A versatile musician and veteran performer with musicians and organizations such as the Louie Bellson Big Band (Chicago Based Band), Jimmy Dorsey, Hendrik Meurkens, Buddy De Franco, Natalie Cole and the Terry Gibbs Big Band. Rick Holland brings a wealth of experience and musicality to each performance. Holland has now recorded 7 albums as a leader and co-leader with national and international labels. His most recent release, Trilby, is quoted by Jazz Insider, “Rick Holland and Evan Dobbins lead a modern big band for the ages. They respect the sound of jazz past and mix it with original and fresh perspective. This is some truly great work!”
In 2006, Holland and Dobbins released In Times Shadow,with the Little Big Band. Ollie Bivins of All About Jazz LA Quotes, “And it is this individual musicianship, particularly with trumpeter Holland, along with the quality of the original compositions that makes In Time’s Shadow a treat. Rick Holland (Trumpet) and Evan Dobbins (Trombone) lead a group of New York area musicians who could give the more well-known big bands in New York and Los Angeles a run for their money.” Both discs feature the writing of Bill Dobbins (co-producer), Brent Wallarab, Jim Martin and Kerry Strayer.

Rick’s other releases include, Positive Settings, (Cadence, 2001) and (There Will Never Be Another You, Cadence, 1999), featuring the Rick Holland Quartet. Steven Loewy of the All Music guide quotes, "With all the hype going to Wynton Marsalis, you might not guess that there are other, lesser-known, straight-ahead trumpet players out there who are consistently ripping the hide off the ball. This, Rick Holland's auspicious debut, is an impressive effort. "These albums were highly praised by periodicals such as the All Music Guide, Jazz Improv Magazine, Cadence Magazine and Detroit Jazz. Bob Rusch of Cadence Records states, " Holland’s music is certainly not radical or innovative." Still, it is some of the best group playing in its genre of jazz bop.”

Rick also has made two significant recordings with long-time playing partners Hendrik Meurkens, You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To, (Cadence, 2002) and with Kerry Strayer, (Rhombus Records, Speak Low, 2003). These albums were also praised by the All Music Guide, All About Jazz and the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, JAM Magazine. Jazz Critic Glenn Astaria quotes Holland’s quintet with Meurkens, “The musicians' unflappable composure translates into an overriding sense of sophistication and tenderness. Hence, the music prompts you to dispel the common drudgeries of life. Now that alone, speaks volumes! Recommended.”

Rick has now been teaching privately for the last 25 years. He has maintained studios in Chicago, Ill., the Central and Western Michigan areas and Central New York. He has taught people of all ages, from beginning students to Doctoral candidates in Music. He is currently writing 5 volumes on Jazz Improvisation, and wanting to complete a beginning volume for trumpet for beginning trumpet players. Rick’s students can be heard from Professional circles to Community ensembles. In 2005, Rick received his Doctoral degree in Classical performance from Michigan State University. He is a Carol Brass Performing artist, active performer and clinician and has served on the music faculties of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College.