On his Jazz Profiles website, Steve Cerra begins a tribute to Bill Holman with this passage:
In Japan, a select few of those who maintain the country’s artistic traditions or make a unique contribution to them are accorded the respect of the nation by being
designated as a Living National Treasure [a considerable amount of schimolies also come with the title each year].
When it comes to composing and arranging for Jazz big bands, no one is more deserving of such consideration than Willis “Bill” Holman.
However, because this country does not have such an award, the editorial staff at JazzProfiles has decided to step up on behalf of grateful Jazz fans everywhere and to bestow upon Bill the distinction of being a Living International Treasure.
The Jazz Profiles post includes a brilliant piece of perception about Holman by André Previn and an embarrassingly large selection of prose from notes I’ve written for Holman albums. To read the tribute and see Steve’s photo montage accompanying one of Holman’s recordings, go here.
For even more on Holman, see this Rifftides archive post.