PA) Musikfest to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, held down a three-year house band position at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and performed for actress Julia Roberts’ surprise 35th birthday party. In February of 2018, Noel released his eighth album, “Old Devil Moon,” a collaboration with vocalist Maria Howell.
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