Jazz Articles about Mike Wofford

Mike Wofford: Time Caf

by Dave Nathan
August 1, 2001

P>While Mike Wofford has a very respectable discography as a leader going back to 1966, it's his work as the consummate accompanist that many remember. He has backed some of the great vocalists of our time including Mel Tormé, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Lorez Alexandria. His presence has also been a stabilizing effect for newer vocalists including Mary Ann Douglas, Jackie Ryan and Madeline Eastman. But on this album he shows he is pianist of considerable skill in his ...

Jackie Ryan: For Heaven's Sake

by Jack Bowers
August 1, 2001

For heaven’s sake! After reading Jim Merod’s laudatory liner notes to Jackie Ryan’s CD, I thought to myself that she’d have to be one helluva singer to live up to that kind of praise. Well, when all is said and done and the smoke has cleared, she is — at least, she’s close enough to make your average garden–variety curmudgeon sit up and take notice. It starts with the voice, unusually warm and often dusky but with remarkable range, enabling ...

Jackie Ryan: For Heaven's Sake

by Dave Nathan
April 1, 2001

Jackie Ryan is another of those fine singers who enliven the San Francisco jazz scene these days. Although the Bay City is her home base, she has performed in jazz venues throughout the world including one of the most famous, Ronnie Scott's London jazz club.

Jim Merod's BluePort label - - a label very active in giving musicians from this area an opportunity to be heard on CD - - catches Ryan in a live performance at the Lime Leaf ...