Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Holly Hofmann: Minor Miracle

106

Holly Hofmann: Minor Miracle

By

Sign in to view read count
Holly Hofmann: Minor Miracle
Oozing with genuine charm, flutist Holly Hofmann interprets mainstream jazz the way it's supposed to be. Her view of the world has been seasoned by mentors and musical partners such as Ray Brown, Mike Wofford, Bill Cunliffe, and John Clayton.

Hofmann's father, a jazz guitarist, influenced her career choices, and her parents ensured her a thorough grounding in the fine arts. She received her first flute at age five. While studying with Maurice Sharp, the principal flutist of the Cleveland Orchestra, she gained valuable tools that have helped her achieve the sound that makes things work for her today. Further music education at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Cleveland Institute of Music, and the University of Northern Colorado opened her eyes and ears to the possibilities. Two years of touring with Ray Brown brought a lot of that training together into one significant mass, as Hofmann turns it loose in performance.

"Minor Miracle," co-written with her husband, Mike Wofford, places the quartet in a suave situation that highlights the gentle paths that a flute can travel. Piano, bass, and drums coax the music out of her horn. The quartet shimmies with a light rhythmic syncopation that allows for natural expression.

Ray Bryant's "Tonk" struts with a perky attitude that allows Hofmann to unleash a soulful parade of melodies. Walking bass, ride cymbal, and block chord piano colors unite the flutist with a solid groove that keeps on driving. They carry this one and Billy Strayhorn's "Jonnny Come Lately" to powerful rhythmic heights. The ensemble continues to click on all eight cylinders, as the four artists pore through jazz's mainstream and interpret its heart accurately. Tomorrow's jazz scene doesn't need new gimmicks or fancy fads. All we need is right here with Hofmann's interpretations of the way jazz is supposed to sound.

Track Listing

Everything I Love; CRS-CRAFT; Minor Miracle; Samba do Avi

Personnel

Holly Hofmann- flute; Mike Wofford- piano; Peter Washington- bass; Victor Lewis- drums.

Album information

Title: Minor Miracle | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Unknown label

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.