Holly Channell

Holly Channell is an American drummer, musician, educator and composer based in Boston, MA. Versatile, Holly plays everything from straight jazz to pop and rock. Recently off a tour celebrating the Academy Award-winning lyricist Dorothy Fields, Holly is currently set to release her debut jazz album “Not Just a Standard” with Fresh Sound Records on a planned Oct 4th, 2024 release. Holly’s sound steers from the straight ahead jazz tradition, but is influenced heavily from the 90’s and early 2000’s alternative sounds she grew up listening to. Finding her voice, she resonates heavily with drummers such as Roy Haynes, Max Roach, and Elvin Jones, but also appreciates the sounds from the late Taylor Hawkins, Jeff Porcaro, and Nirvana’s Dave Grohl. 

Holly started playing drums at age 10, being introduced to the craft by her late metal-drumming uncle, Brice Chaput. By age 15, Holly was studying percussion classically, touring with a Symphony Orchestra, and teaching privately and in group educational settings. In 2017 Holly was introduced to the world of Jazz, and never looked back. She got her BA in Jazz Studies, her Master of Music in Jazz Performance from ASU studying with the great Lewis Nash, and a Master of Global Jazz from Berklee College of Music Global Jazz Institute. Through her education and early career she was able to learn, play and create mentorships with Kobie Watkins, Benny Green, Roxy Coss, Jason Palmer, Wycliffe Gordon, and many others. At Berklee Global Jazz Institute Holly worked heavily with Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, Tony Malaby, Ron Savage, Nicholas Payton, Jerry Leake, Ben Street, and Yoron Israel. In 2023, Holly was recognized and awarded as a Sister in Jazz with the Jazz Education Network where she got to work under the direction of acclaimed bassist Marion Hayden. 

Along with her upcoming jazz album, Holly has also released self-produced singer-songwriter singles under the pseudonym Holly Marie, which helps her go back to her roots when she first started music; picking up a Guitar for Dummies book. These releases are available on all streaming platforms. Holly continues to teach privately and in higher education while performing with musicians from around the world. She is also a loving mother and wife. As a member of the LGBTQ+ Community, she continues to be an advocate for human rights not only as a queer member of society, but as a woman in a man’s world, and is currently working on a musical project revolving around the life cycle of a woman in America.