b. 16 November 1956, Detroit, Michigan, USA. Hollander began playing drums at the age of nine, later studying privately with Gene Stewart and Roy Brooks. He also attended Oakland Community College where he studied piano, music theory and composition. When he was 23, he relocated to New York City and eight years later moved to Europe for a spell. He is especially well-known in Belgium and Germany. For several years he resided in Munich from which base he toured extensively. Among numerous artists with whom he has played are Cameron Brown, Arnett Cobb, Robin Eubanks, Tim Hagans, Roy Hargrove, Gys Hendriks, Johannes Herrlich, Mark Murphy, Herbert Noord, Rufus Reid and Woody Shaw. Throughout most of the 90s Hollander led his own group. His mid-90s signing to Concord Records helped spread his reputation more widely than hitherto and his fellow countrymen were therefore able to hear what European audiences had been enjoying for several years.
Although he possesses an all-embracing technique, Hollander usually keeps it under wraps, content to provide subtly supportive accompaniment for his fellow musicians. Playing mostly in hard bop mode, his bands often come up with interesting new twists; bass and drum duets for instance. Hollander is not afraid to delve into the past for compositions to record; for example, Once Upon A Time consists of the music of Hoagy Carmichael.
