Holland & Coots Quintet

The Holland-Coots Jazz Quintet is a traditional jazz and ragtime ensemble led by pianist Brian Holland and drummer Danny Coots, who began performing together as a duo in 2010. Formed in 2017 and based in Nashville, Tennessee, the quintet debuted at the Durango Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival and recorded its first album, a Fats Waller tribute titled This Is So Nice It Must Be Illegal, that July. The core lineup features Holland on piano, Coots on drums, Marc Caparone on cornet, Steve Pikal on bass, and Evan Arntzen on reeds, with later configurations adding players such as Jacob Zimmerman and John Otto. The group is a fixture on the classic jazz and ragtime festival circuit, known for tight ensemble playing and a mix of hot, bluesy, and lyrical swing.