Brian Holland is an internationally renowned pianist, composer, recording artist, and entertainer who has enjoyed a music career spanning more than four decades. From all over the U.S. to as far away as Rwanda, Africa, he has toured the world sharing his love of all forms of early American music.
Brian has performed with some of the hottest jazz bands in the US – Sierra Stompers, Holland-Coots Jazz Quintet, Big B.A.D. Rhythm, Groovus, Swingin’ West, and others – promoting his unique and creative styles of jazz, ragtime, stride, swing, boogie, and blues. His newest quartet, Brian Holland & The Ragabonds, just released their first album (CD & LP) on Rivermont Records.
Brian earned a Grammy nomination for his work with Bud Dresser on their 2006 album, “Ragtime-Goodtime-Jazz”. This album, plus other releases, sheet music, and digital recordings, are available at shanesmohawk.com
Behind the scenes, Brian has helped organize several ragtime & jazz festivals. He served as the Artistic Director for the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival from 2015-2020. And since 2018, he has been Co-Creative Consultant for the Monterey Jazz Bash by the Bay (Monterey, CA).
“Brian Holland has to be one of the fastest, cleanest players anywhere today. Every note, no matter how swift, is as sparkling clear as Waterford crystal. His touch is assured and he makes even the most complex passages sound easy.“
– Jack Rummel, prominent reviewer & performer
“Brian Holland’s lightning-fast left hand bangs out a clean, steady rhythm while his right hand skitters up and down the keyboard rendering the melody in thick chords. Watching his energy and dexterity is narcotic.“
– The New York Sun
Julie McClarey-Smith is an awarding winning pianist with a style that lights up every venue in which she appears. She has appeared on National Television and performed in notable locations in Nashville, Chicago, Branson, and throughout the United States. She began lessons at an early age and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Millikin University and continued piano studies at Elmhurst College and University of Illinois. Although Julie is classically trained, she is equally accomplished with many piano styles. She is the three-time, undefeated winner of the “World Championship Piano Playing Competition.”
In 2012, Julie had the honor of being a featured performer at the Showboat Branson Belle for three years. In 2014, she was not only a featured performer but also Music Director at the Showboat and performed at Silver Dollar City. She had the privilege of performing at the Billy Graham Retreat Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Julie has also performed as a guest artist in multi-grand concerts in Kentucky and Illinois. Julie has been a guest performer three times in multi-grandconcerts in Kentucky which led her to the idea of doing multi-grand concerts in Illinois. She was the Music Director/Performer for six multi-grand concerts in Illinois where the Salvation Army benefitted greatly from the donations raised at that concert.
Julie keeps busy after retiring recently from teaching by playing the grand piano at Von Maur and with volunteer work playing at hospitals, assisted living centers, and for various church and civic programs. Julie is blessed to be the proud wife of Ted Smith, the mother of three wonderful children and a son-in-law, and enjoys time with her energetic grandson, Matthew!
Jeff Barnhart is an internationally renowned pianist, vocalist, arranger, bandleader, recording artist, ASCAP composer, educator and entertainer. Jeff shares his mastery of the classic swing, jazz, and ragtime repertoire of the early to mid-20th century with a versatility and vibrant energy that finds him constantly appearing as a soloist, band pianist, and with smaller groups—most notably Ivory&Gold® with his talented wife, flutist/vocalist Anne Barnhart—at parties, festivals, clubs, and cruises throughout the world. His unsurpassed knowledge of the history of America’s early pop styles and its best current practitioners, combined with his superior “people skills,” has awarded him the position of Musical Director for several acclaimed annual events, including the Eagles & Ivories, the Monterey Jazz Bash by the Bay (as Co-Creative Consultant), and the Essex (CT) Winter Series Jazz Concert.
Jeff has played dual piano with such jazz luminaries as Ralph Sutton, Neville Dickie, Louis Mazetier, John Sheridan, Brian Holland, and Carl Sonny Leyland. He has recorded over 120 full-length albums on, in addition to his own label, Jazz Alive Records, several celebrated labels including Arbors, GHB, Lake Records (UK) and Music Minus One. Reviewer Jack Rummel summed up the reason for Jeff’s popularity, averring, “When it comes to talent, speed, versatility, creativity, mastery of multiple genres and just plain entertaining zaniness, Jeff Barnhart stands alone”.
In addition to his active performance and recording schedule, Jeff is a dedicated and enthusiastic educator. His double BA’s in Music and English, combined with his MA in Education, make Jeff a formidable and entertaining force in clinic, masterclass and inspirational speaking forums and as a lecturer (with his wife) for Road Scholar with programs called, “Ragtime, Tin Pan Alley, Jazz and the Blues.” and “Silent Film Comedy: History, Music and Laughter” both taking place on the beautiful, historic Georgia State Park, Jekyll Island.