Abe Holzmann (1874–1939) was born in New York City and studied at the New York Conservatory before becoming a staff composer and arranger for various publishers. He wrote many songs and other pieces but was most successful with his two-step marches, of which the rousing
Blaze Away! (1901) achieved the greatest success. Its swinging rhythms and ebullient melody make it one of the select number of marches that can be ranked with the best of Sousa, being as familiar on the dance floor as a two-step as on the parade ground as a march.
from notes by Andrew Lamb © 1998
